14. 5. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 128/5 COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1401/86 of 6 May 1986 introducing a common action for the encouragement of agriculture in certain less-favoured areas of northern Italy THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 of 12 March 1985 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures ('), and in particular Article 18 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parli- ament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (°), Whereas, pursuant to Article 39 (2) (a) of the Treaty, the social structure of agriculture and the structural and natural disparities between the various agricuitural regions must be taken into account in working out the common agricultural policy ; Whereas, in order to achieve the objectives of the common agricultural policy referred to in Article 39 (1) (a) and (b) of the Treaty, special measures adapted to the situ- ation in the less-favoured agricultural areas should be adopted at Community level ; Whereas in northern Italy the less-favoured agricultural areas, within the meaning of Council Directive 75/268/EEC of 28 April 1975 on mountain and hill farming and farming in certain less-favoured areas (*), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 797/8S, are in a particularly difficult situation ; Whereas these areas are not covered by Council Regula- tion (EEC) No 2088/85 of 23 July 1985 concerning the integrated Mediterranean programmes (%) ; Whereas the rural infrastructure of these areas is very inadequate as regards public services such as electricity, drinking water, farm roads and local roads, and the crea- tion or improvement of such services is an important precondition for the improvement of agricultural struc- tures ; Whereas given the existence of agricultural land subject to soil erosion it is especially vital to protect soil and water- courses ; (") OJ No L 93, 30. 3. 1985, p. 1. (3) OJ No C 88, 14. 4. 1986. (*) Opinion delivered on 14 March 1986 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ No L 128, 19. 5. 1975, p. 1. () OJ No L 197, 27. 7. 1985, p. 1. Whereas a specific system of aids for forestry schemes is especially important in less-favoured areas; whereas for- estry contributes to a better use of employment in agricul- ture and provides additional agricultural income ; Whereas measures for the consolidation of agricultural land reduces its fragmentation and enables farm machinery to be used more efficiently ; Whereas the prevention of soil erosion helps : — to preserve the soil, the countryside and surface and ground water flow ; — to maintain the recreational potential of an area; Whereas soil improvement can help to reduce production Ccosts ; Whereas farmers’ incomes can also be increased by supplementary activities in the field of rural tourism which require the provision of collective infrastructures by local authorities ; Whereas Article 18 of Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 provides for the adoption of specific measures to encourage agriculture as a whole in the region concerned, in harmony with any development schemes simultaneo- usly undertaken in non-agricultural sectors and with the needs of environmental protection ; whereas the Council, acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 43 of the Treaty, is to decide on these measures ; Whereas the achievement of these objectives should be encouraged by a measure which combines these various elements within programmes ; Whereas it is apparent from the foregoing that the above- mentioned measures constitute a common measure within the meaning of Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (%), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 870/85(); Whereas it is for the Commission, having received the opinion of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Struc- ture, to decide whether to approve a programme submitted by the Italian Government, () OJ No L 94, 28. 4. 1970, p. 13. () OJ No L 95, 2. 4. 1985, p. 1.