THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;

Having regard to Council Directive No 75/268/EEC ( 1 ) of 28 April 1975 on mountain and hill farming and farming in certain less-favoured areas, and in particular Article 2 (2) thereof;

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament;

Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ( 2 );

Whereas the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium communicated to the Commission, in accordance with Article 2 (1) of Directive No 75/268/EEC, one area suitable for inclusion in the Community list of less-favoured agricultural areas and information concerning the characteristics of this area;

Whereas the following indices relating to the presence of infertile land, according to Article 3 (4) (a) of Directive No 75/268/EEC were utilized to define the area in question: 80% of the utilized agricultural area being permanent meadow and pasture, more than half of the area of an altitude greater than 400 m, number of days without frost not greater than 150 per annum (220 days per annum in the more favourable Belgian regions), production per hectare from bovines not above 70% of the national average (Bfrs 30 600 and Bfrs 43 900 respectively), cereal yields below 80% of the national average (34 and 42 q/ha respectively);

Whereas economic results appreciably lower than the mean, according to Article 3 (4) (b) of Directive No 75/268/EEC were arrived at by using an index reflecting earned income per work unit below 77% of the national average (Bfrs 150 400 and Bfrs 195 300 respectively);

Whereas the value of the index used for measuring population density according to Article 3 (4) (c) of Directive No 75/268/EEC was not more than 76 inhabitants per square kilometre, the national average being 3,19; whereas the lowest proportion of the working population engaged in agriculture as a percentage of the total working population was fixed at 15%, the national and Community averages being 4·17 and 9·58% respectively;

Whereas the nature and level of the abovementioned indices, utilized by the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium to define the area communicated to the Commission, correspond to the characteristics of the less-favoured areas according to Article 3 (4) of Directive No 75/268/EEC but whereas this area only becomes a farming area of homogeneous character from the point of view of natural production conditions, within the meaning of the first indent of Article 3 (4) of the said Directive after the exclusion of one small part, situated in the north of the area, which has the advantage of natural production conditions which are clearly more favourable;

Whereas according to the information supplied by the Member State concerned this area has an adequate infrastructure,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Haute Ardenne

Famenne

Fagne

Ardenne

Région Jurassique

Aywaille

Ferrières

Jalhay

Lierneux

Spa

Sprimont

Stavelot

Stoumont

Theux

Trois-Ponts

Vielsalm