(1a)

Financing of the European economic recovery plan should be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (2).

(1b)

The current margins in heading 2 cannot be taken for granted and any agreement on the economic recovery plan should not put at risk future needs within any category of expenditure.

(2)

Of the above amount, EUR 1.5 billion should be made available to all Member States via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) with a view to developing broadband internet in rural areas and to strengthening the operations related to the priorities laid down in Article 16a(1)(a) to (f) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (hereinafter ‘new challenges’).

(2)

Of the above amount, EUR 1 020 million should be made available to all Member States via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) with a view to developing broadband internet in rural areas and to strengthening the operations related to the priorities laid down in Article 16a(1)(a) to (f) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (hereinafter ‘new challenges’). Of this amount, EUR 850 million should be available in 2009, while EUR 170 million should be secured through a compensation mechanism in the context of the conciliation on the 2010 budget and should be available in 2010.

(2a)

The budgetary authority increased the 2009 budget line for rural development by EUR 249 840 000. These additional funds should be made available for the measures financed under the EAFRD in the European Economic Recovery Plan .

(4)

In order to ensure that the breakdown of the additional Community contribution in each Member State is used consistently with the objectives of the two policy packages (new challenges and broadband internet), Member States should specify in their national strategy plans the indicative amount, resulting from the compulsory modulation together with the unused funds generated under Article 136 of Regulation (EC) No … and the increase of the global commitments as laid down by Council Decision 2006/493/EC as amended by Decision …. These amounts will be devoted to broadband internet infrastructure in rural areas on the one hand and to the ‘new challenges’ on the other .

(4)

In order to ensure that the breakdown of the additional Community contribution in each Member State is used consistently with the objectives of the two policy packages (new challenges and broadband internet), Member States should specify in their national strategy plans the indicative amount, resulting from the compulsory modulation together with the unused funds generated under Article 136 of Regulation (EC) No … and the increase of the global commitments as laid down by Council Decision 2006/493/EC as amended by Decision …. These amounts will be devoted to broadband internet infrastructure in rural areas , to the ‘new challenges’, and to other measures aimed at improving take-up of the funds and creating new jobs .

(4a)

In order to increase the take-up of their programmes, Member States may use the additional resources for a guarantee and loan fund.

(6)

The Conclusions of the European Council of 12 December 2008 record the European Council's supports under the EERP, in particular, developing broadband internet, including in areas that are poorly served. Because rural areas often suffer from insufficient internet access, support for broadband infrastructures in rural areas should be strengthened under the support of EAFRD. Given the importance of this priority, Member States should provide in their programmes for operations related to this priority by the end of 2009. A list of types of operations related to broadband infrastructures should be established in order to allow Member States to identify the relevant operations in the context of the legal framework for rural development.

(6)

The Conclusions of the European Council of 12 December 2008 record the European Council's supports under the EERP, in particular, developing broadband internet, including in areas that are poorly served. Because rural areas often suffer from insufficient internet access, support for broadband infrastructures and related facilities in rural areas should be strengthened under the support of EAFRD. Given the importance of this priority, Member States should provide in their programmes for operations related to this priority by the end of 2009. A list of types of operations related to broadband infrastructures and facilities should be established in order to allow Member States to identify the relevant operations in the context of the legal framework for rural development.

(10)

Rural areas often lack broadband infrastructure both small and larger scale. The latter may be crucial for serving less accessible rural areas. In order to ensure the most effective use of available resources and to allow a substantive development of the broadband internet in rural areas, the pertinent operations should be considered eligible without limitation in the size of the related infrastructure. Therefore, the existing limitation in size for infrastructure in basic services for economy and rural population should not apply to the operations related to broadband infrastructures.

(10)

Rural areas often lack broadband infrastructure both small and larger scale. The latter is crucial for serving less accessible rural areas such as islands and mountain regions . In order to ensure the most effective use of available resources and existing infrastructure, and to allow a substantive development of the broadband internet and facilities in rural areas, the pertinent operations should be considered eligible without limitation in the size of the related active or passive infrastructure or part thereof . Therefore, the existing limitation in size for infrastructure in basic services for economy and rural population should not apply to the operations related to broadband infrastructures.

(11a)

Given the need for rapid reaction to the current economic crisis, it is appropriate to provide for payments which can be made in budget year 2009.

(13a)

Member States should make sure that specific information is available to regional and local authorities and potential beneficiaries on the new opportunities offered by the revised rural development programmes.

(13b)

Special measures for the provision of educational and training courses on the use of broadband infrastructures and facilities in rural communities should be established, with special attention to the vocational training of agricultural specialists, whose practical skills could then be utilised. In that respect, stimulation of the research sector should be considered a priority.

(g)

broadband internet infrastructure in rural areas .

(g)

broadband internet infrastructure in rural areas and facilities for public internet access in rural communities;

(ga)

economic-crisis management in the agricultural sector, principally to provide support for infrastructures and to create a network of producers and organisations;

(gb)

measures to preserve or create jobs in rural areas;

(gc)

support measures for young farmers.

(b)

a table setting out, for the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013, the total Community contribution for types of operations referred to in points (a) to (f) of paragraph 1 and the Community contribution for types of operations referred to in point (g) of paragraph 1.

(b)

a table setting out, for the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013, the total Community contribution for types of operations referred to in points (a) to (f) and (ga) to (gc) of paragraph 1 and the Community contribution for types of operations referred to in point (g) of paragraph 1.

(aa)

In paragraph 4, the following subparagraph is added:

‘For the amount referred to in paragraph 2a(b), the Commission shall take into account the differences in existing broadband coverage in the Member States, particularly in areas where access is difficult, and the different needs resulting therefrom.’.

(ba)

The following paragraph is added:

‘6a.    From the amount referred to in paragraph 2a, EUR 250 million shall be made available for payments in budget year 2009.’.

(6a)

The following Article is inserted:

‘Article 69a

Guarantee and loan funds

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 69, Member States can use the amount referred to in Article 69(2a) for guarantee and loan funds. For the implementation of this Article, the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006 of 15 December 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (3), and in particular Articles 50, 51 and 52 thereof, shall apply.

(8a)

In Article 76, the following paragraph is added:

‘2a.     Member States shall provide specific information with regard to the new priorities outlined in Article 16a. Such information shall be provided for the benefit of regional and local authorities and potential beneficiaries of the measures.’.