21.7.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 198/1 | (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1447/2001 of 28 June 2001 amending Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 161 and 299(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the assent of the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social () Committee (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions, Whereas: (1)  Article 29(3)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (%) provides for the possibility of awarding a contribution from the Funds of a maximum of 85 % of the total eligible cost only for the outermost regions of a Member State covered by the Cohesion Fund and for the outlying Greek islands which are under a handicap due to their distant location. (2)  Article 299(2) of the Treaty states that all the outermost regions face the same handicaps, particularly remoteness and insularity, which may severely restrain their development. (3)  Accordingly, Article 29(3)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 should be amended so as to fix the (8) maximum contribution of the Funds at 85 % of the total eligible cost for all the outermost regions, whether of a Member State covered by the Cohesion Fund or not, () O] C 96 E, 27.2.2001, p. 272. (®) Opinion delivered on 14 June 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () 0J C 139, 11.5.2001, p. 29. () OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1. where this does not involve investments in infrastructure projects generating substantial net revenue or investments in firms. Article 29(4)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 lays down that, in the case of investments in firms, the contribution of the Funds may not exceed 35 % of the total eligible cost in the regions covered by Objective 1. All the outermost regions are eligible for Objective 1 of the Structural Funds for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2006 in accordance with Commission Decision 1999/502/EC of 1 July 1999 drawing up the list of regions covered by Objective 1 of the Structural Funds for the period 2000 to 2006. An increase in the maximum rate of assistance from the Structural Funds in the case of investment in small and medium-sized firms situated in the outermost regions would appear necessary in view of the difficulties encountered by these firms, in order to make a significant contribution to the development of those regions. Article 29(4)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 should therefore be amended so that, in the case of investments in small and medium-sized firms situated in the outermost regions, assistance from the Funds may amount to up to 50 % of the total eligible cost. Pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, each plan, Community support framework, operational programme and single programming document shall cover a period of seven years, and the programming period shall begin on 1 January 2000. In the interests of cohesiveness and to avoid discrimination between beneficiaries of the same programme, the derogations provided for in this Regulation must, exceptionally, be applicable to the whole programming period.