2.6.97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 142/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 950/97 of 20 May 1997 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 42 and 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3}, (1)  Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 2328/91 of 15 July 1991 on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures (*), has been substantially amended on several occasions; whereas, in the event of new amendments being made to the said Regulation,, in order to clarify and rationalize matters, the provisions in question should be recast; whereas, moreover, in the interests of simplification and coherence it is appropriate to incorporate in the same text Council Directive 75/268/EEC of 28 April 1975, on mountain and hill farming in certain less-favoured areas (°); (2)  Whereas, pursuant to Article 1 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness and on coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the (1) O] No C 115, 19. 4. 1996, p. 34. (2} Opinion delivered on 13 May 1997 (not yet published in the Official Journal). ) O] No C 204, 15. 7. 1996, p. 38. (*) O] No L 218, 6. 8. 1991, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 409/97 (O] No L 62, 4.3.1997, p. 4). () O] No L 128, 19. 5. 1975, p. 1. Directive as last amended by the 1994 Act of Accession. European Investment Bank and the other existing financial  instruments (°), Community action through the Structural Funds, in particular, is to support the achievement of the general objectives set out in Articles 130a and 130c of the Treaty by contributing to the attainment of five priority objectives; whereas it is for the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) to contribute towards promoting rural development by speeding up the adjustment of agricultural structures in the context of reform of the common agricultural policy; (3)  Whereas intervention by the EAGGF for the attainment of Objective 5a is governed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments (7), and by Council Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 of 19 Dccember 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the EAGGF Guidance Section (%); (4)  Whereas the common measure provided for by this Regulation must fit in with other horizontal measures decided on for the attainment of Objective Sa; whereas it also reflects certain () O] No L 185, 15. 7. 1988, p. 9. Regulation as last amended g by Regulation (EC) No 3193/94 (O] No L 337, 24. 12. 1994, p. 11). (7) O] No L 185, 15. 7. 1988, p. 9. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3193/94 (O] No L 337, 24. 12. 1994, p. 11). (®) O] No L 374, 31. 12. 1988, p. 25. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2085/93 (O] No' L 193, 31. 7. 1993, p. 44).