19.5.75 Official Journal of the Europeaﬁ Communities No L 128/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) ] 'COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 28 April 1975 " on mountain and hill ‘farming and farming in certain less-favoured areas (75/268/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 42 and 43 thereof; Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (1); Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3); Whereas Article 39 (2) (a) of the Treaty provides that account shall -be taken of the social structure of agriculture and of the structural and natural disparities between the various agricultural regions in working out the common agricultural policy; Whereas, in order to attain the objectives of the common agricultural policy set out in Article 39 (1) (a) and (b), special provisions should be adopted at Community level which are suited to those agri- cultural areas in which natural production con- ditions are least favourable; (1) OJ No C 37, 4. 6. 1973, p. 55 and O] No C 32, 11. 2. 1975, p. 30. : (3) OJ No C 100, 22. 11. 1973, p. 20 and OJ No C-62, 15. 3. 1975, p. 19. * Whereas the statement made by the Community concerning hill farming (*) annexed to the Treaty of Accession declares that special conditions obtain in hill farming areas as compared with other areas of the United Kingdom and that differences, at times very marked, exist' between areas in the Member States of the original Community, and also that the special conditions obtaining in certain areas of the enlarged Community may require action with a view to attempting to resolve the problems raised by these special conditions, and in particular to maintain reasonable incomes for farmers in such areas; Whereas it is necessary that steps be taken to ensure the continued conservation of the countryside in mountain areas and in certain other less-favoured areas; whereas the Member States have already taken or plan to take positive measures for this purpose and these efforts should be encouraged; whereas farming performs a fundamental function ~ in this respect; Whereas the steady decline in agricultural incomes in these areas as compared. with other regions of the Community, and the particularly poor working conditions prevalent in such areas are causing large- scale depopulation of farming and rural areas, which will eventually lead to the abandonment of land which was previously maintained, and moreover jeopardizing the viability and continued habitation of those areas the population of which is predominantly dependent on an agricultural economy; (®) OJ No L 73, 27. 3. 1972, p. 201.