15.3.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 741 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 445/2002 of 26 February 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (!), and in particular Articles 34, 45 and 50 thereof, Whereas: Commission Regulation (EC) No 1750/1999 of 23 July 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 12571999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (?), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1763/2001 (%), has been substantially amended a number of times. Moreover, experience gained during the first two years of program- ming shows that further clarifications are needed, in particular as concerns the procedure for amending programming documents and the indicative overall financial table. In the interests of clarity and rationalis- ation, therefore, Regulation (EC) No 1750/1999 should be recast. Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 established a single legal framework for EAGGF support for rural development. In particular, Title II thereof specifies the measures (1) OJL 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80. (3 OJL214,13.8.1999, p. 31. (3 OJL 239,7.9.2001, p. 10. eligible for support, their objectives and the criteria for eligibility. This legal framework applies to support for rural development throughout the Community. Detailed rules should be adopted to supplement this framework, taking account of experience gained using the instruments applied under the various Council Regulations repealed by Article 55(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999. Those rules should follow the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, and should therefore be restricted to what is necessary for the attainment of the aims being pursued. With respect to the eligibility criteria, Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 lays down three basic conditions for support for investment in agricultural holdings and processing plants and support for young farmers. The time at which those conditions must be fulfilled should be specified, including, in the case of investment aid, the condition regarding demonstration of the economic viability of an agricultural holding, on the basis of an adequate assessment of the prospects of that holding. It can be very difficult for farms in rural areas facing very serious structural difficulties to meet these requirements. In the case of small investments, Member States should be allowed to grant farms a period of grace in which to meet these requirements. Community support for investments in holdings and processing plants is subject to the condition that normal market outlets can be found for the products concerned. Detailed rules should be laid down for assessing such market outlets.