Sweden: list of less-favoured farming areas within the meaning of directive 75/268/EEC

OBJECTIVE: to establish the list of less-favoured farming areas in Sweden, in accordance with Article 2(1) of Directive 75/268/EEC, so that they may be included in the Community list of less-favoured farming areas. SUBSTANCE: according to Declaration No 37 of Sweden's Act of Accession to the European Union, the listed areas should be delimited in accordance with the acquis communautaire and should also take account of the fact that Sweden lies in the northern latitudes as a relevant criterion for the purpose of Article 3(3) of Directive 75/268/EEC. These various criteria have resulted in a list of communes (F·rsamling) submitted to the Commission by the Swedish Government which are likely to appear in the Community list of less-favoured farming areas. These areas comply with the requirements of paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Article 3 of Directive 75/268/EEC. They include: - mountainous areas where the altitude, slope and northern location shorten the growing season and make it more difficult to use machinery (Article 3(3)); - less-favoured farming areas characterised by low productivity of the land and low farming incomes (Article 3(4)); - less-favoured areas affected by specific handicaps (small farms, hills, poor hydrographic situation, inshore or lake islands, etc.) and where agricultural activity is essential to preserve the countryside (Article 3(5)). The application of these criteria result in of the agricultural area (AA) of Sweden being covered (four of the five agricultural support areas existing in the north of Sweden at the time of accession are included). A breakdown of the areas listed appears in the annex. The areas with specific handicaps do not exceed 4% of Sweden's surface area. Community funding for compensatory payments to be granted to farmers in these areas will be included in the overall amount set aside for Objectives 5a and 6 of the Structural Funds. �