2. Believes that policymakers should have at their disposal more accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive scientific data to enable them to make informed choices; agrees, therefore, with the European Council that Europe’s potential for the sustainable extraction and use of shale gas and shale oil resources, without putting the availability and quality of water resources at risk, should be assessed and mapped in order to potentially enhance security of supply; welcomes the assessments made by Member States and encourages them to continue this work, and asks the Commission to contribute to assessing the potential of shale gas and shale oil ...[+++] reserves in the EU by assembling results from Member States’ assessments and available results from exploration projects, as well as by analysing and evaluating the industrial, economic, energy and environmental and health aspects of domestic shale gas production;

26. Notes that the potential of regions and rural areas is not confined to the natural resources that enable them to play a social and economic role, given that such areas are first and foremost a place where the food required in order to ensure food security is produced and that they provide key raw materials for industry and renewable energy generation on a sustainable basis, as well ...[+++] as constituting a source of environmental, ecological, landscape and tourism assets and non-material assets, including traditions and cultural features such as culinary heritage in the form of regional products; calls for balanced territorial development of rural areas in all regions of the EU that will empower local inhabitants and help to improve local conditions and links between rural and urban areas; points out that farming is the cornerstone of the rural economy and that farmers play a leading role in ensuring the vitality of this economy and in rural land development; considers that promoting regional labels by means of the CAP, both at EU level and in third countries, would offer economic advantages at local and regional level;

Data 7: Operation for re-establishing the production potential in fisheries areas.

15. Points out the fact that all rural areas have considerable potential for biomass production but that the poorest of them always find it more difficult to harness that potential on account of their lower production levels and their natural and structural handicaps; points out that these areas should therefore be given priority in the use of Structural Funds for the purpose of exploiting their potential;

14. Points out the fact that all rural areas have considerable potential for biomass production but that the poorest of them always find it more difficult to harness that potential on account of their lower production levels and their natural and structural handicaps; points out that these areas should therefore be given priority in the use of the Structural Funds for the purpose of exploiting their potential;

15. Points out the fact that all rural areas have considerable potential for biomass production but that the poorest of them always find it more difficult to harness that potential on account of their lower production levels and their natural and structural handicaps; points out that these areas should therefore be given priority in the use of Structural Funds for the purpose of exploiting their potential;