14. Recognises the importance of strengthening cooperation in the field of energy between the Euro-Mediterranean partners and the need to develop a regional energy market, with a view to the implementation of renewable energy and energy infrastructure projects in the Mediterranean region; urges that sustainable energy and development policies such as the Desertec project should be geared first and foremost to the region and thus contribute to its development; welcomes the UfM’s regional project ‘Mediterranean Solar ...[+++]Plan’, since as well as contributing to the development of infrastructure it will boost the development of the components industry and corresponding engineering and technology in all the countries covered by the plan;

In order to ensure that the EERP is taken into account for the budget discipline, it is necessary to adapt the provisions concerning the budget ceiling for the expenditure financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) referred to in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 by taking also into account the sums fixed under Heading 2 for the rural development under the recovery package in accordance with Council Decision 2009/434/EC of 25 May 2009 amending Decision 2006/493/EC laying down the amount of Community support for rural development for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, its annual breakdown ...[+++] and the minimum amount to be concentrated in regions eligible under the Convergence Objective and the amount for projects in the field of energy which could be decided in accordance with the procedure set out in the Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the financing of projects in the field of energy and broadband Internet as well as the CAP Health Check in the framework of the European Economic Recovery Plan .

Cooperation programmes and activities shall support, inter alia, the development and implementation of sustainable aquaculture and fisheries development strategies and management plans in ACP countries and regions; the mainstreaming of aquaculture and fisheries into national and regional development strategies; the development of the infrastructure and technical know-how necessary to enable ACP countries to yield maximum sustaina ...[+++]ble value from their fisheries and aquaculture; capacity building of ACP countries to overcome external challenges that hinder them from taking full advantage of their fisheries resources; and the promotion and development of joint ventures for investment in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of ACP countries.

Considers that the development of the Kaliningrad region, which is primarily a Russian responsibility, is an important factor for the overall development of the Northern Dimension area; considers that the new Action Plan should therefore reinforce measures to promote the socio-economic development and environmental protection of the region, which must be able to take advantage of the opportunities created by the enlargement of the EU and especially by the agreement of a n ...[+++]ew transit regime between the Kaliningrad region and other parts of Russia;

The Commission will therefore make a proposal to use an initial Phare envelope of up to EUR 50 million to develop in combination with the EIB such a municipal lending facility for transport and environmental projects, provided they form part of an integrated industrial restructuring programme or regional development plan.

Three priorities have been selected to achieve this objective: 1) Development of the region - focusing on the conditions for growth (infrastructure, counselling, studies, etc.), 2) Business development - primarily development of SMEs (investment support, counselling, development plans etc.) and 3) Development of skills/human resources (more specifically development of skills in companies, development of strategic infrastructure and optimising usage of ESF resources).