5. Calls on Member States and regional and local authorities to play an important role in the development strategies of mountain regions, islands and sparsely populated areas because a vertical approach with the implication and contribution of all levels of government, observing the principle of subsidiarity, is required to put these regions in the right path of sustainable development taking into consideration other important sectors in the region; stresses that the potential within these regions, often with vast natural resources, ...[+++]can contribute positively in achieving the goals, especially in the field of energy policy and RD, as set out in the EU2020 strategy;

4. Calls on Member states and regional and local authorities to play an important role in the development strategies of mountain regions, islands and sparsely populated areas because a vertical approach with the implication and contribution of all levels of government, observing the principle of subsidiarity, is required to put these regions in the right path of sustainable development; stresses that not only Regional Policy but also other EU policies that have a significant territorial impact on the development of these regions shou ...[+++]ld contribute to the sustainable development of the potential within these regions;

5. Welcomes the initiative by the Israeli Ministry of Environment to elaborate a master plan for landscape development in the Lower Jordan River area; urges the Jordanian Government and the Palestinian Authority to take similar initiatives with the aim of adopting master plans for the rehabilitation of sections of the River that flow through their respective territories provided that Israel permits the Palestinian Authority to have access to the Lower Jordan River according to relevant UN Security Council resolutions and International Law; notes that such master plans could become a basis for a comprehensive ...[+++]regional plan to rehabilitate and protect the Lower Jordan River area; takes note of Palestinian Authority plans to establish a West Ghor Canal envisioned in the 1955 Johnston Plan for the irrigation of Palestinian riparian areas of the occupied West Bank;

18. Observes that, following a request by the Belgian authorities, the CoR Appointing Authority lifted the immunity of the officials concerned on 6 July 2007 to enable them to be interviewed by the authorities; further notes that to date, no information has been received by the CoR's administration as to whether the Belgian authorities intend to follow-up those files;

1. The Member State or the managing authority may entrust the management and implementation of a part of an operational programme to one or more intermediate bodies, designated by the Member State or the managing authority, including local authorities, regional development bodies or non-governmental organisations, in accordance with the provisions of an agreement concluded between the Member State or the managing authority and that body.

an audit authority: a national, regional or local public authority or body, functionally independent of the managing authority and the certifying authority, designated by the Member State for each operational programme and responsible for verifying the effective functioning of the management and control system.