These Regulations implement Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 (O.J. L160, 26.6.1999, p.80) on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (“the Rural Development Regulation”), as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No. 1783/2003 (O.J. No. L270, 21.10.2003, p.70), in so far as the Rural Development Regulation relates to less favoured areas. These Regulations also implement Chapter 9 of the England Rural Development Programme approved by the European Commission (Commission Decision No. C(2000) 3003) under Article 44 of the Rural Development Regulation.