Priority shall be given to investments in water and energy supply, waste management, local access to information and communication technologies, local access to roads of particular importance for local economic development, and, fire protection infrastructures where justified by the risk of forest fires.

Where local rural development strategies as referred to in Article 171(3)(b) have been established, the investments supported under this Article must be in line with those strategies.

Priority shall be given to investments for the creation and development of micro and small enterprises, crafts and rural tourism, with a view to promoting entrepreneurship and developing the economic fabric.

Where local rural development strategies as referred to in Article 171(3)(b) have been established, the investments supported under this Article must be in line with those strategies.

Assistance may be granted to contribute to the improvement of the occupational skills and competence of persons engaged in the agricultural, food, and forestry sectors and other economic actors operating in the fields covered by this component.

Assistance shall not be granted to courses of instruction or training which form part of normal programmes or systems of education at secondary or higher levels.

Beneficiary countries shall elaborate a training strategy for the implementation of the operations envisaged under paragraph 1. The strategy shall include a critical assessment of the existing training structures, an analysis of the training needs and objectives. It shall also establish a set of criteria for the selection of training providers. A description of the training strategy shall be included in the programme.