Council Regulation (EC) No 722/97 of 22 April 1997 on environmental measures in developing countries in the context of sustainable development

• Published date: 25 April 1997
• Subject Matter: Development cooperation,Environment
• Official Gazette Publication: Official Journal of the European Communities, L 108, 25 April 1997

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31997R0722

Council Regulation (EC) No 722/97 of 22 April 1997 on environmental measures in developing countries in the context of sustainable development

Official Journal L 108 , 25/04/1997 P. 0001 - 0005

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 722/97 of 22 April 1997 on environmental measures in developing countries in the context of sustainable development

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 130s and 130w thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),

Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189c of the Treaty (3),

(1) Whereas it is necessary to implement sustainable development by contributing to the genuine integration of an environmental dimension into the development process;

(2) Whereas the creation of suitable instruments and the implementation of experimental schemes will be the cornerstones of that integration in all the fields concerned;

(3) Whereas the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on 14 May 1992 on the environment and development cooperation;

(4) Whereas the Community and its Member States were signatories to the Rio Declaration and the Agenda 21 action programme;

(5) Whereas the Community and its Member States ratified the Conventions on Biological Diversity and on Climate Change, and have signed the Convention on Desertification; whereas they are thus committed to take into account the common but differing responsibilities of developed parties and developing parties on the subject;

(6) Whereas the Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 1 February 1993 is concerned with a Community policy and action programme on the environment and sustainable development;

(7) Whereas, since resources are limited, information campaigns and pilot projects conducted in close cooperation with local experts are likely to have the maximum multiplier effect;

(8) Whereas it is important to integrate the internal and external aspects of the European Community's environment policy in order to have a coherent answer to the problems set out by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in particular as regards the effects of global environmental changes on the state of the environment within the Community;

(9) Whereas it is necessary, in the project management cycle, for any proposal for a development cooperation project to be evaluated for its environmental impact by specific, appropriate procedures;

(10) Whereas, in particular where climate change and the conservation of biological and genetic diversity and resources (including the seas, coasts and soils) are concerned, local effects have undeniable consequences for the whole earth and for future generations and consequently for the well-being, health and security of the citizens of the Community, notably as far as access to genetic resources is concerned;

(11) Whereas the financial instruments available to the Community for conservation and sustainable development could be usefully supplemented;

(12) Whereas measures need to be taken to finance the activities covered by this Regulation;

(13) Whereas detailed rules for implementation, and in particular the form of action, the recipients of the aid and the decision-making procedure should be laid down;

(14) Whereas a financial reference amount, within the meaning of point 2 of the Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995 (4), is included in this Regulation for the entire duration of the programme, without thereby affecting the powers of the regulatory authority as they are defined by the Treaty,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. The Community shall provide financial assistance and technical expertise for activities conducted in developing countries...