98/1/EC, Euratom: Council Decision of 18 December 1997 on a TACIS Civil Society Development Programme for Belarus for 1997
Date: 1997-12-18
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: CIS countries, EU aid, EU programme, civil law, development aid

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Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 1. 98

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 18 December 1997

on a TACIS Civil Society Development Programme for Belarus for 1997

(98/1/EC, Euratom)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community and the Treaty establishing the European
Atomic Energy Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (Euratom, EC)
No 1279/96 of 25 June 1996 concerning the provision of
assistance to economic reform and recovery in the new
independent States and Mongolia (1), and in particular to
Article 3 (11) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas the internal situation of Belarus has deteriorated,
in particular since November 1996,
leading to a step
backwards in the process of democratization and the
restriction of basic liberties and violations of human
rights;

Whereas, for this reason, no TACIS Indicative Programme
1996-1999 nor, consequently, any action programme
could be negotiated with Belarusian authorities, although
such programmes would normally form the basis of
bilateral TACIS cooperation with a partner State, pursuant
to Article 5 of Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 1279/96;

Whereas the Council has adopted a position towards
Belarus which is stated in the Conclusions of 24 February
1997, the Declaration of 29 April 1997 and the Conclu-
sions of 15 September 1997, suspending cooperation with
the Belarusian authorities in the absence of convincing
efforts to proceed with the necessary democratic reforms,

(1) OJ L 165, 4. 7. 1996, p. 1.

but offering assistance to Belarus in the process of demo-
cratization,
in particular in two specific areas: human
rights protection and freedom of the media;

Whereas the Community has provided support for the
process of democratization through budget line B7-7010,
but that effort should be deepened and complemented by
other measures;

Whereas Article 3 (11) of Regulation (Euratom, EC)
No 1279/96 allows
to take appropriate
the Council
measures concerning assistance to a partner State when an
essential element
for the continuation of cooperation
through assistance is missing, in particular in cases of
violation of democratic principles and human rights;

Whereas the Commission has proposed to the Council to
set up a Civil Society Development Programme for
Belarus in the framework of the 1997 TACIS programme
as the appropriate measure towards Belarus;

Whereas, even in the absence of a TACIS Indicative
Programme 1996-1999 and, consequently, of an action
programme for Belarus, the programme proposed by the
Commission will be implemented in compliance with the
appropriate procedures laid down in Regulation (Euratom,
EC) No 1279/96, in particular Articles 6 and 8 thereof,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The TACIS Civil Society Development Programme for
Belarus for 1997 is hereby approved for a maximum
amount of ECU 5 million.

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Article 2

The Programme shall be implemented by the Commission, acting in accordance with the
appropriate procedures laid down in Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 1279/96, in particular
Articles 6 and 8 thereof.

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 3

Done at Brussels, 18 December 1997.

For the Council

The President

F. BODEN