2003/916/EC: Council Decision of 22 December 2003 amending Decision 2001/131/EC concluding the consultation procedure with Haiti under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement

Council Decision
of 22 December 2003
amending Decision 2001/131/EC concluding the consultation procedure with Haiti under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement
(2003/916/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement(1), which entered into force on 1 April 2003, and in particular Article 96 thereof,
Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the representatives of the governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement(2), and in particular Article 3 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) On the basis of Decision 2001/131/EC(3), the provision of financial aid to Haiti is partially suspended as "appropriate measures" pursuant to Article 96(2)(c) of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement.
(2) The Decision 2001/131/EC expires on 31 December 2003 and requires a review of the measures before this date.
(3) Democratic principles are still not upheld in Haiti. However, actions to support democratization, the strengthening of the rule of law and the electoral process deserve to be supported, and in particular in support of the mission with which the Organisation of American States was entrusted by its Resolutions No 806, No 822 and No 1959. Actions to strengthen civil society and the private sector, to fight poverty, to give humanitarian and emergency assistance and those of direct benefit to the Haitian people should be further implemented,