2000/474/EC: Council Decision of 17 July 2000 concerning the Community contribution to the International Fund 'Clearance of the Fairway of the Danube'

Council Decision
of 17 July 2000
concerning the Community contribution to the International Fund "Clearance of the Fairway of the Danube"
(2000/474/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament(1),
Whereas:
(1) The debris of bridges over the Danube, destroyed during the Kosovo conflict, as well as the risk of unexploded ordnance, is blocking navigation between km 1235 and 1258 of the Danube river; the consequent interruption of navigation on the Danube has had serious economic and environmental consequences throughout the region, and in particular on all riparian States.
(2) The Danube Commission, as an inter-governmental institutional established by the 1948 Belgrade Convention, is responsible for navigation on the Danube; Member States of the Danube Commission, at their extraordinary session in Budapest on 25 January 2000, adopted a project proposal "Clearance of the Fairway of the Danube" which the Danube Commission then preented to the Commission for consideration; this project proposal covers the restoration of a navigation channel by means of removal of debris and unexploded ordnance, followed by the restoration of the river bed of the Danube in the related area.
(3) For the purpose of implementing this project, an "International Fund for the Clearance of the Fairway of the Danube" has been established in Vienna by the Danube Commission. The International Fund will be administered by the Danube Commission in accordance with the purpose of the Fund as stated in its Rules and in full compliance with the Community's relevant financial and procurement policies, as well as the sanctions regime applicable against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY).
(4) The Community agrees to make a contribution of up to 85 % of the total estimated cost of the project, to a maximum of EUR 22 million, the remainder to be met by the Danube Commission and its Member States.
(5) The Community contribution will be paid into the International Fund. The Community contribution to the International Fund shall be administered by the Danube Commission in accordance with the principles of sound and efficient management.
(6) The operations covered by this Decision fit into the framework of Community efforts to alleviate the consequences of the Kosovo conflict and are necessary to attain one of the objectives of the Community. The Treaty does not provide, for the action concerned, powers other than those laid down in Article 308,