Council Regulation (EC) No 2258/96 of 22 November 1996 on rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2258/96 of 22 November 1996 on rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130w thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (2),
Whereas the Commission, in its communication of 12 May 1993 to the European Parliament and the Council on a special rehabilitation support programme in developing countries, highlighted the specific nature and scale of the rehabilitation and reconstruction aid needed by developing countries that have suffered serious destruction through war, civil disorder or natural disaster;
Whereas the conclusions of the Council (Development) of 2 December 1993 on rehabilitation aid define the principal objectives, conditions and criteria for such aid and emphasize the need for close coordination between the Commission and the Member States when planning and implementing it;
Whereas the Commission must ensure that coherence and continuity govern the efforts made in the fields of humanitarian aid, rehabilitation and development;
Whereas the European Parliament, in its Resolution of 16 November 1993 (3), emphasized the scale of the developing countries' need for rehabilitation aid and proposed the establishment of a specific financial framework with considerable financial resources for that purpose in the general budget of the European Communities;
Whereas the European Parliament stressed the need to position rehabilitation operations in a medium-term or long-term development plan;
Whereas the European Parliament also noted that high priority needed to be accorded to the speed and efficiency of aid;
Whereas the budgetary authority included, in the budget, headings for the financing of rehabilitation programmes in southern Africa (B7-3210) and of rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries (B7-6410);
Whereas procedures should be established for the administration of such programmes and operations,