16.3.2002 Official Journal of the European Communities L 751 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DECISION No 466/2002/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 1 March 2002 laying down a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organisations primarily active in the field of environmental protection THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Following consultation of the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1) The Treaty provides for the development and the imple- mentation of a Community environment policy and sets out the objectives and principles which guide that policy. (2)  The Action Programme introduced by Council Decision 97/872[EC of 16 December 1997 on a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organ- isations primarily active in the field of environmental protection (*) comes to an end on 31 December 2001. The Programme has been evaluated by the Commission and present and previous beneficiaries, revealing a strong support for its renewal or revision. (3)  The Sixth Environment Action Programme recognises the need for empowering citizens, and the measures proposed include extensive and wide-ranging dialogue with stakeholders in environmental policy-making. In order to make it possible for non-governmental organ- isations (hereinafter referred to as ‘NGOs)) to take part in such a dialogue, the Sixth Environment Action () O] C 270 E, 25.9.2001, p. 125. (¥ Opinion delivered on 18 October 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 23 October 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of 6 December 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Deci- sion of the European Parliament of 16 January 2002 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () O] L 354, 30.12.1997, p. 25. Programme envisages the need for appropriate support, including Community finance, to NGOs. NGOs active in the field of environmental protection have already demonstrated that they can contribute to the environment policy of the Community, as laid down in Article 174 of the Treaty, by active involvement in concrete environmental protection measures and in activities to increase the general awareness of the need for the protection of the environment with a view to sustainable development. NGOs also active in the field of animal protection, provided that such activities serve to achieve environmental protection objectives, may also participate in this Programme. NGOs are essential to coordinate and channel to the Commission information and views on the new and emerging perspectives, such as on nature protection and transboundary environmental problems, which cannot be, or are not being, fully dealt with at the Member State or subordinate level. NGOs have good understanding of public concerns on the environment and can thus promote these views and channel them back to the Commission. Environmental NGOs participate in experts groups, in preparatory and implementation committees of the Community institutions, providing important input to Community policies, programmes and initiatives and necessary balance in relation to the interests of other actors in the environment, including industry/business, trade unions and consumer groups. NGOs with a capacity to stimulate exchange of perspec- tives, problems and possible solutions and to implement relevant activities related to environmental problems with a Community dimension, involving stakeholders at national, regional and local level, should be promoted. For this purpose only NGOs and NGO networks active at a European level will be targeted.