1.9.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 234/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 1724/2001 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 July 2001 concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in developing countries THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 179(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: 1) () ) The European Community is concerned by the presence of anti-personnel land-mines and other unexploded devices in areas where civil communities are trying to recover from armed conflict. Anti-personnel landmines cause suffering and casualties, particularly in the poorest parts of the world, and consti- tute a serious obstacle to economic development, inhibit the return of refugees and displaced persons, and obstruct humanitarian aid operations, reconstruction and rehabilitation and the restoration of normal social conditions. The Community is determined to make a full contribu- tion towards the goal of total elimination of anti- personnel landmines world-wide in the coming years. The Community and its Member States have provided the largest contribution to the wider international effort to overcome the tragedy of anti-personnel landmines. Action to achieve the total elimination of anti-personnel landmines is still at an early stage and therefore the Community should continue to exercise determined leadership until that goal is fully achieved. O] C 248 E, 29.8.2000, p. 115 and OJ C 120 E, 24.4.2001, p. 168. Opinion of the European Parliament of 25 October 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of 31 May 2001 (OJ C 213, 31.7.2001, p. 1) and Decision of the Euro- pean Parliament of 4 July 2001. (6) (10) (12) This Regulation is a direct response to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention). Therefore, financial aid should, as a priority, benefit those developing countries which are committed to the fight against anti-personnel landmines and are parties to the Ottawa Convention. Community mine action is often an integral part of humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, reconstruction or devel- opment activities, whilst being a discrete and specialised activity responding to distinct priorities, operational requirements and political imperatives. As part of such activities, as well as in the case of framework programmes for the research and develop- ment of mine action technology, new and existing actions will continue to be funded from specific budget lines, supported, complemented and coordinated under this Regulation where appropriate. For the Community to be able to contribute effectively to preventive actions on mines, it will be necessary to allow for Community action to destroy anti-personnel landmines in stockpiles in conjunction with operations to destroy anti-personnel landmines in the ground. Scientific research should be intensified with the aim of developing technologies to facilitate mine detection and identification of the affected areas with greater precision. The Community needs to be in a position to ascertain that the mine clearance actions which it has financed have been effective. It must therefore employ the appro- priate technical means, including military technology where necessary.