4, 7.9 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 165/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EURATOM, EC) No 1279/96 of 25 June 1996 concerning the provision of assistance to economic reform and recovery in the New Independent States and Mongolia THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 203 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parli- ament (), Whereas, pursuant to the European Council in Dublin and in Rome in 1990, the Community introduced a tech- nical assistance programme in favour of economic reform and recovery in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; Whereas Council Regulation (Euratom, EEC) No 2053/93 of 19 July 1993 concerning the provision of technical assistance to economic reform and recovery in the inde- pendent States of the former Soviet Union and Mon- golia (9 laid down the conditions for the provision of this technical assistance and envisaged such an operation from 1 January 1993 to 31 December 1995; Whereas such assistance will be fully effective only in the context of progress towards free and open democratic systems that respect human rights, and towards market- oriented economic systems; Whereas such assistance has already generated significant impact on reform in the New Independent States and Mongolia and further assistance is still required to ensure that this reform becomes sustainable, it is necessary to continue this effort; Whereas a financial reference amount, within the meaning of point 2 of the declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1998, is included in this Regulation for the entire dura- (') OJ No C 141, 13. 5. 1996. () OJ No L 187, 29. 7. 1993, p. 1. tion of the programme, without thereby affecting the powers of the budgetary authority as they are defined by the Treaty; Whereas the implementation of the said assistance should enable conditions favourable to private investment to be established; Whereas it is appropriate to establish priorities for this assistance; Whereas Community assistance will be all the more effec- tive where it can be implemented on a decentralized basis within each partner country; Whereas the development of inter-State economic links and trade flows conducive to economic reform and restructuring should be encouraged; Whereas, in order properly to meet the most acute needs of the New Independent States and Mongolia at the present stage of their economic transformation, it is necessary to permit a limited amount of the financial allocation to be used for small-scale infrastructure projects in the context of cross-border cooperation; Whereas the development of small and medium-sized enterprises is a priority in all the New Independent States and Mongolia, and it is therefore appropriate to provide equity funding for such companies; Whereas the dialogue between the social partners should be encouraged; Whereas the integration of environmental aspects into the programme would guarantee the long-term sustainability of the economic reforms; Whereas the European Council at its meeting in Rome also stressed the importance of effective coordination by the Commission of the efforts made in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by the Community and its Member States acting individually; Whereas it is appropriate that the Commission be assisted in the implementation of Community aid by a committee made up of Member States’ representatives;