25. 4. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 108/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 722/97 of 22 April 1997 on environmental measures in developing countries in the context of sustainable development THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 130s and 130w thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3, Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189c of the Treaty (%), (1) Whereas it is necessary to implement sustainable development by contributing to the genuine integra- tion of an environmental dimension into the de- velopment process; (2) Whereas the creation of suitable instruments and the implementation of experimental schemes will be the cornerstones of that integration in all the fields concerned; (3) Whereas the European Parliament adopted a Resolu- tion on 14 May 1992 on the environment and de- velopment cooperation; (4) Whereas the Community and its Member States were signatories to the Rio Declaration and the Agenda 21 action programme; (5) Whereas the Community and its Member States rati- fied the Conventions on Biological Diversity and on Climate Change, and have signed the Convention on Desertification; whereas they are thus committed to 1 () OJ No C 20, 24. 1. 1996, p. 4. () OJ No C 82, 19. 3. 1996, p. 18. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 9 May 1996 (O] No C 152, 27. 5. 1996, p. 56), Council Common Position of 27 June 1996 (OJ No C 264, 11. 9. 1996, p. 28) and Decision of the European Parliament of 12 November 1996 (O] No C 362, 2. 12. 1996, p. 33). take into account the common but differing re- sponsibilities of developed parties and developing parties on the subject; (6) Whereas the Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 1 February 1993 is concerned with a Community policy and action programme on the environment and sustainable development; (7) Whereas, since resources are limited, information campaigns and pilot projects conducted in close cooperation with local experts are likely to have the maximum multiplier effect; (8) Whereas it is important to integrate the internal and external aspects of the European Community’s en- vironment policy in order to have a coherent answer to the problems set out by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in particular as regards the effects of global environmental changes on the state of the environment within the Community; (9) Whereas it is necessary, in the project management cycle, for any proposal for a development coopera- tion project to be evaluated for its environmental impact by specific, appropriate procedures; (10) Whereas, in particular where climate change and the conservation of biological and genetic diversity and resources (including the seas, coasts and soils) are concerned, local effects have wundeniable con- sequences for the whole earth and for future genera- tions and consequently for the well-being, health and security of the citizens of the Community, notably as far as access to genetic resources is concerned; (11) Whereas the financial instruments available to the Community for conservation and sustainable de- velopment could be usefully supplemented; (12) Whereas measures need to be taken to finance the activities covered by this Regulation;