20. 7. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 181/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1404/9% of 15 July 1996 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1973/92 establishing a financial instrument for the environment (Life) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 130s(1) thereof, Having regafd to the proposal from the Commission (*), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Atticle 189c of the Treaty (%), Whereas the financial instrument for the environment, Life, is being implemented in phases; whereas the first phase ends on 31 December 1995; Whereas the first paragraph of Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 1973/92(%) provides that the Commission should make proposals for any adjustments to be made with a view to improvements to be brought forward for continuing the action beyond the first phase; Whereas, given the positive contribution of Life to the attainment of the objectives of Community policy on the environment, a second phase for a period of four years ending on 31 December 1999 should be set in motion; Whereas the experience gained with Life during the first phase has highlighted the need to concentrate efforts by specifying more clearly the areas of activity able to benefit from Community financial aid, to improve the manage- ment procedures and to define more clearly the selection and evaluation criteria for these activities; Whereas the efficiency and transparency of the applica- tion procedures for Life and of the procedures for the information of the public and potential beneficiaries should be improved; 1} OJ No C 184, 18. 7. 1995, p. 12 O] No C 18, 22. 2. 1996. ) OJ No C 100, 2. 4. 1996. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 17 November 1995 (OJ No C 323, 4. 12. 1995), common position of the Council of 18 December 1995 (OJ No C 134, 6. 5. 1996, p. 1) and de- cision of the European Parliament of § June 1996 (O] No C 181, 24. 6. 1996). () OJ No L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 1. Whereas preparatory actions should concern the promo- tion of joint transnational action, cooperation and know-how transfer, between government bodies (local, regional or national) and/or non-government bodies and/or socio-economic factors; Whereas the additional protocols to the Europe agree- ments between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and certain central and eastern Buropean countries, of the other part, provide for the participation of those countries in Community programmes, in particular in the field of the environment; Whereas, given that the abovementioned central and eastern European countries should themselves meet the costs involved by their participation, the Community may decide, if appropriate for specific cases and in conformity with the rules applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and the relevant Association Agreements, on a supplement to the national contribution of the country concerned; Whereas for third countries bordering on the Mediterra- nean and the Baltic Sea other than the central and eastern European countries which have signed Association Agree- ments with the European Community, there is a need to implement technical assistance activities and demonstra- tion activities; 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 1995, is included in this Regulation for the entire duration of the programme, without thereby affecting the powers of the budgetary authority as they are defined by the Treaty, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Regulation (EEC) No 1973/92 is hereby amended as follows: