10.10. 98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 275/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DECISION No 2179/98/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 24 September 1998 on the review of the European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development ‘Towards sustainability’ THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Atrticle 130s(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b of the Treaty (%), in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 29 June 1998, (1) Whereas on 18 March 1992 the Commission adopted the European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development ‘Towards sustain- ability’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programme’); (2) Whereas the European Parliament, in its resolution of 17 November 1992 (%), welcomed the guidelines set out in the Programme; (3) Whereas the Economic and Social Committee, in its opinion of 1 July 1992, approved the concepts and the thrust of the Programme; (4) Whereas the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, in their resolution of 1 (") OJ C 140, 11. 5. 1996, p. 5, and OJ C 28, 29. 1. 1997, p. 18. (3 OJ C 212, 22. 7. 1996, p. 1. () OJ C 34, 3. 2. 1997, p. 12. (Y) Opinion of the European Parliament of 13 November 1996 (OJ C 362, 2. 12. 1996, p. 112), Council common position of 17 April 1997 (O] C 157, 24. 5. 1997, p. 12) and Decision of the European Parliament of 17 July 1997 (OJ C 286, 22. 9. 1997, p. 208). Decision of the European Parliament of 15 July 1998 (OJ C 292, 21. 9. 1998) and Decision of the Council of 20 July 1998. () OJ C 337, 21. 12. 1992, p. 34. February 1993 (%), approved the general approach and strategy of the Programme; (5) Whereas, while many of the measures and actions in the Programme are set within a time-frame which extends to the year 2000, the Programme provides for a review to be undertaken before the end of 1995; (6) Whereas a number of developments with a bearing on sustainable development have occurred since the adoption of the Programme, in particular the adoption of Agenda 21 on the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and the adoption by the Commis- sion of a White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment; (7) Whereas the review should also reflect the commit- ments entered into and the conclusions adopted as part of various international processes; (8) Whereas one of the objectives of Community policy on the environment, under Article 130r of the Treaty, is the protection of human health; (9) Whereas the enlargement of the European Union to include the three new Member States, Austria, Finland and Sweden, poses new environmental challenges to the Union; whereas the Community has committed itself to reviewing certain provisions of its legislation in the environmental field by the end of the transitional period in accordance with the Act concerning the conditions of accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, in the light of the stricter standards that can be maintained in the new Member States in accordance with the Treaty, and emphasising the great importance of promoting a high level of health, safety and envir- onmental protection as part of Community action; () OJ C 138, 17. 5. 1993, p. 1.