27. 3. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 85/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 550/97 of 24 March 1997 on HIV/AIDS-related operations in developing countries THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130w thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (), Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189c of the Treaty (3, Whereas the budgetary authority decided, in the frame- work of the 1988 budget, to create a budget heading designed to support the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic whereby it would seek to develop innovative measures complementing those already implemented at other levels; Whereas the Commission, in its communication of 7 January 1994 to the Council and the European Par- liament on HIV/AIDS in the developing countries, outlined the policy principles and strategic priorities needed to enhance the effectiveness of action by the Community and the Member States in that field; Whereas HIV/AIDS is no longer an emerging epidemic, but has become a pandemic spread throughout the whole world, and is evolving with different social and political implications, depending on the regions and/or countries in question, and thus requires an appropriate structural and multisectoral response which is beyond the financial and human resources of most developing countries; Whereas the Council, in its Resolution of 6 May 1954, emphasized the gravity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the need to step up efforts to give more support to the developing countries’ national strategies; whereas it identi- fied, as priorities for such support, strategies aimed at () OJ No C 252, 28. 9. 1995, p. 4. (?) Opinion of the European Parliament of 9 May 1996 (O] No C 152, 27. 5. 1996, p. 44), Council Common Position of 27 June 1996 (O] No C 264, 11. 9. 1996, p. 21) and Decision of the European Parliament of 12 November 1996 (O] No C 362, 2. 12. 1996, p. 43). more effective prevention of transmission based on educa- tion, the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and transfusion safety, along with strategies to help the HIV- positive and the sick, in particular by strengthening health systems and combating discrimination and social exclusion; Whereas the European Parliament and the EC-ACP Joint Assembly, in their respective Resolutions adopted on 14 April 1986 and 15 February 1993, also underlined the need to take greater account of causes and factors such as poverty in the spread of the epidemic, and of the economic and social consequences of HIV/AIDS, notably through measures designed to enhance the status of women and help local communities care for families and individuals affected by the pandemic; Whereas both the European Parliament and the Council have called for increased Community involvement in this field; Whereas the effectiveness of programmes to support national strategies to combat HIV/AIDS depends on improved coordination of aid both at European level and with other donors and UN agencies, in particular Unaids, and on the use of flexible procedures tailored to the specific nature of the activities and the partners concerned; whereas the European Parliament and Council Resolutions call for efforts in that direction; Whereas administrative rules and procedures should be established for cooperation in the field of HIV/AIDS; 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 period 1997 to 1999 without thereby affecting the powers of the budgetary authority as they are defined by the Treaty, () OJ No C 102, 4. 4. 1996, p. 4.