24. 12. 97 Official Journal of the Buropean Communities L 353/5 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2614/97 of 15 December 1997 on Community financial contributions to the International Fund for Ireland 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 proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Par- liament (3), {1) Whereas the programmes of the International Fund for Ireland (hereinafter ‘the Fund’) encourage cross- border and cross-community cooperation and thereby promote dialogue and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists; (2) Whereas the Fund is an example of successful Anglo-Irish cooperation in promoting reconciliation between the two communities and their economic and social progress; (3) Whereas ECU 15 million a year has been provided from the Community budget from 1989 until 1995 to support projects of the Fund which have a genuine additional impact on the areas concerned; (4) Whereas pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 2687/94 of 31 October 1994 on Community financial contributions to the International Fund for Ireland (), the amount established as part of the budgetary procedure for each of the years 1995, 1996 and 1997 has been ECU 20 million; (5) Whereas the assessments carried out in accordance with Articles 3 and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2687/94 have confirmed that the Community’s contribution has been used in accordance with the objectives of the Fund and the criteria laid down in the first and second paragraphs of Article 2 of the said Regula- tion; (6) Whereas Regulation (EC) No 2687/94 expires on 31 December 1997; (7) Whereas the peace process in Northern Ireland requires a continuation of Community support beyond that date; (8) Whereas the Commission adopted on 28 July 1995 a decision granting Structural Funds assistance to the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconcili- () OJ C 190, 21. 6. 1997, p. 14. () O C 371, 8. 12. 1997. () OJ L 286, 5. 11. 1994, p. 5. ation in Northern Ireland and in the Border Coun- ties of Ireland; (9) Whereas the Community contribution should be used by the Fund in accordance with the Agreement under which it was established and in priority for projects that are consistent with the activities funded by the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE); (10) Whereas such support should take the form of finan- cial contributions for a period of two more years; (11) Whereas it is vital to ensure proper coordination between the Fund’s activities and those financed under Community structural policies; (12) Whereas Fund assistance will be effective only insofar as it is additional and not a substitute for other public or private expenditure; (13) Whereas an assessment reviewing the Fund’s per- formance and the need or further support should be drawn up before I April 1999; (14) Whereas the amount deemed necessary for the Community contribution to the Fund is ECU 17 million for each of the years 1998 and 1999, expressed in current values; (15) Whereas this support will contribute to reinforcing the solidarity between the Member States and between their peoples; (16) Whereas the Treaty does not provide for the adop- tion of this Regulation, powers other than those in Article 23S, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 An annual contribution shall be made to the Fund for each of the years 1998 and 1999. The amount of this contribution shall be established as part of the annual budgetary procedure. Article 2 The contributions shall be used by the Fund, in accordance with the Agreement under which it was established, in priority for projects of a cross-border or cross-community nature, and in particular for those consistent with the objectives of the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE) and the other Structural Fund Programmes.