7.7.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 186/11 COUNCIL DECISION of 28 June 2001 establishing a programme of incentives and exchanges, training and cooperation for the prevention of crime (Hippokrates) (2001/515[JHA) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (8) A financial reference amount, within the meaning of Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in partic- ular Articles 30(1), 31 and 34(2)(c) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Whereas: (1)  Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union states that the Union's objective is to provide citizens with a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice by developing common action among the Member States, in particular in the field of prevention of crime, whether or not organised. (2)  The conclusions of the Tampere European Council call for cooperation in the fight against crime to be stepped up and for the possibility of establishing a programme financed by the Community to support this cooperation to be studied. (3)  Experience gained in managing the other intervention programmes financed by the Community, such as Oisin and Falcone, confirms the value of a similar instrument for crime prevention, to be charged to the general budget of the European Union. (4)  The optimum effectiveness of the intervention of the European Union will be ensured if it extends to all forms of crime, whether or not organised. (5)  The complexity of the phenomenon of crime in the Member States and the diversity of prevention policies already implemented by the Member States create a need for multidisciplinary approaches based on familiarity with crime. (6)  This programme, like the other programmes for cooperation in justice and home affairs, is open to the applicant countries with a view to facilitating their participation in the projects supported by the programme. (7)  The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with the procedures set out herein. () O] C 96 E, 27.3.2001, p. 244. (}) Opinion delivered on 5.4.2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal). point 34 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improve- ment of the budgetary procedure (?), is included in this Decision for the entire duration of the programme, without thereby affecting the powers of the budgetary authority as they are defined by the EC Treaty, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Establishment of the programme 1. This Decision establishes a programme of cooperation in the prevention of crime, to be known as ‘Hippokrates’. 2. The programme is established for a period of two years running from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002. Article 2 Programme objectives 1. The programme shall contribute to the general objective of providing citizens with a high level of protection in an area of freedom, security and justice. Within this framework, it is intended to encourage cooperation between all the public and private organisations in the Member States involved in the prevention of crime, whether or not organised. 2. The applicant countries may participate in projects in order to familiarise themselves with the Union acquis in this area and help them prepare for accession. Other third countries may also participate where this serves the aims of the projects. Article 3 Access to the programme 1. The programme shall co-finance projects submitted by public or private organisations in the European Union involved in the prevention of crime. 2. To be eligible for co-financing, the projects must involve at least three Member States, or two Member States and one applicant country, and have the objectives mentioned in Article () O] C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.