11.4.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 101/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 19 March 2001 adopting the Council's security regulations (2001/264(EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 207(3) thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 2000/396/EC, ECSC, Euratom of 5 June 2000 adopting the Councils Rules of Procedure (1), and in particular Article 24 thereof, Whereas: () In order to develop Council activities in areas which require a degree of confidentiality, it is appropriate to establish a comprehensive security system covering the Council, its General Secretariat and the Member States. (2)  Such system should combine in a single text the subject matter covered by all previous decisions and provisions in the same field. (3)  In practice, the major part of EU information classified CONFIDENTIEL UE and above will concern the Common Security and Defence Policy. (4 In order to safeguard the effectiveness of the security system thus established, Member States should be associated with its functioning by taking national measures necessary to respect the provisions of this Decision where their competent authorities and servants handle EU classified information. (5 The Council welcomes the intention of the Commission to introduce, by the date of application of this Decision, a comprehensive system that is in line with the Annexes () OJ L 149, 23.6.2000, p. 21. thereto, with a view to ensuring a smooth functioning of the decision-making process of the Union. (6)  The Council underlines the importance of associating, where appropriate, the European Parliament and the Commission with the rules and standards of confidentiality which are necessary in order to protect the interests of the Union and its Member States. (7) This Decision is taken without prejudice to Article 255 of the Treaty and to instruments implementing it. (8)  This Decision is taken without prejudice to existing practices in Member States with regard to informing their national Parliaments on the activities of the Union, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The Council's security regulations contained in the Annex are hereby approved. Article 2 1. The Secretary-General/High Representative shall take appropriate measures to ensure that, when handling EU classified information, the regulations referred to in Article 1 are respected within the General Secretariat of the Council (hereinafter referred to as ‘GSC) by GSC officials and other servants, by GSC external contractors, and by personnel seconded to the GSC, as well as within Council premises and EU decentralised agencies (?). (3 See Council Conclusions of 10 November 2000.