28. 11. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 306/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2258/96 of 22 November 1996 on rehabilitation and reconstruction 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 laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (%), Whereas the Commission, in its communication of 12 May 1993 to the European Parliament and the Council on a special rehabilitation support programme in devel- oping countries, highlighted the specific nature and scale of the rehabilitation and reconstruction aid needed by developing countries that have suffered serious destruc- tion through war, civil disorder or natural disaster; Whereas the conclusions of the Council (Development) of 2 December 1993 on rchabilitation aid define the prin- cipal objectives, conditions and criteria for such aid and emphasize the need for close coordination between the Commission and the Member States when planning and implementing it; Whereas the Commission must ensure that coherence and continuity govern the efforts made in the fields of humanitarian aid, rehabilitation and development; Whereas the European Parliament, in its Resolution of 16 November 1993 (%), emphasized the scale of the de- veloping countries’ need for rehabilitation aid and proposed the establishment of a specific financial frame- work with considerable financial resources for that purpose in the general budget of the European Commu- nities; Whereas the European Parliament stressed the need to position rehabilitation operations in a medium-term or long-term development plan; () OJ No C 235, 9. 9. 1995, p. 11. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 December 1995 (OJ No C 17, 22. 1. 1996, p. 448), common position of the Council of 29 January 1996 (OJ No C 87, 27. 3. 1996, p. 29) and decision of the European Parliament of 21 May 1996 (O] No C 166, 10. 6. 1996, p. 33). () OJ No C 329, 6. 12. 1993, p. 77. Whereas the European Parliament also noted that high priority needed to be accorded to the speed and efficiency of aid; Whereas the budgetary authority included, in the budget, headings for the financing of rehabilitation programmes in southern Africa (B7-3210) and of rehabilitation and reconstruction  operations in developing countries (B7-6410); Whereas procedures should be established for the administration of such programmes and operations, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 1. The Community shall carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in the developing countries referred to in paragraph 2 which have suffered serious damage through war, civil disorder or natural disaster with priority being given to the least developed among them. These operations, of limited duration and to be launched as quickly as possible without compromising the quality of assessment, shall be designed to help re-establish a working economy and the institutional capacities needed to restore social and political stability to the countries concerned and meet the needs of the people affected as a whole. The operations must progressively take over from humanitarian action and pave the way for the resumption of medium-term and long-term development aid. They must in particular permit refugees, displaced persons and demobilized troops to return home and must help the entire population to resume normal civilian life in their countries and regions of origin. 2. The countries to benefit from this Regulation shall be the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the Medi- terranean countries, the countries of Latin America and Asia and the developing countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia.