L 234/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 1.9.2001 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1725/2001 of 23 July 2001 concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in third countries other than developing countries THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, Whereas: 1) The European Community is concerned by the presence of anti-personnel land-mines and other unexploded devices in areas where civil communities are trying to recover from armed conflict. Anti-personnel landmines cause suffering and casualties and constitute a serious obstacle to economic develop- ment, inhibit the return of refugees and displaced persons, and obstruct humanitarian aid operations, reconstruction and rehabilitation and the restoration of normal social conditions. The Community is determined to make a full contribu- tion towards the goal of total elimination of anti- personnel landmines world-wide in the coming years. The Community and its Member States have provided the largest contribution to the wider international effort to overcome the tragedy of anti-personnel landmines. Action to achieve the total elimination of anti-personnel landmines is still at an early stage and therefore the Community should continue to exercise determined leadership until the goal is fully achieved. This Regulation is a direct response to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention). Therefore, financial aid should, as a priority, benefit those third countries which are committed to the fight against anti-personnel landmines and are parties to the Ottawa Convention. Community mine action is often an integral part of humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, reconstruction or devel- opment activities, whilst being a discrete and specialised activity responding to distinct priorities, operational requirements and political imperatives. As part of such activities, as well as in the case of framework programmes for the research and develop- ment of mine action technology, new and existing () O] C 120 E, 24.4.2001, p. 173. (10) (13) (18) actions will continue to be funded from specific budget lines, supported, complemented and coordinated under this Regulation where appropriate. For the Community to be able to contribute effectively to preventive actions on mines, it will be necessary to allow for Community action to destroy anti-personnel landmines in stockpiles in conjunction with operations to destroy anti-personnel landmines in the ground. Scientific research should be intensified with the aim of developing technologies to facilitate mine detection and identification of the affected areas with greater precision. The Community needs to be in a position to ascertain that the mine clearance actions which it has financed have been effective. It must therefore employ the appro- priate technical means, including military technology where necessary. This Regulation is designed to provide the basis for a coherent and efficient approach for the Community mine action in third countries other than developing countries, through advancing an integrating strategy, in close coordination between the Commission, the Member States and the international community at all stages of mine actions. Such an approach should not prevent Community response to humanitarian emergencies wherever they occur. It is necessary to ensure that these actions are coherent with the European Union's foreign policy as a whole, including the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (). The anti-personnel landmine problem, by its life-threat- ening nature and its global extent, requires efficient, flexible and, where necessary, rapid decision-making procedures for the financing of Community actions. The Community should ensure maximum transparency in the implementation of the financial assistance and stringent controls in the use of appropriations. () O] L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.