9.2.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 39/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 257/2001 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 22 January 2001 regarding the implementation of measures to promote economic and social development in Turkey THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 179 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: (1)  Relations between the European Union and Turkey are based mainly on the Association Agreement of 12 September 1963 (*) and the decisions of the Association Council which the Association Agreement set up. (2)  Turkey is engaged in substantial reform to improve its economy, restructure and increase the efficiency of its public sector, modernise its economic and social infra- structure and develop its manufacturing sector. (3)  The Cardiff European Council on 15 and 16 June 1998 affirmed the importance it attached to the implementa- tion of the European strategy for Turkey and requested the Commission to table proposals, including proposals on financial matters, in that connection. (4)  Income is unequally distributed across Turkey's prov- inces and in order to act on the conclusions of the Cardiff European Council it is, in particular, appropriate that these disparities be remedied by backing the devel- opment of regions which are lagging behind and by strengthening economic and social cohesion. (5)  The conclusions of the Council meeting of 13 September 1999 referred to financial assistance for Turkey. () O] C 408, 29.12.1998, p. 18 and OJ C 311 E, 31.10.2000, p. 125. (¥ Opinion of the European Parliament of 2 December 1999 (O] C 194, 11.7.2000, p. 48), Council Common Position of 13 June 2000 (O] C 240, 23.8.2000, p. 25) and Decision of the European Parlia- ment of 6 September 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Council Decision of 28 December 2000. () O] 217, 29.12.1964, p. 1. (6)  The Helsinki European Council of 10 and 11 December 1999 stated that Turkey was a candidate State destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate States. (7)  The provisions of this Regulation are based on respect for democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms and respect for international law, which underpin the policies of the European Community and its Member States, and on the obliga- tions entered into under the various agreements in those fields. (8)  The Community attaches great importance to the need for Turkey to improve and promote its democratic prac- tices and respect for fundamental human rights, and more closely involve civil society in that process. (9 The European Parliament has adopted a number of reso- lutions in particular on the importance of respect for human rights in Turkey to the development of close ties between that country and the European Union, namely those of 13 December 1995 on the human rights situa- tion in Turkey, 17 September 1998 on the Commission reports on developments in relations with Turkey since the entry into force of the customs union, 3 December 1998 on the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the further development of relations with Turkey and on the communication from the Commission to the Council entitled ‘European strategy for Turkey: the Commission's initial operational proposals’ and 6 October 1999 on the state of relations between Turkey and the European Union (%). (10)  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 (°). (*) O] C 17, 22.1.1996, p. 46; O] C 313, 12.10.1998, p. 176; O] C 398, 21.12.1998, p. 57; O] C 107, 3.4.2000, p. 78. () O] L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.