30. 12. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities L 354/25 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 16 December 1997 on a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organizations primarily active in the field of environmental protection (97/872/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130s (1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189¢ of the Treaty (%), (1) Whereas the Treaty provides for the development and the implementation of a Community environ- ment policy and sets out the objectives and prin- ciples which should guide that policy; (2) Whereas the resolution of the Council and the rep- resentatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, of 1 February 1993 ( established a Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development (fifth action programme); (3) Whereas, according to the joint declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commis- () OJ C 104, 3. 4. 1997, p. 11 and O] C 104, 3. 4. 1997, p. 15. (® OJ C 204, 15. 7. 1996, p. 1. %) Opinion of the European Parliament of 13 November 1996 (OJ C 362, 2. 12. 1996, p. 130), Council common position of 24 April 1997 (O] C 188, 19. 6. 1997, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 18 September 1997 (O] C 304, 6. 10. 1997, p. 107). () OJ C 138, 17. 5. 1993, p. 1. sion of 30 June 1982 on various measures to improve the budget procedure (), a legal instrument has to be adopted before appropriations entered in the budget for any new significant Community action can be implemented,; (4) Whereas the Commission, in its communication to the budgetary authority concerning legal bases and maximum amounts, undertook to propose a legal base to cover the subsidies accorded under budget article ‘B4-306 — awareness and subsidies’; (5) Whereas non-governmental organizations (NGOs), active in the field of environmental protection, can contribute to the environment policy of the Com- munity, as laid down in Article 130r of the Treaty; (6) Whereas NGOs’ activities of concrete environmental protection measures and of increasing the general awareness of the need for the protection of the en- vironment should be encouraged; (7) Whereas the capacity of the national, regional and local environmental NGOs to exchange perspectives, problems and possible solutions relating to environ- mental problems having a Community dimension, should be enhanced; (8) Whereas the fifth action programme recognizes that all relevant actors, the Commission and environ- mental organizations included, working in partner- ship should undertake concerted actions and share responsibility for achieving the goal of sustainable development; () OJ C 194, 28. 7. 1982, p. 1.