24.4.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L1141 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 761/2001 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 19 March 2001 allowing voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 175(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), in the light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 20 December 2000, Whereas: (1)  Article 2 of the Treaty stipulates that the Community shall have among its tasks to promote throughout the Community sustainable growth and the Resolution of 1 February 1993 (%) stresses the importance of such sustainable growth. (1) OJ C 400, 22.12.1998, p. 7 and O] C 212 E, 25.7.2000, p. 1. (3 O] C209,22.7.1999, p. 43. (%) Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 April 1999 (O] C 219, 30.7.1999, p. 385), confirmed on 6 May 1999 (O] C 279, 1.10.1999, p. 253), Council Common Position of 28 February 2000 (OJ C 128, 8.5.2000, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 6 July 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Decision of the European Parliament of 14 February 2001 and Decision of the Council of 12 February 2001. Resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Govern- ments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 1 February 1993 on a Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development (0] C138,17.5.1993, p. 1). = — = = (2)  The programme ‘Towards Sustainability’, presented by the Commission and approved as to its general approach by the Resolution of 1 February 1993, underlines the role and responsibilities of organisations, both to reinforce the economy and to protect the environment throughout the Community. (3)  The programme ‘Towards Sustainability’ calls for broad- ening the range of instruments in the field of environ- mental protection and for using market-mechanisms to commit organisations to adopt a pro-active approach in this field beyond compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements regarding the environment. (4)  The Commission should promote a coherent approach between the legislative instruments developed at Com- munity level in the field of environmental protection. (5)  Council Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93 of 29 June 1993 allowing voluntary participation by companies in the industrial sector in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (°) demonstrated its effectiveness in promoting improvements of the environmental per- formance of industry. (6)  The experience gathered from the implementation of Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93 should be used to enhance the ability of the Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) to bring about an improvement in the overall environmental performance of organisations. (>) OJL168,10.7.1993, p. 1.