4.8.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 198/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 1726/2000 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 June 2000 on development cooperation with South Africa 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: Since the elections of April 1994 and the establishment of a democratic government, the Community has turned towards a strategy of support for the policies and reforms undertaken by the South African authorities. 1) The Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2259/96 of 22 November 1996 on development cooperation with South Africa (}); that Regulation expired on 31 December 1999. The Agreement on trade, development and cooperation between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa stipulates in Chapter VII thereof that finan- cial assistance in the form of grants is to be covered by a special  financial facility ~established under the Community budget, that the Community declares its willingness to maintain its financial cooperation with South Africa at a substantial level, and that it will take the necessary decisions in this respect on the basis of a proposal by the Commission. The abovementioned Agreement contains in Chapter V thereof provisions on aims, priorities, methods and implementation of development cooperation with South Africa. In the light of the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2259/96 and of Special Report No 7/98 of the Court of Auditors in respect of the European () O] C 21E, 25.1.2000, p. 1. (}) Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 May 1999 (O] C 279, 1.10.1999, p. 192), Council Common Position of 28 February 2000 (O] C 128, 8.5.2000, p. 51) and Decision of the European Parliament of 16 May 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Decision of the Council of 13 June 2000. () O] L 306, 28.11.1996, p. 5. (10) ( ( ( ( 4 5 6) 7 ) O] ) O] ) O] ) O Community development aid programme regarding South Africa (1986 to 1996), development cooperation with South Africa should be continued subject to adap- tations, in particular as regards simplification of proced- ures, greater focus on sectoral priorities and decentral- ised decision-making. Assistance provided under this Regulation should be implemented in coherence with actions of other donors, including multilateral institutions. 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 (¥). This Regulation lays down, for the entire duration of the programme, a financial framework constituting the prin- cipal point of reference, within the meaning of point 33 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the Euro- pean Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 May 1999 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure (%), for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure. Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities' financial interests () establishes a common legal framework in all fields related to the Communities' own resources and expenditure. Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities () applies to all areas of the Communities' activity without prejudice to the provisions of the Community rules specific to the different policy areas, L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1. L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.