13.1.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L7/23 COUNCIL DECISION of 14 December 1998 adopting a multiannual programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector (1998-2002) (1999/23/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), 1) Whereas, for reasons of the competitiveness of Community businesses, security of supply and protection of the environment, energy matters are an important element in the Community’s inter- national activities; Whereas the Community’s accession to the Energy Charter Treaty and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change commits it to continue with international cooperation in the energy field; Whereas the Council conclusions of 18 November 1992 on the guidelines for cooperation with the developing countries for clean and efficient energy technology stressed that an essential objective of energy cooperation with all developing countries was the implementation of effective energy poli- cies; Whereas, as stressed in the Council resolution of 8§ July 1996 on the White Paper ‘An energy policy for the European Union’ (*), energy developments in the Community are increasingly influenced by external developments and efforts must therefore be made to ensure that the Community develops a coherent and consistent approach to energy matters with third countries; Whereas the Community is engaged in inter- national  energy  activities under  various programmes; whereas these activities should be 328, 26. 10. 1998. 214, 10. 7. 1998, p. 44. ()OJ C ) OJ C () OJ C 315, 13. 10. 1998, p. 1. ) OJ C 224, 1. 8. 1996, p. 1. (10) (1) (12) coordinated more closely so as to ensure that they are consistent; Whereas, in order to ensure that Community aid is used efficiently and duplication of work avoided, the Commission is to ensure that projects are subject to thorough prior appraisal; whereas it will systematically monitor and evaluate the progress and results of supported projects; Whereas coordination of the Community instru- ments for international action in the energy sector and other similar international programmes should be reinforced; Whereas, by reason of their wide-ranging nature, the principal objectives of this programme can be attained best at Community level; Whereas it is necessary to establish a specific legal instrument for the Community’s international cooperation activities in the field of energy policy; Whereas provision should therefore be made within the multiannual framework programme for actions in the energy sector (1998-2002) adopted by Decision 1999/21/EC, Euratom (°) for a specific programme for reinforcement of international cooperation in the energy field; whereas this specific programme would replace Council Regula- tion (EC) No 701/97 of 14 April 1997 amending a programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector — Synergy programme (°); Whereas, according to the resolution of 8 July 1996, political and trade relations are essential components of energy policy and, accordingly, the Community’s international energy cooperation measures should be integrated more effectively in its external policy as a whole; Whereas the objectives of energy cooperation pursuant to this programme should be to improve the competitiveness of Community businesses, to (°) See page 16 of this Official Journal. () OJ L 104, 22. 4. 1997, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 2598/98 (O] L 351, 23. 12. 1997, p. 16).