21.12.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 327/53 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 9 December 1999 establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection (1999/847 [EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Whereas: (1)  The actions taken by the Community in this field since 1985 must be continued with a view to strengthening the cooperation between the Member States; the Resolu- tions adopted since 1987 (°) and Council Decision 98| 22/EC of 19 December 1997 establishing a Community Action Programme in the field of Civil Protection (°) constitutes the basis for this cooperation; (2)  The individual actions undertaken by the Community to implement the programme contribute to the protection of persons, environment and property in the event of natural and technological disasters, and a greater aware- ness of the interrelationship between human activities and nature, which in the future may make it possible to prevent many disasters, including floods; C 28, 3.2.1999, p. 29. C 279, 1.10.1999, p. 210. C 169, 16.6.1999, p. 14. C 293, 13.10.1999, p. 53. C 176, 4.7.1987, p. 1; O] C 44, 23.2.1989, p. 3; O] C 315, 1 (9 O] L 8, 14.1.1998, p. 20. (3)  The Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable develop- ment (’) presented by the Commission foresees that the Community's activities will be stepped up in particular in the field of environmental emergencies; the same programme calls for these activities to take account of scientific research and technological development; (4 The Community Action Programme will continue to help to develop cooperation in this field even more effectively; the programme should be based to a large extent on experience already gained in this field; (5)  In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, Community cooperation supports and supplements national policies in the field of Civil Protection in order to make them more effective; pooling of experience and mutual assistance will help to reduce the loss of human life, injuries, material damage and economic and envir- onmental damage throughout the Community, making the objectives of social cohesion and solidarity more tangible; (6)  The isolated and outermost regions of the Union have special characteristics because of their geography, terrain and social and economic conditions which have an adverse effect and make it difficult to deliver aid and means of assistance in the event of major danger; (7 The Community Action Programme will provide trans- parency as well as consolidate and strengthen the different actions in continued pursuit of the objectives of the Treaty; () O] C 138, 17.5.1993, p. 5.