30. 12. 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 327/9 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 3062/95 of 20 December 1995 on operations to promote tropical forests THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 130s and 130w thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189¢ of the Treaty (3), Whereas the Commission communication to the Council of 16 October 1989 on ‘The conservation of tropical forests: the role of the Community’ (*) sets out broad guidelines for Community action in this sphere; Whereas the resolution of the Council of Ministers for Development Cooperation of 29 May 1990 on ‘Tropical forests: development aspects’ established a basis for the use of development instruments in tropical forest conservation; Whereas, in numerous resolutions, the European Parliament has expressed its concern over the destruction of tropical forests and the consequences for forest peoples; Whereas the Dublin European Council of June 1990 called for a programme of action to be drawn up to counteract the threat to tropical forests; Whereas the Community and its Member States adopted the Rio Forest Principles, the Agenda 21 action programme and the Convention on Biological Diversity and Climate Change; Whereas the Community’s operations to promote tropical forests form part of its objectives on the conservation of forests, in whatever geographical area or climate zone they may be situated; (") OJ No C 78, 19. 3. 1993, p. 8; 0OJ No C 201, 13. 7. 1994, p. 15. (3} OJ No C 249, 13. 9. 1993. (*) Opinion of the European Parliament of 29 October 1993 (O] No C 315, 22. 12. 1993, p. 644), Council common position of 23 January 1995 (OJ No C 160, 26. 6. 1995) and Decision of the European Parliament of 15 June 1995 (O] No C 166, 3. 7. 19935). () OJ No C 264, 16. 10. 1989, p. 1. Whereas the Community intends to expand its operations to promote the conservation of tropical forests in all appropriate ways, within the context, inter alia, of its environment policy and of its new development cooperation policy, laid down in Articles 130u to 130y of the Treaty, and using the relevant instruments of development assistance and trade; Whereas, by virtue of their special knowledge, the forest peoples play a key role in managing the environment, in particular with regard to the conservation of tropical forests; Whereas the ecological and socio-economic conditions of tropical forests vary according to regions and countries; Whereas a Community operation, supplementing action by Member States, will facilitate achievement of the objectives pursued; Whereas existing financial instruments available to the Community for supporting the conservation and sustainable development of forests could usefully be supplemented; Whereas a substantial commitment of resources is required to have a significant impact on the protection of tropical forests; Whereas provision should be made for funding the operations referred to in this Regulation; Whereas a financial reference amount, within the meaning of point 2 of the declaration of 6 March 1995 by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, is included in this Regulation for the entire duration of the programme, without thereby affecting the powers of the budgetary authority as they are defined by the Treaty; Whereas a framework should be set up in order to foster these operations and guarantee a consistent policy in this area; Whereas the Council and the European Parliament will consider, before the end of 1999, the mechanisms for funding, from the year 2000 onwards, operations to promote tropical forests, taking account of the provisions of the ACP-EC Convention and the Regulation concerning cooperation with developing countries in Asia and Latin America; Whereas rules for implementation, in particular the form of action, recipients of aid and decision-making procedures, should be laid down,