30.12.98 [ EN | Official Journal of the European Communities L 354/5 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2836/98 of 22 December 1998 on integrating of gender issues in development cooperation THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130w thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Atrticle 189c of the Treaty (%), 1) Whereas the importance of women’s economic and social roles in developing countries has led to increasing international recognition that their full participation without discrimination is indispens- able for sustainable and effective development; Whereas their contribution to development is pres- ently achieved in the face of formidable obstacles specific to women, limiting the outcome of their work and reducing the benefits to society as a whole; Whereas these obstacles include persistent and severe disparities between women and men in the right to equal participation in development for women, access to basic services, particularly in the areas of education, training and health, access to decision-making and control over economic resources; Whereas  development  interventions  have frequently failed to address adequately the differ- ences between women’s and men’s situations, roles, opportunities and priorities, thereby reducing their overall success; (") OJ C 371, 8. 12. 1997, p. 74. (3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 19 November 1997 (OJ C 371, 8. 12. 1997.), Council Common Position of 30 March 1998 (O] C 204, 30. 6. 1998, p. 18.) and Decision of the European Parliament of 17 September 1998 (O] C 313, 12. 10. 1998.). () (10) (1) Whereas redressing gender disparities and enhancing the role of women are crucial for social justice and the effectiveness of development efforts; Whereas development cooperation must encourage the necessary accompanying changes in attitudes, structures and mechanisms at political, economic, legal, community and household level; Whereas it is now recognized that though specific efforts to enhance the role of women in develop- ment remain as necessary as ever, the focus must widen to encompass both men’s and women’s roles, responsibilities, needs, access to resources and decision-making, and the inter-relationship between them, known as gender issues; Whereas development effectiveness requires that gender analysis should be systematically integrated into the conception, design, implementation and evaluation of all development interventions and strategies; Whereas the foregoing analysis is set out in more detail in the Commission’s communication to the Council and the European Parliament on integ- rating gender issues in development cooperation of 18 September 1995 and was endorsed by the Council in its Resolution of 20 December 1995; Whereas in a series of conclusions from 1982 to 1993 the Council has stressed the importance it attaches to women’s role in development; Whereas the Community and its Member States were signatories to the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies in 1985 and to the Declaration and Plat- form for Action of the Fourth World Conference