23. 9. 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 228/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 129d thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), : Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Atticle 189c of the Treaty (%), Whereas under Article 3 (n) of the Treaty the activities of the Community should include encouragement for the establishment and development of trans-European networks ; Whereas Atrticle 129b of the Treaty states that to help achieve the objectives referred to in Articles 7a and 130a of the Treaty the Community shall contribute to the esta- blishment and development of trans-European networks in the areas of transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructures ; Whereas Article 129b (2) of the Treaty is aimed at promo- ting the interconnection and interoperability of national networks as well as access to such networks and must take account in particular of the need to link island, land- (') OJ No C 89, 26. 3. 1994, p. 8. () OJ No C 195, 18. 7. 1994, p. 74. () OJ No C 217, 6. 8. 1994, p. 36. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 30 November 1994 (OJ No C 363, 19. 12. 1994, p. 23). Council common position of 31 March 1995 (OJ No C 130, 29. 5. 1995, p. 1) and Deci- sion of the European Parliament of 12 July 1995 (not yet pu- blished in the Official Journal). locked and peripheral regions with the central regions of the Community ; Whereas Article 129c of the Treaty provides that the Community shall establish a series of guidelines covering the objectives, priorities and broad lines of measures envi- saged in the sphere of trans-European networks and that it may support the financial efforts of the Member States to establish trans-European networks ; Whereas general rules should be laid down for the Community financing of trans-European networks, thereby permitting implementation of this Article ; Whereas under Article 129¢ of the Treaty Community aid may be granted to projects of common interest which are identified in the framework of the guidelines; Whereas the guidelines referred to in Article 129¢ (1) of the Treaty, proposed by the Commission, are under consi- deration by the European Parliament and the Council ; whereas, should the decisions adopting these guidelines not have entered into force when this Regulation enters into force, provision should be made on a transitional basis for a possible Community contribution to specific priority projects within the limits of the appropriations available for the financial year 1995 and at the latest until 31 December 1995 ; Whereas involvement of private capital funding trans- European networks should be increased and the partner- ship between the public and private sectors developed ; Whereas Community aid may take the form in particular of feasibility studies, loan guarantees or interest rate subsi- dies ; whereas these subsidies and guarantees relate in particular to financial support from the European Invest- ment Bank or other public or private financial bodies ; whereas in certain duly justified cases direct grants to investments may be considered ;