30.12.2006 Official Journal of the European Union L 404/39 DECISION No 1926/2006/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 December 2006 establishing a programme of Community action in the field of consumer policy (2007-2013) (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO- PEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, and in particular Article 153 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (%), Whereas: () The Community can contribute to protecting the health, safety and economic and legal interests of citizens through actions in the field of consumer protection. (2) It is therefore appropriate to establish a programme of Community action in the field of consumer policy, repla- cing Decision No 20/2004/EC of the European Parlia- ment and of the Council of 8 December 2003 estab- lishing a general framework for financing Community actions in support of consumer policy for the years 2004 to 2007 (*). That Decision should therefore be repealed. (3)  Integrating consumer interests in all Community policies, in accordance with Article 153 of the Treaty, should be given high priority, together with the consumer policy objectives  set  out in  this = programme. () OJC 88,11.4.2006,p. 1. () 0JC192,16.8.2006, p. 8. (’) Opinion of the European Parliament of 23 March 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Common Position of the Council of 14 November 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Posi- tion of the European Parliament of 12 December 2006. () O] L 5, 9.1.2004, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision No 786/2004/EC (OJ L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 7). Coordination with other Community policies and programmes is a key part of ensuring that consumer interests are taken fully into account in other policies. In order to promote synergies and avoid duplication, other Community funds and programmes should provide for financial support for the integration of consumer inter- ests in their respective fields. (4 This Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the programme, a financial envelope constituting the prime reference, within the meaning of point 37 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commis- sion on budgetary discipline and sound financial manage- ment (), for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure. (5) It is of general European interest that the health and safety aspects of services and non-food products and the economic and legal interests of citizens, as well as consu- mers’ interests in the development of standards for products and services, be represented at Community level. Given the particular nature of the organisations concerned, the renewal of Community support for the functioning of such organisations should not be subject to the principle of gradual decrease of the extent of Com- munity support. (6) It is appropriate to ensure a transition between this programme and the programme it replaces, in particular regarding the continuation of multi-annual measures and the evaluation of the previous programme’s successes and areas that need more attention. As of 1 January 2014, the technical and administrative assistance appropriations should cover, if necessary, the expenditure related to the management of actions not completed by the end of 2013. (7)  The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (¢). () 0JC139,14.6.2006,p. 1. () OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision No 2006/512/EC (O] L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).