L 120/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 8.5.1999 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 976/1999 of 29 April 1999 laying down the requirements for the implementation of Community operations, other than those of development cooperation, which, within the framework of Community cooperation policy, contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in third countries THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular, Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (%), ) Whereas procedures should be laid down for the implementation of Community operations, other than those of development cooperation which, within the framework of Community cooperation policy in third countries, contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating demo- cracy and the rule of law and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in third countries; Whereas the Council has adopted simultaneously with this Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No 975/1999 of 29 April 1999 laying down the requirements for the implementation of develop- ment cooperation operations which contribute to the general objective of developing and consoli- dating democracy and the rule of law and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental free- doms (3); Whereas, within the framework of existing programmes relating to cooperation with third countries, including TACIS, PHARE, MEDA and the Regulation on reconstruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as future such cooperation implemented on the basis of Article 235 of the EC Treaty, action is necessary to contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental free- doms in third countries; Whereas Article F.2 of the Treaty on European Union stipulates that the Union respects funda- mental rights, as guaranteed by the European () OJ C 282, 18.9.1997, p. 14. () Opinion delivered on 14 April 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (®) See page 1 of this Official Journal. Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 and as they result from the consti- tutional traditions common to the Member States, as general principles of law; Whereas Community action to promote human rights and democratic principles is guided by belief in the universality and indivisibility of human rights, principles that underpin the international system for the protection of human rights; Whereas Community action to promote human rights and democratic principles is rooted in the general principles established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Whereas the Community recognises the interde- pendence of all human rights, and that progress in economic and social development and in the achievement of civil and political rights are mutu- ally supportive; Whereas human rights within the meaning of this Regulation should be considered to encompass respect for international humanitarian law, also taking into account the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1977 Additional Protocol thereto, the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refu- gees, the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and other acts of international treaty or customary law; Whereas the resolution on human rights, demo- cracy and development adopted by the Council and the Member States meeting within the Council on 28 November 1991 sets out guidelines, procedures and practical measures aimed at promoting civil and political freedoms alongside economic and social rights, by means of a representative political system based on respect for human rights;