9.2.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 34/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DECISION No 283/1999/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 January 1999 establishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 129a thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Atrticle 189b of the Treaty (%), 1) Whereas Community action contributes to achieving a high level of consumer protection and thus also contributes to promoting economic and social cohesion in the Community and to strength- ening consumer confidence, which is essential for the smooth functioning of the internal market; Whereas these objectives cannot be achieved effec- tively without the cooperation and participation of all the institutions and parties concerned; Whereas the Community is committed in partic- ular to giving new impetus to its action in favour of consumers and their health in order to enable them to become a driving and innovatory force; Whereas the statement of the European Council meeting in Luxembourg on 12 and 13 December 1997 on food safety recognises that everything must be done to restore public confidence, severely shaken by the BSE crisis; whereas activities to be undertaken within a general framework are essen- tial for achieving this aim; () OJ C 108, 7. 4. 1998, p. 43 and OJ C 390, 15. 12. 1998, p. 23 () OJ C 235, 27. 7. 1998, p. 72. () Opinion of the European Parliament of 8 October 1998 (O] C 328, 26. 10. 1998, p. 166), Council common position of 20 November 1998 (O] C 404, 23. 12. 1998, p. 8) and Decision of the European Parliament of 15 December 1998 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Council Decision of 21 December 1998. ©) (10) Whereas the Community needs to plan the actions required by grouping them together in a general framework that identifies the activities and areas of activity which must be tackled as a matter of priority in order to achieve maximum effectiveness throughout the period covered; Whereas this general framework aims in particular to bring together the initiatives carried out for the benefit of consumers in order to optimise their effects for consumers; Whereas this general framework must provide both for initiatives taken by the Community, in compli- ance with the principle of subsidiarity, and for actions to support organisations and bodies which work to defend consumer interests at Community or national level; Whereas the initiatives undertaken by the Community and the actions to support other private or public initiatives complement one another and should form part of an integrated approach; whereas it is necessary to strengthen the bodies and organisations that are active in the area of consumer protection so that they can be a more effective driving force for making consumers aware of the priorities set by the Community; Whereas the other policies of the Community are also responsible and accountable for the integration of consumer interests and should also contribute in financial terms to the implementation of policy in the field of consumer protection; Whereas the implementation of this general frame- work should make it possible to take better account of the interests of consumers in the other relevant policies of the Community, and should ensure the development of consumer participation in the stan- dardisation process;