20.11.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L2991 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2454/1999 of 15 November 1999 amending Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 relating to aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in particular by the setting up of a European Agency for Reconstruction THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ('), Whereas: 1) Further to United Nations Security Council Resolution No 1244 of 10 June 1999, a programme of reconstruc- tion including measures to help resettle refugees and revitalise Kosovo's economy is urgently needed; The European Council at its meeting on 3 and 4 June 1999 confirmed the European Union's desire to play a leading role in the reconstruction efforts in the region, especially in Kosovo, and called upon the Commission to draw up, as a matter of priority, proposals regarding the organisation of the reconstruction assistance envis- aged and in particular the appropriate means and mech- anisms for putting such a programme in place, including the setting up of an agency to be responsible for imple- menting the Community's reconstruction programmes; The Stability Pact underlines in particular the European Union's role in bolstering democratic and economic institutions in the region; The objectives relating to this region involve reconstruc- tion, revitalisation and economic, social and institutional development; Aid programmes necessary for the reconstruction of Kosovo cannot be implemented unless the appropriate means and mechanisms are in place; (*) Opinion delivered on 27 October 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (6) (10) (12) Regulation (EC) No 162896 () sets out, inter alia, objec- tives, mechanisms and instruments for the reconstruc- tion of the regions it covers, including Kosovo; Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 should be amended to take account of the specific requirements for Kosovo's recon- struction, which will demand the rapid implementation of numerous small-scale projects, measures to support returning refugees and the assistance of experts covering a wide range of fields; provisions should therefore be laid down for setting up and running a European Agency for reconstruction (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Agency’) that can be charged by the Commission with implementing the reconstruction programmes; Reconstruction efforts must be united with those for the people of Kosovo; Provision should be made for the States covered by the PHARE programmes and the States of South-East Europe to be involved in the tendering procedures and contracts; Coordination of the assistance for the reconstruction with the European Investment Bank, the international financial institutions, the United Nations/High Commis- sioner for Refugees and the non-governmental organ- isations concerned should be ensured; The measures necessary for the implementation of Regu- lation (EC) No 1628/96 being management measures within the the meaning of Article 2 of Council Decision No 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (}), such measures should be adopted in accordance with the management proced- ure provided for in Article 4 of that Decision; The authority put in charge of the provisional adminis- tration of Kosovo should be consulted on the imple- mentation of the reconstruction programmes; (*) O] L 204, 14.8.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 851/98 (O] L 122, 24.4.1998, p. 1). () O] L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.