26.6.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 161/43 REGULATION (EC) No 1261/1999 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 June 1999 on the European Regional Development Fund THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 162 thereof, Having regard to the from the Commission (1), proposal Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), 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 (*), (1) Whereas Article 160 of the Treaty provides that the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is intented to help redress the main regional imbalances in the Community; whereas the ERDF therefore contributes to reducing the gap between the levels of development of the various regions and the extent to which the least- favoured regions and islands, including rural areas, are lagging behind; (2) Whereas Article 2(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(®) provides that the main task of the ERDF is to contribute to the attainment of Objectives 1 and 2, as referred to in Article 1, first subparagraph, points 1 and 2 Yy OJ C 176, 9.6.1998, p. 35 and 0] C 52, 23.2.1999, p. 12. (2) O] C 407, 28.12.1998, p. 74. () OJ C51,22.2.1999, p. 1. () European Parliament opinion of 19 November 1998 (O] C 379, 7.12.1998, p. 178), Council Common Position of 14 April 1999 (O] C 134, 14.5.1999, p. 1) and European Parliament Decision of 6 May 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (°) See page 1 of this Official Journal. (hereinafter referred to as ‘Objectives 1 and 2) of that Regulation; whereas Articles 20 and 21 of the same Regulation provide that the ERDF is to contribute to financing cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation as well as to economic and social regeneration of cities and urban neighbourhoods in crisis under the Community initiatives; whereas Articles 22 and 23 of the Regulation in question state that it Is to support innovative measures at Community level and technical assistance measures; Whereas the provisions common to the Structural Funds are set out in Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999; whereass the type of measures which may be financed by the ERDF under Objectives 1 and 2, the Community initiatives and innovative measures should be defined; Whereas the contribution of the ERDE, in the context of its task of promoting regional development, to the harmonious, balanced and sustainable development of economic activity, to a high degree of competitiveness, to a high level of employment, to equality between women and men and to a high level of protection and improvement of the environment should be defined; Whereas the ERDF should provide assistance within the framework of a comprehensive and integrated strategy for sustainable development and ensure synergy with assistance from the other Structural Funds; Whereas, as part of its tasks, the ERDF should support the productive environment and the competitiveness of enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises; local economic development and employment, including in the fields of culture and tourism where these contribute to the creation of sustainable jobs; research and technological development; the development of local, regional and trans- European networks including the provision of suitable access to the said networks in the sectors of transport infrastructure, telecommunications