3.4.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 99/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 625/2004 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 31 March 2004 extending and amending Regulation (EC) No 1659/98 on decentralised cooperation 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 179(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (), Whereas: (1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1659/98 of 17 July 1998 on decentralised cooperation () was applied until 31 December 2001. (2)  Regulation (EC) No 1659/98 was amended and extended until 31 December 2003 by Regulation (EC) No 955/ 2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council. (3)  An evaluation completed in 2003 has led to the conclu- sion that the budget line concerned should be more focused. (4)  The decentralised cooperation instrument has a specific added value for the purposes of supporting operations in specific situations and difficult partnerships where tradi- tional instruments cannot be used or are not relevant, and in terms of the support it provides for the diversifi- cation of decentralised actors as potential partners in the development process. (5)  Regulation (EC) No 1659/98 should be amended and extended until 31 December 2006 following the completion of the evaluation and the adoption of the Commission Communication on the participation of non-State actors in Community development policy. The financial framework and reference period indicated in that Regulation should be adjusted. (6)  Regulation (EC) No 1659/98 should be amended accord- ingly, (") Opinion of the European Parliament of 18 December 2003 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council decision of 4 March 2004. (* OJ L 213, 30.7.1998, g 6. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 955/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 148, 662002 p- 1). HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Atrticle 1 Regulation (EC) No 1659/98 is hereby amended as follows: 1. Article 1 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 1 The Community shall support operations and initiatives undertaken by decentralised cooperation agents of the Com- munity and the developing countries centred on poverty reduction and sustainable development, particularly in situa- tions involving difficult partnerships where other instru- ments cannot be used. Such operations and initiatives shall promote: — a more participatory approach to development, respon- sive to the needs and initiatives of the populations in the developing countries, — a contribution to the diversification and reinforcement of civil society and grassroots democracy in the coun- tries concerned. In supporting such operations and initiatives, priority shall be given to decentralised cooperation agents of the devel- oping countries. All developing countries shall be eligible for operations to promote decentralised cooperation.’ 2. Article 2 is amended as follows: (a) the second indent is replaced by the following: ‘— information and the mobilisation of decentralised cooperation agents and participation in international fora to enhance dialogue on policy formulation,: (b) the following indent is inserted after the third indent: ‘— strengthening the networks of social organisations and movements campaigning for sustainable devel- opment, human rights, in particular social rights, and democratisation,’.