31.12. 88 Official Journal of the VEuropean Communities No L 374/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different Structural Funds bétween themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial - instruments THE COUNCIL OF THE EﬁROPEAN COMMUNITIES, ‘Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 130e and 153 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (‘),( In cooperation with the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas the: Council adopted Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 on the tasks of the Structural. Funds and their effectiveness and on the coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments (*); ’ Whereas the doubling of the Structural Funds between 1987 and 1993 is. covered by the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 June 1988; whereas provisions for the implementation of Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 should be laid down so that the new financial means allocated to the Funds are used in compliance with the new rules laid _ (1) OJ No C 256, 3. 10. 1988, p. 1. (2) O No C 326, 19. 12, 1988 and decision of 14 December 1988 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ No C 337, 31. 12. 1988. (*) O] No L 185, 15. 7. 1988, p. 9. down in that Regulation and in accordance with the guidelines of the European Council; Whereas Article 3 (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 provides that the Council, acting on the basis of Article 130e of the Treaty, shall adopt the provisions necessary for ensuring coordination between the different Structural Funds, on the one hand, and between them and the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the other existing financial instruments, on the other; Whereas it is necessary to ensure and strengthen, in a manner consistent with the partnership, the coordination between the Structural Funds and between these Funds, the EIB and the Community’s other existing financial instruments, in order to enhance the effectiveness of their contributions to the attainment of the objectives set out in Article 1 of Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88; whereas the Commission has an important role to play in this respect; Whereas, to this end, the Commission must, where necessary, associate the EIB with the preparation of its decisions; whereas the EIB is prepared to cooperate in the implementation of this Regulation, in keeping with its own powers and responsibilities; Whereas Articles 8 to 11 of the said Regulation provide for measures relating to their implementation to be laid down in the implementing decisions referred to in Article 130e of the Treaty; whereas it is necessary to determine the criteria which the Commission should use to select those rural areas outside the regions designated for assistance from the Funds under objective 1 which may receive assistance under objective 5 (b) as defined in Article 1 of Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88; whereas these criteria must ensure that there is effective concentration on those areas suffering from the most serious problems of development, while account is taken of difficulties in other rural areas, in the regions of Member States with socio-economic imbalances such as would threaten their development;