13.8.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L213/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) REGULATION (EC) No 1783/1999 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 July 1999 on the European Regional Development Fund (¥) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, 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 proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), 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 intended 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 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provi- sions 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 (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, transna- tional and interregional cooperation as well as to economic and social regeneration of cities and urban neighbourhoods in crisis under the Community Initi- atives; whereas Articles 22 and 23 of the Regulation in () This publication cancels and replaces the publication which appeared in O] L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 43. () O] C 176, 9.6.1998, p. 35 and O] C 52, 23.2.1999, p. 12. () O C 407, 28.12.1998, p. 74. () O] C 51, 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). Council De- cision of 21 June 1999. () O] L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1. 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; whereas the type of measures which may be financed by the ERDF under Objectives 1 and 2, the Community Initi- atives and innovative measures should be defined; Whereas the contribution of the ERDF, 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 enter- prises; 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 develop- ment of local, regional and trans-European networks including the provision of suitable access to the said networks in the sectors of transport infrastructure, tele- communications and energy; the protection and improvement of the environment taking into account the principles of precaution and that preventive action should be taken, that environmental damage should as a priority be rectified at source and that the polluter should pay and by fostering the clean and efficient util- isation of energy and the development of renewable energy sources; and equality between women and men in the field of employment;