11. 5. 90 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 120/1 (Acts whose- publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) -No 1210/90 of 7 May 1990 on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the European environment information and observation network THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN .COMMUNITIES, Having regard to- the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 130s. thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to. the opinion of the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas the Treaty provides for the “development and implementation of a Community policy on the environ- ment, and lays down the objectives and principles: which should govern such policy; Whereas environmental protection requirements shall be a component of the Community’s other policies; Whereas, according to Article 130r of the Treaty, in preparing its” action relating to the environment.the- Community shall take account, inter alia,-of the available scientific and technical data; Whereas, in accordance with Decision 85/338/EEC (%), the Commission has undertaken a work programme concern- ing an experimental project for -gathering, coordinating and ensuring the consistency of information on the state of -the environment and natural resources in the Commu- nity ; whereas it-is now appropriate to take the necessary decisions regarding a permanent environmental informa- tion and observation system ; Whereas collection, processing and analysis of environ- mental data at European level are necessary in -order to provide objective, reliable and comparable information which will enable the Community and the Member States to take the requisite measures to protect the environment, () OJ No C 217, 23. 8. 1989, p. 7. () OJ No C 96, 17. 4. 1990. () O] No C 56, 7. 3. 1990, p. 20. () OJ No L 176, 6. 7. 1985, p. 14. to assess the results of such measures and to ensure that the public is properly informed about the state of the environment-; - Whereas there already -exist in the Community and the Member States facilities providing such information and services ; Whereas they should form the basis for setting up a Euro- pean environment information and observation network which would be coordinated at Commumty level by a European Environment Agency; Whereas the Agency should cooperate with existing struc- tures at Community level to enable the Commission to ensure full application of Community legislation on the environment ; Wheteas the status and -structure -of such -an Agency should correspond to the objective character of the results it is intended to produce and allow it to carry out its func- tions- in: close cooperation with the existing national and international facilities ; Whereas the Agency should be granted legal autonomy while maintaining close links with the Community insti- tutions and the Member States ; Whereas it is desirable to provide for the Agency to be open to other countries which share the concern of the Community and the Member States for the objectives of the Agency under agreements to be concluded between them and-the Community; Whereas :this Regulation should -be reviewed after two years, with a view to deciding on further tasks for the Agency, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1~ 1.  This Regulation establishes the European Environ- ment Agency and aims at the setting-up of a European environment information and observation network.