27.4.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 124/1 [ (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC, EURATOM) No 723/2004 of 22 March 2004 amending the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities and the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Communities THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (20  The Community should thus be equipped with a Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 283 thereof, Having regard to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities 3) of the European Communities, and in particular Article 13 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, submitted following consultations with the Staff Regulations Committee, (1) Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament, (%) Having regard to the Opinion of the Court of Justice, (%) Having regard to the Opinion of the Court of Auditors, (¥ Whereas: (1) Since the initial adoption of the Staff Regulations and Conditions of Employment in 1962, substantial advances and innovations in society have occurred. Those advances and innovations should be reflected in the regulatory framework applicable to the European civil service in order to meet the changing needs of the institutions and their staff, whilst respecting a Community administrative culture and tradition based on the principle of service to the citizen. () OJ C 291 E, 26.11.2002, p. 33. () OJ C 62 E, 11.3.2004, p. 160. (*) Opinion of 18.2.2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () O] C 75, 24.3.2004, p. 1. high-quality European public administration, so as to enable it to perform its tasks to the highest possible standard in accordance with the Treaties and to meet the challenges, both internal and external, that it will face in the future. Consequently, it is necessary to provide a framework for the recruitment by the Community of high calibre staff in terms of productivity and integrity, drawn on the widest possible geographical basis from among citizens of the Member States, and enable such staff to carry out their duties under conditions which ensure that the service functions as smoothly as possible. A broader aim should be to ensure that human resources are managed as effectively as possible in a European civil service characterised by competence, independence, loyalty, impartiality and permanence, as well as by cultural and linguistic diversity. It is appropriate to ensure that there is a single European civil service and to apply common rules to all institutions and agencies working on behalf of the Community. The availability of a single set of Staff Regulations should provide a useful tool for enhancing cooperation between the institutions and agencies on staff policy, in the interests of the smooth running of the Community and the efficient use of human resources. Agencies should be included within the scope of the rules relating to staff, in order to safeguard the harmonious application of the rules and in particular to ensure staff mobility. Compliance should be observed with the principle of non-discrimination as enshrined in the EC Treaty, which thus necessitates the further development of a staff policy ensuring equal opportunities for all, regardless of sex, physical capacity, age, racial or ethnic identity, sexual orientation and marital status.