Tag Archives: PA

Partnerships with countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Partnerships with countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

External relations > Relations with third countries > Asia

Partnerships with countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Document or Iniciative

Council Decisions 94/578/EC, 95/129/EC, 96/354/EC, 2001/332/EC and 2004/870/EC concerning the conclusion of the cooperation agreements between the European Community, of the one part, and of the other part, the Republic of India, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Kingdom of Nepal, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, respectively.

Summary

Between 1994 and 2004, the European Union (EU) concluded five similar cooperation agreements with five countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

These agreements aim to develop the cooperation ties between the partners, while ensuring a respect for human rights and promoting democratic principles.

The main cooperation objectives concern:

trade, with the aim of increasing, diversifying and liberalising trade. Therefore, the parties must improve the opening up of their respective markets, and enhance their cooperation in customs matters in accordance with the principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO);
economy, in order to improve the business environment, dialogue between economic operators, information exchange, and entrepreneur training;
sustainable development, specifically for social progress and combating poverty. The EU must support the progress of partners in the fields of health, education, improving the standard of living, and promoting the role of women in society;
the development of human resources, vocational qualifications and the promotion of international standards on decent work;
rural development, increasing trade in agricultural, fisheries and farmed products, including the improvement of sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

The Agreements also provide specific objectives depending on the different needs of the country for:

scientific and technological cooperation, which should lead to improvements in the technical assistance with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh’s quality and control standards, and the launching of joint research projects, the mobility of researchers, and exchanges of scientific information (particularly in the fields of bio-technology, new materials and geosciences) with India;
environmental protection, particularly to support Pakistan and Nepal in natural resource management, erosion and deforestation; Bangladesh for reducing the risks of natural disasters; Sri Lanka for preventing industrial pollution, and India for drafting and implementing environmental legislation, research and training;
improving the environment for private investment with India, Nepal and Sri Lanka;
developing industry and services with India and Pakistan;
protecting intellectual property rights with India and Sri Lanka;
cooperation in the fields of information, culture and communications with Pakistan and Bangladesh;
promoting the energy sector with India, Pakistan and Nepal, recognising the importance of the energy sector for their economic and social development;
combating drug trafficking and money laundering, particularly with Pakistan and Bangladesh using special measures against the production and trafficking of drugs, and also the prevention of drug abuse;
tourism with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, particularly through studies and information exchange.

Context

SAARC is a regional cooperation organisation, established in 1985 in order to accelerate the economic and social development of its Member States. These Member States are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The EU has observer member status in the organisation, as does Burma/Myanmar, China, South Korea, the United States, Iran, Japan and Mauritius.

References

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Decision 94/578/EC Republic of India	1.8.1994	–	OJ L 223 of 27.8.1994
Decision 95/129/EC the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka	1.4.1995	–	OJ L 85 of 19.4.1995
Decision 2004/870/EC, Islamic Republic of Pakistan	1.9.2004	–	OJ L 378 of 23.12.2004
Decision 2001/332/EC People’s Republic of Bangladesh	1.3.2001	–	OJ L 118 of 27.4.2001
Decision 96/354/EC Kingdom of Nepal	1.6.1996	–	OJ L 137 of 8.6.1996

Related Acts

Communication concerning the entry into force, in trade between the European Community and the countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), of the provisions laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1602/2000, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ for the purpose of applying tariff preferences granted by the Community to certain products from developing countries (regional cumulation of origin)) [OJ C 265 of 15.9.2000].

Partnership with Africa for the development of the cotton industry

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Partnership with Africa for the development of the cotton industry

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Partnership with Africa for the development of the cotton industry

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Development > African Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP)

Partnership with Africa for the development of the cotton industry

Partnership for the accession of Bulgaria

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Partnership for the accession of Bulgaria

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Partnership for the accession of Bulgaria

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Enlargement > Enlargement 2004 and 2007

Partnership for the accession of Bulgaria

The aim of the Accession Partnership is to assist the Bulgarian authorities in their efforts to comply with the accession criteria. It covers in detail the priorities for accession preparations, in particular implementing the acquis, and forms the basis for programming pre-accession assistance from Community funds such as the Phare programme.
On 25 April 2005 Bulgaria signed its Treaty of Accession to the European Union. The objective is to welcome Bulgaria as a new member of the European Union in January 2007.

In its ” Agenda 2000 ” communication, the European Commission has drawn up a . series of proposals for strengthening the pre-accession strategy for all the candidate countries of central and eastern Europe (CEEC). The general aim of the strategy is to provide a coherent programme to prepare these countries for Union membership and more particularly:

to bring together the various forms of aid offered by the European Union within a single framework, the accession partnerships;
to familiarise applicants with European Union procedures and policies by offering them the opportunity to participate in Community programmes.

Objective

The objective of the accession partnership (adopted in March 1998 and revised in December 1999, in January 2002 and in May 2003) is to set out within a legal framework the working priorities defined in the Commission’s 2002 Regular Report on Bulgaria’s progress toward accession and with the road map, the financial resources available to help Bulgaria implement these priorities and the conditions which apply to that assistance. The partnership underpins a range of instruments aimed at supporting the efforts of candidate countries in the accession process.

These instruments include a national programme for adopting the Community acquis, joint assessment of medium-term economic policy priorities, a pact against organised crime, the national development plans as well as other sectoral plans necessary for participation in structural funds following membership, and for pre-accession implementation of ISPA and SAPARD. The accession partnership has served as a starting point for the development of a plan of action to strengthen Bulgaria’s administrative and judicial capacities.

Although these instruments will not form an integral part of this partnership, their priorities will be compatible with it.

The implementation of the accession partnership will be monitored under the European Agreement between the European Union and Bulgaria.

Priorities

The accession partnership priorities were reviewed in December 1999 (see p. 3 of the Annex to Decision 1999/857/EC). A final review was published in May 2003 (Decision 2003/396/EC) and forms the basis of the 2003 Commission report.

The revised accession partnership defines the priorities which Bulgaria should wholly or largely achieve by 2003-2004. They were decided jointly by the European Union and Bulgaria. The level of aid granted to Bulgaria will depend on the completion of these priorities.

In 2004, Bulgaria began work to meet the priorities set in its revised partnership. Progress has been made in the areas of public administration reform and reform of the judicial system, the privatisation process and alignment with EU legislation. Nevertheless, further efforts are still required, especially as regards priorities in the field of respect for human rights and the protection of minorities. In this respect, efforts need to be fostered with regard to improving the situation of the Roma community. Much also remains to be done to reduce subsidies to the energy and transport sectors. Improvements in the quality of public investment in infrastructure, education and health are still needed. Reform plans in the area of customs and tax administrations must be applied.

To find out more, see: Adoption of the Community Acquis

Financial Framework

The support provided by the Phare programme and the other pre-accession instruments focuses on the priorities established in the accession partnership. For the years 2000-2004, total annual financial assistance to Bulgaria is around EUR 178 million annually from Phare, EUR 57.6 million from SAPARD, and between EUR 93 and EUR 127 million from ISPA.

Phare

The Phare Programme allocated EUR 1.54 billion to Bulgaria during the 1992-2003 period, including EUR 188.92 million in 2003. The Commission has granted Bulgaria Phare aid under the agreement signed in November 1999 concerning the closure of units 1 to 4 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant. This agreement provides for a further EUR 200 million in aid for the period 2000-2006. A further EUR 140 million will be made available over the period 2004-2006, in line with the principle of EU solidarity with efforts to decommission certain nuclear installations and with the consequences. The 2004 Phare Programme for Bulgaria consists of an allocation of EUR 208.3 million for the National Programme, plus an allocation for nuclear decommissioning.

The 2004 Phare programme focuses on the following priorities:

Political criteria: projects for strengthening public administration at all levels and the judiciary (EUR 36 million); projects to improve transparency, financial control and the fight against corruption and fraud (EUR 8 million); projects for ethnic minorities, vulnerable groups and civil society (EUR 13 million).
Economic criteria: projects to promote economic growth and competitiveness and social cohesion (EUR 35 million).
Meeting the obligations of membership: projects to enhance the administrative and judicial capacity to implement and enforce legislative measures and assume the obligations of EU membership (EUR 42 million); projects to improve the strategic planning and effective utilisation of EU funds and prepare for structural funds (including implementation of EDIS) (EUR 12 million).

In addition, EUR 36 million from the Phare programme will be devoted to crossborder cooperation programmes on Bulgaria’s borders with Greece (EUR 20 million), Romania (EUR 8 million), Turkey (EUR 3 million), Serbia & Montenegro (EUR 3 million) and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (EUR 2 million).

Pre-accession aid

From the year 2000, financial aid will include aid for agriculture and rural development (SAPARD) and a structural instrument (ISPA) which will give priority to transport and environmental measures. The Regulation adopted in June 1999 for the coordination of Phare, SAPARD and ISPA aid allows the Commission to carry out ex-post checks on contracts when it deems the partner country’s financial supervision insufficient.

The indicative allocation from the Community for the implementation of the SAPARD programme in Bulgaria for 2004 is EUR 68.0 million. The allocation for 2003 was EUR 56.5 million. The main focus of the 2004 SAPARD programme is to prepare Bulgaria’s agriculture for membership of the EU. Consequently, the remaining financial resources only will be spent on acquis-related measures.

The ISPA budget allocation for Bulgaria of just over EUR 100 million per year has been fully committed in each year since 2000 (with only a small shortfall in 2002). The budgetary commitment in 2003 was EUR 112.6 million and the indicative allocation for 2004 will be around EUR 135.4 million. The ISPA strategies were reviewed in 2003. In the case of transport infrastructure, the emphasis is on completing or upgrading the main trans-European road and rail networks, including crossborder connections. In the environment sector, the Bulgarian Government has focused on improving water quality via investments in waste water treatment, sewerage systems and water supply. Urban waste management and air pollution are also priority areas.

References

Commission Opinion COM(97)2008 final
Not published in the Official Journal

ACCESSION PARTNERSHIPS

Council Decision 98/266/EC of 30.03.1998
Official Journal L 121 of 23.04.1998

Decision 1999/857/EC

Official Journal L 335 of 28.12.1999

Decision 2002/83/EC
Official Journal L 44 of 14.02.2002

Decision 2003/396/EC

Official Journal L 145 of 12.06.2003

REGULAR REPORTS

Commission Opinion COM(97)2008 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98)707 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999)501 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000)701 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001)700 final – SEC(2001)1744
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002)700 final – SEC(2002)1400
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 676 final – SEC (2002) 1210
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2004) 657 final – SEC(2004) 1199
Not published in the Official Journal

MONITORING REPORTS FOLLOWING THE SIGNATURE OF THE TREATY OF ACCESSION

Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria of 25 April 2005 – Official Journal L 157 of 21.06.2005
On 11 May 2005 the Bulgarian parliament ratified the treaty of accession to the European Union, which Bulgaria had signed in Luxembourg on 25 April 2005 after the European Parliament had given its assent on 13 April 2005. Bulgaria is scheduled to join the European Union on 1 January 2007.

Comprehensive monitoring report from the Commission COM(2005) 534 final – SEC(2005)1352

Monitoring report of May 2006 from the Commission COM(2006) 214 final – SEC(2006) 596

Communication from the Commission of 16 May 2006 “Monitoring report on the state of preparedness for EU membership of Bulgaria and Romania” COM (2006) 214 final
Not published in the Official Journal

This summary is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace the reference document.

Participation of the Central and Eastern European candidate countries in Community programmes

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Participation of the Central and Eastern European candidate countries in Community programmes

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Participation of the Central and Eastern European candidate countries in Community programmes

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Enlargement > Enlargement 2004 and 2007

Participation of the Central and Eastern European candidate countries in Community programmes

1) Objective

To establish the general terms and conditions for the participation of the Central and Eastern European candidate countries in Community programmes.

2) Acts

Decisions of the EU-candidate country Association Councils adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the candidate countries in Community programmes:

Decision of the EU-Hungary Association Council, 18 December 2001 [Official Journal L 46 of 16.02.2002];

Decision of the EU-Slovenia Association Council, 25 January 2002 [Official Journal L 115 of 01.05.2002];

Decision of the EU-Latvia Association Council, 12 February 2002 [Official Journal L 82 of 26.03.2002];

Decision of the EU-Slovakia Association Council, 18 February 2002 [Official Journal L 82 of 26.03.2002];

Decision of the EU-Romania Association Council, 18 February 2002 [Official Journal L 91 of 06.04.2002];

Decision of the EU-Estonia Association Council, 27 February 2002 [Not published in the Official Journal];

Decision of the EU-Poland Association Council, 28 February 2002 [Official Journal L 91 of 06.04.2002];

Decision of the EU-Czech Republic Association Council, 27 March 2002 [Official Journal L 140 of 30.05.2002];

Decision of the EU-Bulgaria Association Council, 5 June 2002 [Not published in the Official Journal];

Decision of the EU-Lithuania Association Council, 18 June 2002 [Official Journal L 280 of 18.10.2002].

3) Summary

The Luxembourg European Council (December 1997) highlighted participation in Community programmes as a way of intensifying the pre-accession strategy for the candidate countries.

As regards the ten candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe, namely Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, participation in Community programmes is already provided for in their respective Europe Agreements. These stipulate that the conditions for participation are determined by specific decisions of the respective Association Councils.

The present decisions thus establish the terms and conditions for the participation of these countries in Community programmes.

These countries may participate in all Community programmes that have been or will be open to them.

Their participation in the programmes will be subject to the same conditions, rules and procedures as those applied to the participants from Member States. Representatives of the candidate countries will be able to act as observers at the meetings of the committees for the programmes to which they are making a financial contribution.

The terms and conditions for the participation of the countries in each Community programme, in particular their financial contribution, are determined by the Commission and the competent authorities in each country.

Act	Date of entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States
Decision of the EU-Hungary Association Council	01.01.2002	–
Decision of the EU-Slovenia Association Council	01.02.2002	–
Decision of the EU-Latvia Association Council	01.03.2002	–
Decision of the EU-Slovakia Association Council	01.03.2002	–
Decision of the EU-Romania Association Council	01.03.2002	–
Decision of the EU-Estonia Association Council	01.03.2002	–
Decision of the EU-Poland Association Council	01.03.2002	–
Decision of the EU-Czech Republic Association Council	01.04.2002	–
Decision of the EU-Bulgaria Association Council	01.07.2002	–
Decision of the EU-Lithuania Association Council	01.07.2002	–

4) Implementing Measures

5) Follow-Up Work

Passenger restraint devices on two-wheel vehicles

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Passenger restraint devices on two-wheel vehicles

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Passenger restraint devices on two-wheel vehicles

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Internal market > Motor vehicles > Technical implications of road safety

Passenger restraint devices on two-wheel vehicles

Document or Iniciative

Directive 2009/79/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on passenger hand-holds on two-wheel motor vehicles (Codified version) (Text with EEA relevance).

Summary

This Directive sets out requirements for passenger hand-holds for all types of two-wheel motor vehicles in Category L.

Types of vehicle concerned by the Directive

This Directive shall apply to:

mopeds: two-wheel vehicles (Category L1e) with a maximum design speed not exceeding 45 km/h;
motorcycles: two-wheel vehicles without sidecars (Category L3e) or with sidecars (Category L4e), with a cylinder capacity exceeding 50 cm3, for internal combustion engines, and/or the maximum design speed of which exceeds 45 km/h.

General prescriptions for passenger hand-holds

Two-wheel vehicles must be equipped with a passenger hand-hold system, composed of a strap or one or more hand-grips.

The strap must be fitted to the seat of the vehicle so that it may easily be used by the passenger. The strap and its attachment must withstand a vertical traction force of 2000 N with a maximum pressure of 2 MPa.

The hand-grip must be close to the saddle. Like the strap, it must withstand a vertical traction force of 2000 N with a maximum pressure of 2 MPa. If two handgrips are used, they must be fitted symmetrically.

Procedure for the granting of EC component type-approval

The manufacturer of the vehicle makes an application for EC type-approval to the type-approval authority of the Member State, using an information document.

The certificate of conformity is issued by the competent authority, which has a period of one month to inform the competent authorities of Member States.

In the event of non-compliance with the requirements of this Directive, Member States may refuse EC type-approval for any two-wheel motor vehicle for reasons relating to the passenger restraint device.

Context

This Directive repeals Directive 93/32/EC.

REFERENCES

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 2009/79/EC	21.8.2009	–	OJ L 201 of 1.8.09

Passengers and goods: Driver attestation

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Passengers and goods: Driver attestation

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Passengers and goods: Driver attestation

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Transport > Road transport

Passengers and goods: Driver attestation

Document or Iniciative

Regulation (EC) No 484/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 1 March 2002 amending Council Regulations (EEC) No 881/92 and (EEC) No 3118/93 for the purposes of establishing a driver attestation [Official Journal L 76, 19.03.2002].

Summary

Background

The impossibility of checking whether drivers are legally employed or used outside the territory of the Member State where a haulier is established has given rise to a market in which drivers from third countries are sometimes irregularly used only to carry out the international carriage of goods outside the Member State in which the haulier employing them is established. This Regulation has been designed to combat such practices.

These irregularly employed drivers often work in precarious conditions and are poorly paid, which is a threat to road safety. This situation seriously distorts competition between hauliers engaged in such practices and those that use only legally employed drivers.

New rules

International carriage by road was already subject to a Community authorisation under Regulation (EEC) No 881/92. Under Regulation (EC) No 484/2002, drivers who are nationals of third countries must from now on be in possession of a driver attestation.

The attestation must certify that a driver is employed in the haulier’s Member State of establishment in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable in that Member State.

The scope of the Regulation is restricted to drivers from non-member countries. The scope may be extended to drivers who are nationals of Member States, after evaluation by the Commission.

Driver attestations will be issued by a Member State to the haulier requesting them for each driver who is the national of a third country and whom he legally employs.

The attestation must comply with the model in the Annex to the Regulation. Driver attestations are issued for a period to be determined by the issuing Member State, subject however to a maximum validity of five years. The attestation must be produced whenever required by authorised inspecting officers.

The competent authorities of a Member State may withdraw a driver attestation where the holder:

has failed to observe the conditions in accordance with which the attestation was issued;
has supplied incorrect information in relation to the data required for the issue or renewal of a driver attestation.

A certified true copy of the driver attestation must be kept at the haulier’s premises.

The original driver attestation must be kept on board the vehicle and presented for inspection whenever required by authorised inspecting officers.

Act	Date of entry into force	Deadline for implementation by the Member States
Regulation (EC) N°484/2002	19.03.2002	19.03.2003

Partnership for the Accession of Slovakia

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Partnership for the accession of Slovakia

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Partnership for the accession of Slovakia

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Enlargement > Enlargement 2004 and 2007

Partnership for the accession of Slovakia

The aim of the Accession Partnership is to assist the authorities in the candidate country in their efforts to comply with the accession criteria. It covers in detail the priorities for accession preparations, in particular implementing the acquis, and forms the basis for programming pre-accession assistance from Community funds such as the Phare programme. Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003 and the official integration of the country into the European Union on 1 May 2004, the accession partnership has come to an end.

In its communication ” Agenda 2000 “, the European Commission set out a range of proposals for strengthening the pre-accession strategy for all the candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The general objective of this strategy is to offer a coherent programme for preparing these countries for membership of the European Union, and more particularly:

to bring together the various forms of aid offered by the European Union within a single framework, the accession partnerships;
to familiarise applicants with the European Union’s procedures and policies by offering them the opportunity to participate in Community programmes.

1) Objective

The objective of the partnership for accession (adopted in March 1998 and amended in December 1999 and in January 2002), is to lay down in law the working priorities set out in the Commission’s Opinion on Slovakia’s application for membership, the financial resources available to help Slovakia implement these priorities and the conditions which apply to this aid. The partnership provides the framework for a range of instruments designed to support candidate countries as they prepare for membership.

These instruments include a national programme for the adoption of the acquis (NPAA), joint assessment of medium-term economic policy priorities, a pact against organised crime, a national development plan and other sectoral plans necessary for participation in the Structural Funds after accession and to implement ISPA and Sapard prior to accession. In 2002, the partnership for accession served as the starting point for preparing an action plan to reinforce the administrative and judicial capacity of Slovakia.

Those instruments are not an integral part of the partnership, but the priorities they contain will be compatible with it.

The implementation of the partnership for accession will be monitored under the Europe Agreement between the European Union and Slovakia.

2) Priorities

These are divided into two groups: short and medium term. The priority issues of the first group are those which Slovakia was likely to resolve or make progress with over the course of the year 2000. Those in the second group should be settled by the end of 2003.

Slovakia has largely achieved the political criteria priorities. The economic criteria priorities have been partly achieved. As for the priorities in the areas of competition policy, statistics, culture and audiovisual policy, the environment, consumer protection and health, cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs, customs union and financial control, these have been largely achieved. In the other areas, the priorities have been partly achieved.

In December 1999, the partnership for accession priorities were revised (see p. 3 of the Annex to Decision 1999/853/EC). A final revision was published in February 2002 (Decision 2002/934/EC). It provides the reference on which the Commission report of 2002 is based.

The priority areas are as follows:
(for up-to-date information on this subject, please refer to the Adoption of the Community acquis section)

Political criteria
Economic reform
Institutional and administrative capacity building
Internal market
Environment
Economic policy
Justice and home affairs
Agriculture
Energy
Transport
Employment and social affairs
Regional policy and cohesion

3) Financial Framework

Phare

The 2000 Phare Programme for Slovakia provided for a national allocation of EUR 28 million. Another EUR 6 million were set aside for a programme of cross-border cooperation with Austria, EUR 4 million were earmarked for cooperation with Poland and EUR 2 million for cooperation with Hungary. EUR 43.5 million were granted through Phare 2001. The programme also allocated EUR 25 million to decommission the Bohunice nuclear power station. A further EUR 12 million were allocated to cross-border cooperation with Austria (EUR 6 million), Poland (EUR 4 million) and Hungary (EUR 2 million). Phare 2002 provided for a national allocation of EUR 37 million for Slovakia. A further EUR 20.1 million were earmarked under the facility specified by the programme to strengthen the country’s institutions. The national allocation included an envelope of EUR 12 million intended for cross-border cooperation.

The authorities of the partner country assume responsibility for aid-related contracts and payments. However, under the EC Financial Regulation, the Commission must monitor the contract award procedure and approve all contracts financed by Phare and signed by the partner country prior to their entry into force.

Pre-accession aid

From 2000, financial assistance comprises aid for agriculture and rural development (Sapard) and a structural instrument (ISPA) which will give priority to measures in the field of transport and the environment. The Regulation coordinating Phare aid, Sapard and ISPA, adopted in June 1999, enables the Commission to carry out ex-post checks on the contracts if it considers the checks carried out by the partner country to be insufficient.

Over the period 2000-2002, the financial assistance available totalled EUR 80.5 million annually for Phare, EUR 18.6 million annually for SAPARD and between EUR 3.5 and 5.5 million for ISPA. The SAPARD 2002 envelope for Slovakia was EUR 19.2 million and that for the ISPA programme was between EUR 38.1 and 59.9 million.

4) References

Decision 98/262/EC of 30 March 1998
Official Journal L 121 of 23.04.1998

Decision 1999/853/EC of 6 December 1999
Official Journal L 335 of 28.12.1999

Commission Opinion COM(97) 2004 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98) 703 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999) 511 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000) 711 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final – SEC(2001) 1754
Not published in the Official Journal

Decision 2002/93/EC of 28.01.2002
Official Journal L44 of 14.02.2002

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final – SEC(2002) 1410
Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

This summary is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace the reference document.

Partnership for the accession of Slovenia

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Partnership for the accession of Slovenia

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Partnership for the accession of Slovenia

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Enlargement > Enlargement 2004 and 2007

Partnership for the accession of Slovenia

In its communication ” Agenda 2000 “, the European Commission has set out a range of proposals for strengthening the pre-accession strategy for all the candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The general objective of this strategy is to offer a coherent programme for preparing these countries for membership of the European Union, and more particularly:

to bring together the various forms of aid offered by the European Union within a single framework, the accession partnerships,
to familiarise applicants with the European Union’s procedures and policies by offering them the opportunity to participate in Community programmes.

1) Objective

The objective of the accession partnership (approved in March 1998 and amended in December 1999 and January 2002) is to set down in law the working priorities defined in the Commission opinion on Slovenia’s application for membership, the financial resources available to help Slovenia implement these priorities and the conditions attached to this aid. The partnership provides a framework for a range of instruments designed to support candidate countries’ efforts to prepare for membership.

These instruments include a national programme for the adoption of the Community acquis (NPAA) (revised in May 2002), joint evaluation of medium-term economic policy priorities, the pact against organised crime, the national development plan and other sectoral programmes necessary for participation in the Structural Funds after accession and implementation of ISPA and SAPARD beforehand. In 2002, the partnership for accession served as the starting point for preparing an action plan to reinforce the administrative and judicial capacity of Slovenia.

Though these instruments will not be an integral part of the partnership, their priorities will be compatible with it.

Implementation of the partnership for accession will be monitored under the Europe Agreement between the European Union and Slovenia.

2) Priorities

There are short- and medium-term priorities. Short-term priorities are issues that Slovenia was likely to resolve or make headway with during 2000. The medium-term priorities should be dealt with fully by the end of 2003.

Slovenia has partly achieved the economic and political criteria priorities. It has totally or largely achieved the priorities linked to the free movement of persons, the free movement of capital, agriculture, social affairs and employment, energy, customs union, foreign affairs and financial control. Most of the other priorities of the partnership have been partly achieved.

The priorities for the accession partnership were revised in December 1999 (see p.3 of the Annex to Decision 1999/859/EC). A final revision was published in February 2002 (Decision 2002/94/EC). This forms the basis of the Commission’s evaluation in its 2002 report.

The priority areas are now:
(for up-to-date information on this subject, please refer to the Adoption of the Community acquis section)

economic reform
institutional and administrative capacity building
internal market
property law
environment
political criteria
economic policy
justice and home affairs
nuclear safety
agriculture – fisheries
transport
employment and social affairs
regional policy and cohesion

3) Financial Framework

Phare

The 2000 Phare programme allocated EUR 33.4 million. A further EUR 7 million were allocated for cross-border cooperation programmes. Phare 2001 allocated EUR 21.3 million for Slovenia. A further EUR 7 million were provided for cross-border cooperation. Phare 2002 allocated EUR 18 million to Slovenia, plus an envelope of EUR 16.9 million under the additional facility to reinforce the institutions. This was supplemented by a further envelope of EUR 7 million for cross-border cooperation with its neighbours.

The partner country’s authorities are responsible for aid-related contracts and payments. However, the Financial Regulation of the European Communities requires the Commission to supervise contracting procedures and approve Phare contracts signed by the partner country before they enter into force.

Pre-accession aid

From 2000, financial assistance has included aid for agriculture and rural development (SAPARD) and a structural instrument (ISPA) according priority to transport and environmental measures. The Regulation of June 1999 coordinating aid under Phare, SAPARD and ISPA allows the Commission to exercise ex-post supervision over contracts if dissatisfied with the partner country’s own financial control.

Financial assistance for the period 2000-02 was broken down as follows: EUR 25 million a year under Phare, EUR 6.5 million a year under SAPARD and EUR 10.8-21.7 million a year under ISPA. SAPARD 2002 allocated EUR 6.6 million to Slovenia. The ISPA envelope for 2002 was between EUR 10.9 and 21.8 million.

4) References

Decision 98/268/EC of 30 March 1998
Official Journal L 121 of 23.04.1998

Decision 1999/859/EC of 6 December 1999
Official Journal L 335 of 28.12.1999

Commission Opinion COM(97) 2010 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98) 709 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999) 512 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000) 712 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final – SEC(2001)1755
Not published in the Official Journal

Decision 2002/94/EC of 28 January 2002
Official Journal L 44 of 14.02.2002

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final – SEC(2002)1411
Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

This summary is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace the reference document.

Partnership for the accession of Malta

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Partnership for the accession of Malta

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Partnership for the accession of Malta

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Enlargement > Enlargement 2004 and 2007

Partnership for the accession of Malta

The Berlin European Council of March 1999 called on the Commission to submit proposals concerning a specific pre-accession strategy for Malta. The Council approved a Regulation in March 2000 on the implementation of operations in the framework of a pre-accession strategy for the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Malta [Regulation (EC) No 555/2000 – Official Journal L 78, 16.03.2000]. This strategy is based on:

The establishment of the accession partnership;
Support for priority operations to prepare for accession, as defined within the partnerships;
Participation in certain Community programmes and agencies.

1) Objective

The objective of the partnership for accession is to provide a single legal framework for the working priorities identified in the Commission’s regular report of 1999 on Malta’s progress towards accession, the financial resources available to help Malta implement these priorities and the conditions which apply to this aid. A revised version of the partnership for the accession of Malta was published in February 2002 (Decision 2002/90/EC). This forms the basis for the Commission’s 2002 report. The partnership underpins a range of instruments to support applicant countries in their accession processes.

These include a national programme for adopting the Community acquis (NPAA) (revised in December 2001), joint evaluation of medium-term economic priorities, the pact against organised crime, national development plans and other sectoral programmes required for participation in the Structural Funds after accession. In 2002, the partnership for accession served as the starting point for preparing an action plan to reinforce the administrative and judicial capacity of Malta.

Although these instruments will not form an integral part of the partnership, their priorities will be compatible.

The implementation of the partnership will be monitored under the Association Agreement.

2) Priorities

These are divided into two groups: short term and medium term. Malta is capable of resolving or making progress on the priority issues of the first group before the end of 2000. Dealing with the priority issues of the second group should be completed by the end of 2003.

Malta has achieved, to a limited extent, the economic criteria priorities. Those relating to the free movement of goods, the free provision of services, the free movement of capital, competition, statistics, regional policy, consumer protection and health, cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs, customs union, foreign affairs and financial control have largely been achieved. Most of the priorities in the other sectors have only been partly achieved.

The priorities are:
(for up-to-date information on this subject, please refer to the Adoption of the Community acquis section)

economic reform
reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity
internal market
justice and home affairs
environment
energy
agriculture – fisheries
transport
employment and social affairs
regional policy and cohesion

3) Financial Framework

Pre-accession aid

The fourth financial protocol (1995-1998) was extended by one year, until 31 December 1999. In 1999, the resources available increased to EUR 5 million. Council Regulation (EC) No 555/2000 lays down a financial reference amount of EUR 95 million for the implementation of operations in the framework of the pre-accession strategy for Cyprus and Malta (EUR 38 million of which is for Malta). This amount will be available for the period up to 31 December 2004. In 2001, Malta received pre-accession aid totalling EUR 7.5 million. The amount allocated for 2002 was EUR 9.5 million.

Malta is eligible for loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) with EUR 30 million available for this purpose under the fourth financial protocol concluded between Malta and the European Union. It is also participating in the MEDA regional programmes.

4) References

Regulation (EC) No 555/2000

Official Journal L 68 of 16.03.2000

Decision 2000/249/EC

Official Journal L 78 of 29.03.2000

Commission report COM(2001)700 final – SEC(2001)1751
Not published in the Official Journal

Decision 2002/90/EC
Official Journal L 44 of 14.02.2002

Commission report COM(2002) 700 final – SEC(2002) 1407
Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

This summary is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace the reference document.

Partnership for the accession of Poland

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Partnership for the accession of Poland

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Partnership for the accession of Poland

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Enlargement > Enlargement 2004 and 2007

Partnership for the accession of Poland

to bring together the various forms of aid offered by the European Union within a single framework, the accession partnerships;
to familiarise applicants with the European Union’s procedures and policies by offering them the opportunity to participate in Community programmes.

1) Objective

The objective of the partnership for accession adopted in March 1998 and amended in December 1999 and in January 2002 is to place within a legislative framework the working priorities set out in the Commission’s opinion on Poland’s application for membership, the financial resources available to help Poland implement these priorities and the conditions which apply to this aid. The partnership underpins a range of instruments to support candidate countries in the accession process.

They also include a national programme for adopting the Community acquis, joint evaluation of medium-term economic priorities, the pact against organised crime, national development plan and other sectoral programmes required for participation in post-accession structural funds and pre-accession implementation of ISPA and SAPARD. In 2002, the partnership for accession served as the starting point for preparing an action plan to reinforce the administrative and judicial capacity of Poland.

Although these instruments will not form an integral part of the partnership their priorities will be compatible.

The implementation of the partnership for accession will be monitored under the Europe Agreement between the European Union and Poland.

2) Priorities

These are divided into two groups: short term and medium term. Poland was expected to resolve or make progress on the priority issues in the first group before the end of 2000. Those in the second group should be settled by the end of 2003.

Poland has not achieved the political criteria priorities. However, the economic criteria priorities have largely been achieved. Most of the other priorities (except in the areas of financial control, social policy, economic and monetary union, fisheries and agriculture) have been partly achieved.

The accession partnership priorities were reviewed in December 1999 (see page 3 of the Annex to Decision 98/851/EC). The most recent revision was published in 2002 (Decision 2002/91/EC). This forms the basis of the Commission’s assessment in its 2002 report.

The priority areas are:
(for up-to-date information on this subject, please refer to the Adoption of the Community acquis section)

Economic reform
Institutional and administrative capacity-building
Internal market
Justice and home affairs
Agriculture/fisheries
Environment
Political criteria
Economic policy
Transport
Employment and social affairs
Regional policy and cohesion

3) Financial Framework

Phare

A total of EUR 2 534 million was provided by the Phare programme to Poland between 1999 and 2000. EUR 428 million were allocated for the 2000 Phare programme for Poland. An additional sum of EUR 55 million was released for the programme of cooperation with Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and for special action in the Baltic Sea Region. The 2001 Phare programme for Poland made provision for EUR 396 million. An additional EUR 56 million was released for the same actions as in 2000. Phare 2002 allocated EUR 342.2 million plus an additional sum of EUR 51.8 million to strengthen the institutions. Another additional envelope of EUR 56 million was agreed for cross-border cooperation with Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and for special action in the Baltic Sea Region.

The Polish authorities are assuming responsibility for aid contracts and payments. However, the European Communities’ Financial Regulation requires the Commission to oversee contract award procedures and to approve any contract financed by Phare and signed with the partner country before it comes into effect.

Pre-accession aid

Aid for agriculture and rural development (SAPARD) and a structural instrument (ISPA) giving priority to aid in the transport and environmental sectors were introduced in 2000. The Regulation coordinating aid under Phare, SAPARD and ISPA was adopted in June 1999, enabling the Commission to carry out ex-post monitoring of contracts where it considers the financial control in the partner country to be deficient.

The total financial aid to be made available each year from 2000 to 2002 was EUR 398 million for Phare, EUR 168.6 million for SAPARD and between EUR 312 and 385 million for ISPA. SAPARD 2002 allocated EUR 177 million to Poland. The ISPA envelope for the same year was EUR 357 million.

4) References

Council Decision 98/260/EC of 30 March 1998
Official Journal L 121 of 23.4.1998

Decision 99/851/EC of 6 December 1999
Official Journal L 335 of 28.12.1999

Commission opinion COM(97) 2002 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission report COM(98) 701 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission report COM(1999) 509 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission report COM(2000) 709 final
Not published in the Official Journal

Commission report COM(2001) 700 final – SEC(2001) 1752
Not published in the Official Journal

Decision 2002/91/EC of 28 January 2002
Official Journal L 44 of 14.02.2002

Commission report COM(2002) 700 final – SEC(2002) 1408
Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

This summary is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace the reference document.