EN Official Journal of the European Union L 43/9

COUNCIL DECISION

of 13 November 2007

concerning the provisional application of Protocol 8 to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part, on the general principles for the participation of Montenegro in Community programmes

(2008/127/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 310 thereof in conjunction with Article 300(2), first subparagraph, first and second sentences,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part (hereafter the Agreement) was signed on 15 October 2007, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(2) Protocol 8 to the Agreement takes over, in substance, the content, with respect to Montenegro, of the Framework Agreement between the European Community and Serbia and Montenegro on the general principles for the participation of Serbia and Montenegro in Community programmes (1), which the Council concluded by Decision 2005/527/EC (2).

(3) Due to the independence of Montenegro, this Framework Agreement is no longer applicable with respect to Montenegro. Montenegro should, however, continue to have the possibility, in the same way as all other Western Balkan countries, of participating in Community programmes.

(4) It is therefore necessary to provide for provisional application of Protocol 8 to the Agreement, pending the completion of the procedures required to bring the Agreement into force,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the Community and the Republic of Montenegro, which provides for the provisional application of Protocol 8 to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part, on the general principles for the participation of Montenegro in Community programmes, is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is attached to this Decision, as well as the text of Protocol 8.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community.

Done at Brussels, 13 November 2007. For the Council The President F. TEIXEIRA DOS SANTOS

(1) OJ L 192, 22.7.2005, p. 29.

(2) OJ L 192, 22.7.2005, p. 84.

EN Official Journal of the European Union L 43/11

AGREEMENT

in the form of an exchange of letters concerning the provisional application of Protocol 8 to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part, on the general principles for the participation of Montenegro in Community programmes

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part, signed on 15 October 2007, and in particular to Protocol 8 on the general principles for the participation of Montenegro in Community programmes.

Pending the entry into force of the said Stabilisation and Association Agreement, I have the honour to propose to you that the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro apply provisionally as from today Protocol 8 on the general principles for the participation of Montenegro in Community programmes.

Pending the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, I have the honour to propose to you that the review of the implementation of Protocol 8, by derogation from the modalities set out in Article 7 of that Protocol, be executed by the Contracting Parties.

If the above is acceptable to the Republic of Montenegro, this letter and your confirmation shall together constitute an agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of our highest appreciation.

On behalf of the European Community Съставено в Брюксел на Hecho en Bruselas, el V Bruselu dne Udfærdiget i Bruxelles den Geschehen zu Brüssel am Brüssel, 'Εγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις Done at Brussels, Fait à Bruxelles, le Fatto a Bruxelles, addì Briselē, Priimta Briuselyje Kelt Brüsszelben, Magħmula fi Brussell, Gedaan te Brussel, Sporzÿdzono w Brukseli, dnia Feito em Bruxelas, Încheiat la Bruxelles, V Bruseli V Bruslju, Tehty Brysselissä Utfärdat i Bryssel den Sačinjeno u Briselu За Европейската общност Por la Comunidad Europea Za Evropské společenství For Det Europæiske Fællesskab Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft Euroopa Ühenduse nimel Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα For the European Community Pour la Communauté européenne Per la Comunità europea Eiropas Kopienas vārdā Europos bendrijos vardu Az Európai Közösség részéről Għall-Komunità Ewropea Voor de Europese Gemeenschap W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej Pela Comunidade Europeia Pentru Comunitatea Europeană Za Európske spoločenstvo Za Evropsko skupnost Euroopan yhteisön puolesta För Europeiska gemenskapen Za Evropsku Zajednicu

ANNEX PROTOCOL 8 ON THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF MONTENEGRO IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES Article 1 Montenegro shall be allowed to participate in the following Community programmes: (a) the programmes which are listed in the Annex to the Framework Agreement between the European Community and Serbia and Montenegro on the general principles for the participation of Serbia and Montenegro in Community programmes (1), (b) programmes established or renewed after 27 July 2005 and which contain an opening clause which foresees the participation of Montenegro. Article 2 Montenegro shall contribute financially to the general budget of the European Union corresponding to the specific programmes in which it participates. Article 3 Montenegro’s representatives shall be allowed to take part, as observers and for the points which concern Montenegro, in the management committees responsible for monitoring the programmes to which Montenegro contributes financially. Article 4 Projects and initiatives submitted by participants from Montenegro shall, as far as possible, be subject to the same conditions, rules and procedures pertaining to the programmes concerned as are applied to Member States. Article 5 The specific terms and conditions regarding the participation of Montenegro in each particular programme, in particular the financial contribution payable, will be determined by agreement, in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding, between the European Commission, acting on behalf of the Community, and Montenegro. If Montenegro applies for Community external assistance on the basis of Council Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 of 17 July 2006 establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) (2) or pursuant to any similar Regulation providing for Community external assistance to Montenegro that may be adopted in future, the conditions governing the use by Montenegro of the Community assistance shall be determined in a financing agreement. Article 6 The Memorandum of Understanding shall stipulate, in accordance with the Community’s Financial Regulation, that financial control or audits will be carried out by, or under the authority of, the European Commission, European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Court of Auditors of the European Communities. Detailed provisions shall be made on financial control and auditing, administrative measures, penalties and recovery enabling the European Commission, OLAF and the Court of Auditors to be granted powers equivalent to their powers with regard to beneficiaries or contractors established in the Community. Article 7 No later than three years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and every three years thereafter, the Stabilisation and Association Council may review the implementation of this Protocol on the basis of actual participation of Montenegro in one or more Community programmes.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today’s date which reads as follows:

‘I have the honour to refer to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part, signed on 15 October 2007, and in particular to Protocol 8 on the general principles for the participation of Montenegro in Community programmes. Pending the entry into force of the said Stabilisation and Association Agreement, I have the honour to propose to you that the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro apply provisionally as from today Protocol 8 on the general principles for the participation of Montenegro in Community programmes. Pending the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, I have the honour to propose to you that the review of the implementation of Protocol 8, by derogation from the modalities set out in Article 7 of that Protocol, be executed by the Contracting Parties. If the above is acceptable to the Republic of Montenegro, this letter and your confirmation shall together constitute an agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Montenegro.’

I am able to confirm that the Republic of Montenegro is in agreement with the contents of your letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest appreciation.

On behalf of the Republic of Montenegro Sačinjeno u Briselu Съставено в Брюксел на Hecho en Bruselas, el V Bruselu dne Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den Geschehen zu Brüssel am Brüssel, 'Εγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις Done at Brussels, Fait à Bruxelles, le Fatto a Bruxelles, addì Briselē, Priimta Briuselyje Kelt Brüsszelben, Magħmula fi Brussell, Gedaan te Brussel, Sporzÿdzono w Brukseli, dnia Feito em Bruxelas, Încheiat la Bruxelles, V Bruseli V Bruslju, Tehty Brysselissä Utfärdat i Bryssel den Za Republiku Crnu Goru За Република Черна гора Por la República de Montenegro Za Republiku Černá Hora For Republikken Montenegro Für die Republik Montenegro Montenegro Vabariigi nimel Για τη Δημοκρατία του Μαυροβουνίου For the Republic of Montenegro Pour la République du Monténégro Per la Repubblica del Montenegro Melnkalnes Republikas vārdā Juodkalnijos Respublikos vardu A Montenegrói Köztársaság részéről Għar-Repubblika tal-Montenegro Voor de Republiek Montenegro W imieniu Republiki Czarnogóry Pela República do Montenegro Pentru Republica Muntenegru Za Čiernohorskú republiku Za Republiko Črno goro Montenegron tasavallan puolesta För Republiken Montenegro

(1) OJ L 192, 22.7.2005, p. 29.

(2) OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 82.