Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of the Czech Republic in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education (98/C 116/11) COM(98) 93 final - 98/0067(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 24 February 1998)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 126 and 127, in conjunction with Article 228(3) first paragraph thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas the additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the on part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, has been concluded by decision of the Council and the Commission of 4 December 1995;

Whereas, according to Article 1 of the additional Protocol, the Czech Republic may participate in Community framework programmes, specific programmes, projects or other actions notably in the fields of training, youth and education and, pursuant to Article 2, the terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic in the activities referred to in Article 1 shall be decided by the Association Council;

Whereas, Council Decision 94/819/EC of 6 December 1994 establishing an action programme for the implementation of a European Community vocational training policy (1) (hereinafter called Leonardo da Vinci), and in particular Article 9(1) thereof, Decision 818/95/EC of 14 March 1995 of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting the third phase of the Youth for Europe programme (2) and in particular Article 7(4) thereof and Decision 819/95/EC of 14 March 1995 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Community action programme in the field of education (3) (hereinafter called Socrates) and in particular Article 7(3) thereof, provide that these programmes shall be open to the participation of associated Central European countries in accordance with the conditions set out in the additional Protocols to the Association Agreements on participation in Community programmes;

Whereas the decision of the EC-Czech Republic Association Council of 30 September 1997 (4) defines terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

The position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, concerning the participation of the Czech Republic in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education as from 1998, is the attached draft decision of the Association Council.

(1) OJ L 340, 29.12.1994.

(2) OJ L 87, 20.4.1995.

(3) OJ L 87, 20.4.1995.

(4) OJ L 277, 10.10.1997.

Draft Decision of the EC-Czech Republic Association Council amending Decision No 2/97 of the Association Council between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part of 30 September 1997 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other (1),

Having regard to the additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part concerning the Czech Republic's participation in Community programmes, and in particular Articles 1 and 2 thereof (2),

Having regard to the Association Council Decision No 2/97 between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part of 30 September 1997 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education (3),

Whereas according to Article 1 of the additional Protocol, the Czech Republic may participate in Community framework programmes, specific programmes, projects or other actions notably in the fields of training, youth and education;

Whereas pursuant to Article 2 of the additional Protocol the terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic in the activities referred to in Article 1 shall be decided by the Association Council;

Whereas the provisions concerning the financial contribution of the Czech Republic as defined in Annex I(5) and in Annex II(7) of Decision No 2/97 need to be adapted,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Decision No 2/97 of the Association Council between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part of 30 September 1997 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education is hereby amended as follows:

Annex II(7) is replaced by the following:

'7. The Czech Republic shall pay the supplementary administrative costs referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 from its national budget.

The Czech Republic will also pay from its national budget 50 % of the remainder of its annual contribution to the Leonardo da Vinci programme, referred to in paragraph 3, and 67 % of the remainder of its annual contribution to the Socrates and Youth for Europe programmes, referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5.

Subject to regular PHARE programming procedures, the remaining 50 % for Leonardo, 33 % for Socrates and Youth for Europe programmes will be paid from the Czech Republic's annual PHARE national indicative programme.`

Article 2

This Decision shall apply for the duration of the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates programmes (until 31 December 1999).

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption by the Association Council.

(1) OJ L 347, 31.12.1993.

(2) OJ L 317, 30.12.1995.

(3) OJ L 277, 10.10.1997.