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 (97/C 113/03) COM(97) 13 final - 97/0024(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 7 March 1997)

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 one part, and the Republic of Hungary, 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` (2) programme 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, during the joint meetings of Education Ministers held in Luxembourg on 23 October 1995 and in Brussels on 21 November 1996 in the framework of the structured dialogue between the European Union and the associated Central European countries the Parties reconfirmed their willingness to extend the participation in Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates to these countries,

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, is the attached draft decision of the Association Council.

(1) OJ No L 340, 29. 12. 1994.

(2) OJ No L 87, 20. 4. 1995.

(3) OJ No L 87, 20. 4. 1995.

Draft Decision of the EC-Czech Republic Association Council 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 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 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 Article 1 and 2 thereof (2),

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 during the joint meeting of Education Ministers held in Luxembourg on 23 October 1995 and in Brussels on 21 November 1996 in the framework of the structured dialogue between the European Union and the associated Central European countries parties reconfirmed their willingness to extend participation in Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates to these countries,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

The Czech Republic shall participate in the European Community programmes Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates according to the attached terms and conditions which shall form an integral part of this Decision.

(1) OJ No L 347, 31. 12. 1993.

(2) OJ No L 317, 30. 12. 1995.

Terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic in the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates programmes

Article 1

The Czech Republic shall participate in all measures and actions of the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates programmes (hereinafter called 'the Programmes`) in conformity, unless otherwise provided in this Decision, with the objectives, criteria, procedures and deadlines as defined in Council Decision 94/819/EC establishing an action programme for the implementation of a European Community vocational training policy, Decision 818/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting the third phase of the 'Youth for Europe` programme and Decision 819/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Community action programme in the field of education.

Article 2

The terms and conditions for the submission, assessment and selection of applications related to eligible institutions, organizations and individuals of the Czech Republic shall be the same as those applicable to eligible institutions, organizations and individuals of the Community.

Language preparation and training activities concern the official languages of the Community. In exceptional circumstances, other languages could be accepted if the implementation of the programmes so requires.

Article 3

To ensure the Community dimension of the Programmes, transnational projects and activities proposed by the Czech Republic will be required to include a minimum number of partners from the Member States of the Community. This minimum number will be decided in the framework of the implementation of the Programmes, taking into account the nature of the various activities, the number of partners in a given project, and the number of countries participating in the Programme. Projects and activities carried out solely between the Czech Republic and the EFTA-EEA States or any other third country, including those with an association agreement with the Community, to which participation in the Programmes is open, shall not be eligible for Community financial support.

Article 4

In conformity with the terms of the relevant provisions of the Decisions on Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates, the Czech Republic shall provide the appropriate structures and mechanisms at national level and shall take all other necessary steps to ensure national coordination and organization of the implementation of the Programmes.

Article 5

The Czech Republic shall pay each year a contribution to the budget of the Community to cover the costs resulting from its participation in the Programmes.

The rules governing the financial contribution of the Czech Republic shall be those set out in the Annex, which constitutes an integral part of this Decision. The Association Committee shall be entitled to adapt this contribution whenever necessary.

Article 6

The Community and its Member States and the Czech Republic shall make every effort to facilitate the free movement and residence of students, teachers, university administrators, young people and other eligible persons moving between the Czech Republic and the Community for the purpose of participating in activities covered by this Decision.

Article 7

Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Commission and the Community's Court of Auditors in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of the Programmes pursuant to Articles 10, 9 and 8 of Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates Decisions respectively, the participation of the Czech Republic in the Programmes shall be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission and the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic shall submit to the Commission relevant reports and take part in other specific activities set out by the Community to this end.

Article 8

Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 6 of the Decision on Leonardo da Vinci, Article 6 of the Decision on Youth for Europe and Article 4 of the Decision on Socrates, the Czech Republic shall be invited to coordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the Committees. The Commission shall inform the Czech Republic about the results of such regular meetings.

Article 9

The language to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other administrative arrangements for the programmes, shall be one of the official languages of the Community.

Article 10

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

Article 11

This Decision shall enter into force the first day of the month following its adoption by the Association Council.