Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Estonia in the Community programme in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises (98/C 119/03) COM(98) 113 final - 98/0080 (CNS)

(submitted by the Commission on 4 March 1998)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130, paragraph 3, in conjunction with Article 228, paragraph 3, first alinea thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Estonia, of the other part, has been concluded by Decision of the Council and the Commission of . . .;

Whereas according to Article 108 of the Europe Agreement, Estonia may participate in Community framework programmes, specific programmes, projects or other actions notably in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises and the terms and conditions for participation of Estonia in the activities shall be decided by the Association Council;

Whereas Council Decision 97/15/EC of 9 December 1996 on a Third Multiannual Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (1997 to 2000) (1) and in particular Article 7(1) thereof provides that this programme 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,

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 Estonia, of the other part, concerning the participation of Estonia in the Community programme in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises is the attached draft decision of the Association Council.

(1) OJ L 6, 10.1.1997, p. 25.

Draft DECISION No . . ./98 OF THE EC-ESTONIA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL of . . . 1998 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Estonia in the Community Programme in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises

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 Republic of Estonia, of the other part, and in particular Article 108 thereof (1),

Whereas according to Article 108 of the Europe Agreement, Estonia may participate in Community framework programmes, specific programmes, projects or other Community actions notably in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises,

Whereas according to Article 108 of the Europe Agreement the terms and conditions for the participation of Estonia in the activities referred to in Article 1 are to be decided by the Association Council,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Estonia shall participate in the Third Multiannual Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (1997 to 2000) according to the terms and conditions set out in Annexes I and II which shall form an integral part of this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply for the duration of the programme.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the first day of the month following its adoption.

Done at . . .

For the Association Council

The Chairman

(1) OJ L . . ., . . ., p. . . ..

ANNEX I

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF ESTONIA IN THE THIRD MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN THE EUROPEAN UNION (1997 TO 2000)

1. Estonia will participate in all activities of the Third Multiannual Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (1997 to 2000) (hereinafter called 'the Programme`), except the organisation of IBEX events, in conformity, unless otherwise provided in this Decision, with the objectives, criteria, procedures and timelimits laid down in Council Decision 97/15/EC of 9 December 1996 on a Third Multiannual Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (1997 to 2000) and in particular Article 7(1) thereof.

2. The terms and conditions for the submission, assessment and selection of applications related to eligible institutions, organisations and individuals of Estonia will be the same as those applicable to eligible institutions, organisations and individuals of the Community.

3. Where appropriate, in order to ensure the Community dimension of the Programme, transnational projects and activities proposed by Estonia 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 Programme, 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.

4. Estonia will pay each year a contribution to the general budget of the European Communities to cover the costs resulting from its participation in the Programme (see Annex II). The Association Committee is entitled to adapt this contribution whenever necessary.

5. The Member States of the Community and Estonia will make every effort, within the framework of the existing provisions, to facilitate the free movement and residence of all persons eligible to the Programme moving between Estonia and the Member States of the Community for the purpose of participating in activities covered by the Decision.

6. Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Commission and the Court of Auditors of the European Community in relation to the evaluation of the Programme according to the Decision on a Third Multiannual Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (Article 6), the participation of Estonia in the Programme will be continuously evaluated on a partnership basis involving Estonia and the Commission of the European Communities. Estonia will submit the necessary reports to the Commission and take part in other specific activities set out by the Community in that context.

7. Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 4 of the Decision on the Third Multiannual Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union, Estonia will be invited to co-ordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to regular meetings of the Programme Committee. The Commission will inform Estonia about the results of such regular meetings.

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

ANNEX II

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF ESTONIA TO THE THIRD MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN THE EUROPEAN UNION (1997 TO 2000)

1. Estonia's financial contribution will cover:

- financial support from the Programme for the participation of Estonian entities in activities as defined in Annex I.1.,

- supplementary costs of an administrative nature related to the management of the Programme by the Commission stemming from Estonia's participation.

2. For every financial year, the aggregated amount of subsidies or any other financial support received from the Programme by the Estonian beneficiaries will not exceed the contribution paid by Estonia, after deduction of the supplementary administrative costs.

Should the contribution paid by Estonia to the general budget of the European Communities, after deduction of the supplementary administrative costs, be higher than the aggregated amount of subsidies or other financial support received by the Estonian beneficiaries from the Programme, the Commission will transfer the balance to the next budgetary exercise, and it will be deducted from the following year's contribution. Should such a balance be left when the Programme comes to an end, the corresponding amount will be reimbursed to Estonia.

3. Estonia's annual contribution will be of ECU 368 294 from 1998. From this sum, an amount of ECU 24 094 will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the Programme by the Commission stemming from Estonia's participation.

4. The financial regulations applicable to the general budget of the Community will apply, notably to the management of the contribution of Estonia.

Upon entry into force of this Decision and at the beginning of each following year, the Commission will send to Estonia a call for funds corresponding to its contribution to the costs under this Decision.

This contribution will be expressed in ecus and paid into an ecu bank account of the Commission.

Estonia will pay its contribution to the annual costs under this Decision according to the call for funds and at the latest three months after the call for funds is sent. Any delay in the payment of the contribution shall give rise to the payment of interest by Estonia on the outstanding amount from the due date. The interest rate corresponds to the rate applied by the European Monetary Co-operation Fund, for the month of the due date, for its operations in ecus, increased by 1,5 percentage points.

5. Estonia will pay the supplementary administrative costs referred to in paragraph 3 from its national budget.

6. Estonia will pay ECU 288 200 of the remaining costs of its participation in Programme from its national budget.

Subject to regular Phare programming procedures, the remaining ECU 56 000 will be paid from Estonia's annual Phare allocation.