Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of the Slovak Republic in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education (97/C 337/05) COM(97) 422 final - 97/0225 (CNS)

(submitted by the Commission on 4 September 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 Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Slovak 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, (hereinafter called 'Leonardo da Vinci` (1)), and in particular Article 9 (1) thereof, Decision 818/95/EC of 14 March 1995 of the European Parliament and 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 (hereinafter called 'Socrates` (3)) 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 Slovak Republic, of the other part, concerning the participation of the Slovak Republic in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education, 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.

Draft Decision of the EC-Slovak Republic Association Council adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Slovak Republic, of the other part concerning the Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Slovak Republic in the activities referred to in Article 1 shall be decided by the Association Council;

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 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 Slovak 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 L 359, 31. 12. 1994.

(2) OJ L 115, 9. 5. 1996.

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

Article 1

The Slovak Republic shall participate in all 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 819/94/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 Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Member States of the Community and the Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Slovak Republic in the programmes shall be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission and the Slovak Republic. The Slovak 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 Slovak 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 Slovak 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.

ANNEX

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC TO LEONARDO DA VINCI, SOCRATES AND YOUTH FOR EUROPE

1. The financial contribution of the Slovak Republic will cover:

- subsidies or any other financial support from the programmes to Slovak participants,

- the financial support from the programmes to the functioning of the national agencies, where applicable,

- supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programmes by the Commission stemming from the Slovak Republic's participation.

2. For every budget year, the aggregated amount of subsidies or any other financial support received from the programmes by the Slovak beneficiaries and by the national agencies of the Slovak Republic will not exceed the contribution paid by the Slovak Republic, after deduction of the supplementary administrative costs.

Should the contribution paid by the Slovak Republic to the budget of the Community, after deduction of the supplementary administrative costs, be higher than the aggregated amount of the subsidies or other financial support received by the Slovak beneficiaries and by the national agencies from the programmes, the Commission of the European Communities 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 programmes come to an end, the corresponding amount will be reimbursed to the Slovak Republic.

3. Leonardo da Vinci

The Slovak Republic's annual contribution will be of ECU 2 140 000 from 1997. From this sum, an amount of ECU 140 000 will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming from the Slovak Republic's participation.

4. Socrates

The Slovak Republic's contribution will be:

- ECU 940 000 in 1997 for its participation in Chapter II (School education, Comenius) and Chapter III (horizontal measures). From this sum, an amount of ECU 60 000 will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming from the Slovak Republic's participation,

- ECU 2 140 000 in 1998 and in 1999, for its participation in the entire Socrates programme, including Chapter I (Erasmus). From this sum, an amount of ECU 140 000 will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming from the Slovak Republic's participation.

5. Youth for Europe

The Slovak Republic's annual contribution will be:

- ECU 270 000 in 1997 for participating in actions AI and BI,

- ECU 464 000 in 1998 and ECU 702 000 in 1999 for participating in all the actions of the programme, except Action D.

From these sums, a yearly amount of ECU 40 000 will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming from the Slovak Republic's participation.

6. The financial regulation applicable to the general budget of the Community shall apply, notably to the management of the contribution of the Slovak Republic.

After the entry into force of this Decision and at the beginning of each following year, the Commission shall send to the Slovak Republic a call for funds corresponding to its contribution to the costs under the Decision.

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

The Slovak Republic shall pay its contribution to the annual costs under this Decision according to the call for funds, 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 the Slovak Republic on the outstanding amount from the due date. The interest rate corresponds to the rate applied by the European Monetary Cooperation Fund, for the month of the due date, for its operations in ecu (1), increased by 1,5 percentage points.

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

8. The Slovak Republic shall pay 50 % of the remaining costs of its participation in the programmes from its national budget.

Subject to regular PHARE programming procedures, the remaining 50 % will be paid from the Slovak Republic's annual PHARE programmes.

(1) Rate published monthly in the Official Journal of the European Communities - C series.