*-^mmn& 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 04.02.1998 
COM(1998) 53 final 
PROPOSALS FOR 
COUNCIL DECISIONS 
ON THE PRINCIPLES, PRIORITIES, INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVES 
AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED 
IN THE ACCESSION PARTENERSHIPS 
(Presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
In Agenda 2000 the Commission proposed to bring together the different forms of 
pre-accession support provided by the Union in a single framework, the Accession 
Partnerships. Within this framework the Commission proposed to work with the 
applicants on the basis of a clearly defined programme to prepare for membership, 
involving commitments by the applicants to particular priorities and to a calendar for 
carrying them out. At its meeting on 12-13 December 1997, the Luxembourg 
European Council endorsed the Accession Partnership as a new instrument which 
would be the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession strategy. 
The Council has adopted Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in 
central and eastern Europe in the framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in 
particular on the establishment of Accession Partnerships. 
That Regulation states in Article 2 that "following a proposal by the Commission, the 
Council shall decide by qualified majority on the principles, priorities, intermediate 
objectives and conditions contained in the individual Accession Partnerships, as they 
will be submitted to each applicant country, as well as on subsequent significant 
adjustments applicable to them". 
In the Luxembourg European Council Conclusions, the Council undertook to decide 
on these by 15 March. 
t 
The current proposal contains individual Decisions to be adopted setting out the 
principles, priorities, intermediate objective and conditions for each country. 
In view of the timescale fixed by the Luxembourg European Council for the adoption 
of the framework Regulation and the absence at this stage of a Decision on that 
proposal, the Commission considers it opportune to submit now this draft proposal 
informally. Naturally this proposal cannot be adopted by the Council until adoption of 
the framework regulation in conformity with usual procedures. 
1 
Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with Bulgaria 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
r 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Bulgaria 
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further 
work; 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for Bulgaria.will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of 
Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Europe Agreement. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
Bulgaria 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in the Commission's Opinion on Bulgaria's 
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to 
help Bulgaria implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that 
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of 
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their 
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme 
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Bulgaria, the Joint Assessment of 
Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market 
road maps. 
2. Priorities 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Bulgaria will have to address all issues 
identified in the Opinion. 
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted the serious difficulties which Bulgaria 
will face in coping with competitive pressures and market forces within the Union in 
the medium term, Bulgaria needs to make considerable further efforts in order to meet 
the economic conditions for membership. Despite the progress that has been made, 
Bulgaria needs to transpose and take on the essential elements of the acquis 
particularly as regards the internal market. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Bulgaria. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
Bulgaria will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the 
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving 
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the 
necessary staff and financial resources. 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and 
joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; pursuit of the 
programme launched by the Government, including privatisation of state 
enterprises and banks and restructuring measures in industry, financial sector and 
agriculture and measures to encourage increased foreign direct investment. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: adoption of the 
draft civil service law and progress in public administration reform as well as 
institutional strengthening in the areas of internal financial control capacity, 
environment, nuclear safety and customs policy, reinforcement of phytosanitary 
and veterinary administrations, particularly as regards facilities at external borders, 
begin to set up structures needed for regional and structural policy. 
• Internai Market: including in the areas of intellectual and industrial property 
rights (strengthening of enforcement of protection), financial services, taxation, the 
establishment of a first state aid inventory, the adoption of the necessary legislative 
framework for state aid monitoring and the adoption of a new competition law. 
• Justice and Home Affairs: concrete steps to combat corruption and organised 
crime and improve border management. 
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of 
implementation of detailed approximation programmes and implementation 
strategies related to individual acts. Planning and commencement of 
implementation of these programmes and strategies. 
• Energy: in particular establishing a comprehensive, long term, energy strategy and 
respect of nuclear safety standards and realistic plant closure commitments as 
entered into in the Nuclear Safety Account Agreement. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Political criteria: further efforts to integrate the Roma and protect individual 
liberties. 
• Economic reform: complete the privatisation process. Strengthen market economy 
institutions. 
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Bulgaria is expected to 
t, 
pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the 
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence 
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Bulgaria is not expected 
to adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: completion of 
reform at all levels, including training for civil servants; improved operation of the 
judicial system; further development of the National Audit Office and internal 
financial control structures; establishment of anti-trust and state aid monitoring 
bodies; improvements in accounting, auditing and statistics and nuclear regulatory 
authority; reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient 
and properly trained personnel), and the reinforcement of food control 
administrations. 
Internal Market: including alignment of competition policy, state aids, customs, 
taxation, public procurement legislation, upgrading of standardisation, conformity 
assessment structures and establishment of a market surveillance system and 
harmonisation of technical legislation on industrial standards. Reinforcement of 
competition authorities, further alignment of competition law and the credible 
enforcement of competition rules, promotion of enterprise development, including 
SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection 
and the internal energy market. 
Justice and home affairs: development of effective border management and 
frontier control systems. implementation of migration policy and asylum 
procedures as well as the fight against organised crime and corruption, notably in 
view of the Schengen acquis. 
Agriculture: including the land restitution process and establishment of a 
functioning land market, alignment with the agricultural acquis (including 
veterinary and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls). 
Development of the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the 
fundamental management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the 
agricultural markets and implement structural and rural development measures, 
adoption and implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, 
upgrading of certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic 
facilities, restructuring of the agri-food sector. 
Energy: implementation of a comprehensive policy including respect of 
Bulgaria's commitments on the phased closure of certain units of Kozloduy nuclear 
power plant, decommissioning and nuclear waste management plan. 
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on maritime, air 
and road freight transport (safety rules) and to provide necessary investment for 
transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European networks. 
Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market 
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation 
in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety 
legislation and development of enforcement structures, in particular early adoption 
of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal 
opportunities between women and men; further development of active, 
autonomous social dialogue; development of adequate social protection, undertake 
steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms 
? 
Environment: development of monitoring and implementation control structures 
and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of approximation 
programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis should be given 
to the water sector including its institutional requirements. 
Regional policy and cohesion: introduction of legal basis and development of 
administrative structures and budgetary procedures. Strengthen financial 
instruments and control mechanisms in order to participate in EU structural 
programmes. 
4. Programming 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 212 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. In addition, Bulgaria is eligible for support from 
the "catch-up"' facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare 
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the 
applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. 
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and 
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionally 
Community assistance will be conditional on Bulgaria respect of its commitments 
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a 
decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of 
Article 4 of Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in 
each Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with the Czech Republic 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on the Czech 
Republic's preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for 
further work; 
<? 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for the Czech Republic will contain, in accordance with 
Article 2 of Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and 
conditions set out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Europe Agreement. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
Czech Republic 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in the Commission's Opinion on Czech 
Republic's application for membership of the European Union, the financial means 
available to help the Czech Republic implement these priorities and the conditions 
which will apply to that assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a 
framework for a number of policy instruments which will be used to help the 
candidate countries in their preparations for membership. These will include inter 
alia the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Czech 
Republic, the Joint Assessment of Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against 
organised crime and the internal market road maps. 
2. Priorities 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law. human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Czech Republic will have to address all 
issues identified in the Opinion. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council*s discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Czech Republic. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
Czech Republic will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of 
the Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for 
achieving these priorities, intermediate objectives and. where possible and relevant, 
indicate the necessary staff and financial resources. 
-/// 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and 
joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; implementation of 
policies to maintain both internal and external balance; improvement of the 
framework for corporate governance, in particular by accelerating the restructuring 
of banks, by implementing the laws regulating the financial sector (banks and 
investment companies), and by enforcing the supervision by the new Securities and 
Exchange Commission. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: improving capacity 
in banking supervision securities, and insurance sectors, internal financial control, 
environment, agriculture, reinforcement of phytosanitary and veterinary 
administrations particularly as regards facilities at external borders, begin to set up 
structures needed for regional and structural policy. 
• Internal Market: including in the areas of intellectual property rights (legislation 
and enforcement), and certification and standardisation (further alignment of 
legislative measures), amendment of anti-trust law. further development of the 
legislative framework for state aid control and increased transparency through 
submission of additional state aid inventory. 
• Justice and Home Affairs: development of effective border management. 
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishmen of 
implementation of detailed approximation programmes and implementation 
strategies related to individual acts. Planning and commencement of 
implementation of these programmes and strategies. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Political criteria: further work on the integration of the Roma. Strengthening of 
laws which guarantee press freedom. 
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); the Czech Republic is 
expected to pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance 
with the Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal 
convergence compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; the Czech 
Republic is not expected to adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: continue public 
administration modernisation policy; improve operation of the judicial system, 
customs, establishment of independent bodies for supervision of data protection 
and for consumer protection; reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions 
(ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), completion of alignment of 
financial control capacity, the reinforcement of food control administration. 
• Internal Market: including alignment of public procurement legislation, 
accounting legislation, data protection, financial services, indirect taxation, audio-
/?? 
visual, consumer protection, technical legislation industrial products, further 
development of standardisation and conformity assessment bodies and 
establishment and operation of a market surveillance system, strengthening of 
competition authorities, efficient enforcement of competition law. completion of 
alignment of competition law, promotion of enterprise development, including 
SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection 
and the internal energy market. 
Justice and home affairs: development of effective border management and 
implementation of migration policy and reforms of asylum procedures as well as 
the fight against drugs, organised crime and corruption, more effective operation of 
the judiciary and law enforcement, notably in view of the Schengen acquis. 
Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary 
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls). Development of 
the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP. in particular the fundamental 
management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural 
markets and implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and 
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of 
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, 
restructuring of the agri-food sector. 
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport 
(market access, safety rules and taxation) and rail transport, and to provide 
necessary investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-
European networks. 
Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market 
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation 
in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety 
legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption 
of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal 
opportunities between women and men; further development of active, 
autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection, undertake 
steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms. 
Environment: the development of monitoring and implementation control 
structures and capacities, continuous planning of approximation programmes 
related to individual legal acts. Particular emphasis should be given to air, water 
and the waste sector. 
Regional policy and cohesion: establishment of a legal, administrative and 
budgetary framework for an integrated regional policy in order to participate in EU 
structural programmes. 
4. Programming 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 224 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare 
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the 
applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. 
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and 
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionality 
Community assistance will be conditional on Czech Republic respect of its 
commitments under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment 
of the Copenhagen criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a 
decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of 
Article 4 of Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in 
each Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
•ih 
Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with Estonia 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Estonia's 
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further 
work; 
/I1) 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for Estonia will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of 
Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Europe Agreement. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
7fr 
Estonia 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in the Commission's Opinion on Estonia's 
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to 
help Estonia implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that 
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of 
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their 
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme 
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Estonia, the Joint Assessment of 
Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market 
road maps. 
2. Priorities 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Estonia will have to address all issues 
identified in the Opinion. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Estonia. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
Estonia will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the 
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving 
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the 
necessary staff and financial resources. 
tf 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Political criteria: take measures to facilitate naturalisation procedures and to better 
integrate non-citizens including stateless children. Enhance Estonian language 
training for non-Estonian-speakers. 
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and 
joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; in particular with 
a view to sustain the high growth rates of recent years, while reducing inflation and 
increasing the level of national savings; acceleration of land reform with a view to 
increase private ownership and introduction of key legislation linked to pension 
reform. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular as 
regards regulatory and monitoring bodies and the development of a comprehensive 
national training strategy for civil servants and developing a strategy and timetable 
for the consolidation of the various supervisory agencies in the financial sector, 
strengthen internal financial control, reinforcement of phytosanitary and veterinary 
administrations, particularly as regards facilities at external borders, institutional 
strengthening in the area of environment, begin to set up structures needed for 
regional and structural policy. 
• Internal Market: including in the areas of public procurement, intellectual and 
industrial property, financial services, taxation, technical legislation and 
competition (especially the transparency of state aids). Adoption of new 
competition law, covering both anti-trust and state aid, reinforcement of the state 
aid monitoring authority and the establishment of a first aid inventory. 
• Justice and home affairs: in particular concrete steps to combat corruption and 
organised crime and continue judicial reform. 
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of 
detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to 
individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these 
programmes and strategies. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Political criteria: pursue integration of non-citizens by strengthening Estonian 
language training for Russian-speakers in primary and secondary schools as well as 
adult training courses, and by further measures to accelerate the naturalisation 
process. 
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Estonia is expected to 
pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the 
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence 
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Estonia is not expected 
to adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: at central and local 
level to ensure efficient management of the public sector; special attention should 
s\ î 
be paid to the budgetary process, internal financial control, statistics, customs, 
environment and agriculture; improved operation of the judicial system; 
reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and 
properly trained personnel), the reinforcement of food control administration. 
• Internal market: including alignment, in particular in public procurement, 
technical legislation on industrial products, financial services, money laundering, 
intellectual and industrial property and state aids, data protection, strengthening of 
securities regulatory bodies, audio-visual and indirect taxation. Upgrading of 
standardisation and conformity assessment structures and establishment of a 
market surveillance system. Completion of alignment and efficient implementation 
of competition law and the reinforcement of the competition authorities, promotion 
of enterprise development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis in the 
fields of télécoms, consumer protection and the internal-energy market. 
• Justice and home affairs: ratification and application of necessary international 
legal instruments relevant for the acquis, enhanced border management especially 
on the eastern border, implementation of migration policy and asylum procedures, 
enhanced fight against organised crime, notably in view of the Schengen acquis. 
• Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary 
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), completion of 
the land restitution process. Development of the capacity to implement and enforce 
the CAP, in particular the fundamental management mechanisms and 
administrative structures to monitor the agricultural markets and implement 
structural and rural development measures, adoption and implementation of the 
veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of certain food processing 
establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, restructuring of the agri-food 
sector. 
• Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport 
(market access, safety rules) and maritime transport (safety) and rail transport, and 
to provide necessary investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of 
trans-European networks. 
• Employment and Social Affairs: development of appropriate labour market 
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation 
in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety 
legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption 
of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal 
opportunities between women and men; further development of active, 
autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection, undertake 
steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms. 
• Environment: including development of monitoring and implementation control 
structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of 
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis 
should be given to the water and waste sector, including radioactive waste. 
• Regional policy and cohesion: introduce the legal administrative and budgetary 
framework for a national policy to address regional disparities through and 
integrated approach, in order to participate in EU structural programmes. 
4. Programming 
H 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 90 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare 
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the 
applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. 
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and 
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionally 
Community assistance will be conditional on Estonia respect of its commitments 
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a 
decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of 
Article 4 of Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in 
each Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
°). 
Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with Hungary 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Hungary's 
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further 
work; 
7 / 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for Hungary will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of 
Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Europe Agreement. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
VL 
Hungary 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in the Commission's Opinion on Hungary's 
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to 
help Hungary implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that 
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of 
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their 
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme 
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Hungary, the Joint Assessment of 
Economic Policy Priorities and the Pact against organised crime and the internal 
market road maps. 
2. Priorities 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Hungary will have to address all issues 
identified in the Opinion. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Hungary. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
Hungary will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the 
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving 
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the 
necessary staff and financial resources. 
v>> 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Economic reform: review and update the country's medium-term economic policy 
priorities within the framework of the Europe agreement; further consolidate the 
conditions for strong investment growth through the sustained implementation of 
prudent macroeconomic policies and the advancement of structural reforms 
(particularly with regard to the public sector and the health care system). 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular in the 
areas of veterinary and phytosanitary controls (particularly as regards facilities at 
the external borders) environment, customs policy internal financial control and 
regional development. 
• Internal Market: including certification and standardisation (further alignment of 
legislative measures), state aids (adoption of legislative framework, definition of 
role and powers of monitoring authority, enforcement) and increased transparency 
through improvement of aid inventory. Enforcement of intellectual property rights 
and further alignment of company law. Complete alignment of public procurement 
legislation to cover fully utilities sector. 
• Justice and Home Affairs: implementation of appropriate refugee legislation 
consistent with 1951 Geneva Convention, development of effective border 
management. 
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment and 
commencement of implementation of detailed approximation programmes and 
implementation strategies related to individual acts. Planning and commencement 
of implementation of these programmes and strategies. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Political criteria: further efforts to improve the integration of the Roma. 
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Hungary is expected to 
pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the 
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence 
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Hungary is not expected 
to adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: development of 
anti fraud unit and state audit office, state aid monitoring bodies; improved 
operation of the judicial system; reinforcement of justice and home affairs 
institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), the reinforcement 
of food control administration. 
• Internal Market: including further development of standardisation and 
conformity assessment bodies and establishment and operation of a market 
surveillance system, alignment of technical legislation on industrial products, 
further alignment of competition law, in particular for state aid, reinforcement of 
state aid monitoring authority, efficient enforcement of competition law, alignment 
24 
of capital liberalisation, financial services and consumer protection, promotion of 
enterprise development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields 
of télécoms, consumer protection and the internal energy market. 
• Justice and home affairs: including implementation of migration policy and 
asylum procedures as well as the fight against organised crime and corruption, and 
clarification of admission provisions for immigrants, notably in view of the 
Schengen acquis. 
• Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary 
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls). Development of 
the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental 
management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural 
markets and implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and 
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of 
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, 
restructuring of the agri-food sector. 
• Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport 
(technical controls), and to provide necessary investment for transport 
infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European networks. 
• Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market 
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation 
in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety 
legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption 
of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal 
opportunities between women and men; further development of active, 
autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection, undertake 
steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms.. 
• Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation 
control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of 
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis 
should be given to the urban waste water and waste management and the integrated 
industrial pollution control and risk management. 
• Regional policy and cohesion: further strengthen budgetary procedures, 
financial instruments, monitoring and control mechanisms in order to participate in 
EU structural programmes. 
4. Programming 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 282 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare 
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the 
applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. 
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and 
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionality 
is 
Community assistance will be conditional on Hungary respect of its commitments 
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a 
decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of 
Article 4 of Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in 
each Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
1Q 
Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with Latvia 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Latvia's 
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further 
work; 
1 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for Latvia will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of 
Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Europe Agreement. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
6 
Latvia 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in the Commission's Opinion on Latvia's 
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to 
help Latvia implement these priorities and the conditions which -will apply to that 
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of 
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their 
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme 
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Latvia, the Joint Assessment of 
Economic Policy Priorities and the Pact against organised crime and the internal 
market road maps. 
2. Priorities 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Latvia will have to address all issues 
identified in the Opinion. 
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted the serious difficulties which Latvia 
faces in coping with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the 
medium term, Latvia needs to make further efforts in order to meet the economic 
conditions for membership. Despite the progress that has been made, particular 
attention should be paid to the internal market. In addition, particular attention should 
be given to measure to accelerate integration of non-citizens. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Latvia. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
Latvia will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the 
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving 
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the 
necessary staff and financial resources. 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Political criteria: take measure to facilitate naturalisation procedures to better 
integrate non-citizens including stateless children and enhance Latvian language 
training for non-Latvian speakers. 
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and 
joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; acceleration of 
market-based enterprise restructuring, in particular through the completion of the 
privatisation process; continued strengthening f the banking sector; moderisation of 
the agriculture sector and establishment of a land and property register. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: further structural 
reform of public administration is needed and in particular in customs and tax 
administration, financial control capacity, reinforcement of the agriculture ministry 
and the establishment of a training strategy for the judiciary, reinforcement of the 
veterinary and phytosanitary administrations, particularly as regards facilities at 
external borders, institutional strengthening in the area of environment, begin to set 
up structures needed for regional and structural policy. 
• Internal Market: including in the areas of intellectual and industrial property 
rights, public procurement, financial services, competition, state aids and indirect 
taxation, adoption of a law on state aid and increased transparency through 
improvement of the aid inventory and reinforcement of the new anti-trust authority. 
• Justice and home affairs: in particular concrete steps to combat corruption and 
organised crime and to continue judicial reform. 
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of 
detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to 
individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these 
programmes and strategies. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Political criteria: Accelerated integration of non-citizens by facilitating 
naturalisation procedures for stateless children. Revision of the naturalisation 
mechanism and further measures to accelerate the process. 
• Economic reforms: consolidation of the privatisation process; reinforcement of 
market-driven restructuring in the enterprise, finance and banking sectors, 
development of regulatory framework for utilities and financial services, and 
strengthening of competition policy, establishment of a land and property register. 
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
3p 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Latvia is expected to 
pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the 
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence 
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Latvia is not expected to 
adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: enforcement of 
EC's internal market legislation and establishment of institutions able to 
implement the Community's regional development programmes and agricultural 
policy (including statistical capacities) including anti-fraud services, strengthening 
of the budgetary process and macro-economic forecasting capacity; improved 
operation of the judicial system; reinforcement justice and home affairs 
institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), reinforcement of 
food administration. 
Internal Market: including alignment of legislation in the fields of product 
legislation, customs, audio-visual policies, statistics, financial services and 
implementation of competition law, upgrading of standardisation and conformity 
assessment structures, establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment 
of horizontal technical legislation on industrial products, further alignment of 
competition legislation in particular in the field of state aid, reinforcement of the 
anti-trust and state aid authorities, promotion of enterprise development, including 
SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection 
and the internal energy market. 
Justice and home affairs: including development of effective border management 
in particular on the eastern border, implementation of migration policy and asylum 
and refugee legislation, continuation of fight against organised crime and 
corruption notably in view of the Schengen acquis. 
Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary 
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), consolidation of 
land structure and development of a rural policy. Development of the capacity to 
implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental management 
mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural markets and 
implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and 
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of 
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, 
restructuring of the agri-food sector. 
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road freight 
transport (technical rules and taxation), shipping (safety) and rail transport, and to 
provide necessary investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of 
trans-European networks. 
Employment and social affairs: development of labour market policies and joint 
review of these policies as preparation for participation in EU co-ordination; 
alignment of labour and occupational health and safety legislation and 
development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption of the 
framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal 
opportunities between women and men; further development of active, 
?/ 
autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection; undertake 
steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms. 
Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation 
control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of 
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis 
should be given to drinking water, wastewater and the waste sector. 
Regional policy and cohesion: introduce the legal administrative and budgetary 
framework for a national policy to address regional disparities through and 
integrated approach, in order to participate in EU structural programmes 
4. Programming 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 112 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Pilars budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999, in addition, Latvia is eligible for support from the 
catch-up facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare Management 
Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the applicant 
countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. Financial 
assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and a 
structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionally 
Community assistance will be conditional on Latvia respect of its commitments under 
the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the Copenhagen 
criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a decision by the 
Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of Article 4 of 
Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in each 
Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
3>1-
Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with Lithuania 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
WTiereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in the framework of the Europe Agreement; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Lithuania 
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further 
work; 
3} 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for Lithuania will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of 
Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Europe Agreement. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
ih 
Lithuania 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in thé Commission's Opinion on Lithuania's 
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to 
help Lithuania implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that 
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of 
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their 
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme 
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Lithuania, the Joint Assessment of 
Economic Policy Priorities the Pact against organised crime and the internal market 
road maps. 
2. Priorities 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Lithuania will have to address all issues 
identified in the Opinion. 
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted the serious difficulties which 
Lithuania faces in coping with competitive pressure and market forces within the 
Union in the medium term, Lithuania needs to make further efforts in order to meet 
the economic conditions for membership. Despite the progress that has been made, 
particular attention should be paid to the internal market and the enforcement of 
financial discipline for enterprises. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Lithuania. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
tf 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
Lithuania will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the 
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving 
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the 
necessary staff and financial resources. 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and 
joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; acceleration of 
large scale privatisation and progress towards the restructuring of the banking, 
energy and agri-food sectors; enforcement of financial discipline for enterprises. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular major 
efforts on public administration reform, border control, customs and nuclear 
regulatory authority as well as preparation of training strategy for civil servants and 
the judiciary, veterinary and phytosanitary administrations, particularly as regards 
facilities at the external borders, institutional strengthening in the area of 
environment, begin to set up structures needed for regional and structural policy. 
• Internal Market: including in the areas of phytosanitary and veterinary, 
intellectual and industrial property, public procurement, .financial services, 
upgrading of independent standardisation and conformity assessment structures 
and competition (establishment of transparent state aids inventory). Adoption of a 
new competition law. 
• Justice and home affairs: in particular concrete steps to combat corruption and 
organised crime, and improve border management and conditions in facilities for 
refugee reception. 
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment and 
commencement of implementation of detailed approximation programmes and 
implementation strategies related to individual acts. Planning and commencement 
of implementation of these programmes and strategies. 
• Energy: in particular establishing a comprehensive, long term, energy strategy and 
decommissioning plan for the nuclear power plant Ignalina according to 
commitments entered into in the Nuclear Safety Account Agreement. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Economic reforms: complete privatisation process and restructuring of the 
banking, energy and agri-food sectors, ensure functioning of land property register 
and align legal framework (bankruptcy and competition legislation, simplification 
of business regulations including licensing). 
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Lithuania is expected 
to pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the 
3^ 
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence 
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Lithuania is not 
expected to adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: development of 
anti fraud unit and state audit office and of budget and financial control 
mechanisms; improved operation of the judicial system; reinforcement of justice 
and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), 
the reinforcement of food control administration. 
Internal Market: including alignment of capital liberalisation, public procurement 
legislation, reinforcement of competition authorities, efficient enforcement of 
competition law, further alignment of competition law, in particular state aid 
control; upgrading of standardisation and conformity assessment structures, 
establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment of horizontal 
technical legislation on industrial products, indirect taxation and statistics, 
promotion of enterprise development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis 
in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection and the internal energy market. 
Justice and home affairs: finalisation of border demarcation, development of 
effective border management, implementation of migration policy and asylum 
procedures notably in view of the Schengen acquis. 
Agriculture: including of alignment with the agricultural acquis (including 
veterinary and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), 
completion of land registration and establishment of a functioning land market. 
Development of the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the 
fundamental management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the 
agricultural markets and implement structural and rural development measures, 
adoption and implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, 
upgrading of certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic 
facilities, restructuring of the agri-food sector. 
Energy: implementation of a comprehensive energy strategy based on efficiency 
and diversification, including respect of nuclear safety standards and realistic 
nuclear power plant closure commitments. (NSA) 
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on maritime 
(safety) and road and rail transport, and to provide necessary investment for 
transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European networks. 
Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market 
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation 
in EU co-ordination of employment policies, alignment of labour and occupational 
health and safety legislation in particular early adoption of the framework directive 
on health and safety at work, further development of an active social dialogue; 
further development of social protection; enforcement of equal opportunities 
between women and men, undertake steps to bring public health standards into line 
with EU norms. 
Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation 
control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of 
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis 
should be given to drinking water and the waste sector as well as nuclear safety. 
vt 
Regional policy and cohesion: introduce the legal administrative and budgetary 
framework for a national policy to address regional disparities through and 
integrated approach, in order to participate in EU structural programmes. 
4. Programming 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 145 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. In addition, Lithuania is eligible for support from 
the "catch-up" facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare 
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by 
the applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. 
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and 
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionally 
Community assistance will be conditional on Lithuania respect of its commitments 
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a 
decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of 
Article 4 of Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in 
each Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
f 
Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with Poland 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Poland's 
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further 
work; 
3f 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for Poland will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of 
Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Europe Agreement. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
l^o 
Poland 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in the Commission's Opinion on Poland's 
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to 
help Poland implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that 
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of 
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their 
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme 
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Poland, the Joint Assessment of 
Economic Policy Priorities the Pact against organised crime and the internal market 
road maps. 
2. Priorities 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Poland will have to address all issues 
identified in the Opinion. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Poland. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
Poland will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the 
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving 
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the 
necessary staff and financial resources. 
M 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and 
joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; action to address 
the external deficit; acceleration of the privatisation of state enterprises and the 
sound development of the financial sector. 
• Industrial restructuring: adoption by 30 June and start of implementation of a 
new steel sector restructuring programme. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular 
improvements in the areas of customs, state aid controls, justice and home affairs 
ministries and services, financial control, veterinary and phytosanitary controls, 
(particularly as regards facilities at the external borders), environment, taxation and 
regional policy. 
• Internal Market: including in the areas of intellectual and industrial property, 
state aids (strengthening of monitoring authority, finalisation of inventory), (public 
procurement) and liberalisation of capital movements, the adoption of a law on 
state aid. 
• Justice and home affairs: develop more effective border management and control 
systems in particular of the borders with Belarus and the Ukraine and visa regimes. 
• Agriculture: establish a coherent structural and rural development policy; 
adoption of implementing regulations and implementation and enforcement of 
veterinary and phytosanitary requirements particularly with regard to the inspection 
and control arrangements for protecting EU external borders. In particular, 
upgrading of certain food processing establishments (milk and meat sectors) and 
certain testing and diagnostic facilities. 
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of 
detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to 
individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these 
programmes and strategies. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Political criteria: Further attention to ensuring press freedom and equal access to 
public services. 
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Poland is expected to 
pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the 
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence 
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Poland is not expected to 
adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: development of 
anti fraud unit and state audit office, strengthening of financial control capacity; 
improved operation of the judicial system; reinforcement of justice and home 
affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), 
L{L 
strengthening of parliamentary lawmaking procedures, improvement of tax 
gathering capacity, the reinforcement of food control administration. 
Internal Market: including completion of alignment of public procurement 
legislation and harmonisation of legislation on conformity assessment of products, 
financial services, further improvements in the field of competition (e.g. merger 
control), efficient enforcement of competition law, audio-visual, property 
ownership and external frontier control, upgrading of standardisation and 
conformity assessment structures, establishment of a market surveillance system 
and alignment of horizontal technical legislation on industrial products, 
reinforcement of the anti-trust and state aid authorities, promotion of enterprise 
development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, 
consumer protection and the internal energy market. 
Justice and home affairs: including development of effective border management 
and implementation of migration policy and the new asylum system as well as the 
fight against organised crime and corruption, implementation of reforms of 
legislation on aliens, notably in view of the Schengen acquis. 
Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary 
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), implementation 
of structural and rural development policy. Development of the capacity to 
implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental management 
mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural markets and 
implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and 
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of 
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, 
restructuring of the agri-food sector. 
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport 
(market access, safety rules and taxation) and rail, and to provide necessary 
investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European 
networks. 
Employment and Social Affairs: development of appropriate labour market 
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation 
in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety 
legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption 
of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal 
opportunities between women and men; further development of active, 
autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection, undertake 
steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms. 
Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation 
control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of 
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis 
should be given to drinking water, waste water, the waste sector as well as to large 
combustion plants. 
Regional policy and cohesion: completion of legal basis, development of 
administrative structures and budgetary procedures, financial instruments, 
monitoring and control mechanisms in order to participate in EU structural 
programmes. 
M 
4. Programming 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 526 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare 
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by 
the applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. 
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and 
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionality 
Community assistance will be conditional on Poland respect of its commitments 
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a 
decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of 
Article 4 of Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in 
each Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
^4 
Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with Romania 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
• Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Romania's 
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further 
work; 
hÇ 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for Romania will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of 
Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Europe Agreement. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
^ 
Romania 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in the Commission's Opinion on Romania's 
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to 
help Romania implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that 
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of 
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their 
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme 
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Romania, the Joint Assessment of 
Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market 
road maps. 
2. Priorities 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Romania will have to address all issues 
identified in the Opinion. 
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted the serious difficulties which Romania 
faces in coping with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the 
medium term, Romania needs to make considerable further efforts in order to meet the 
economic conditions for membership. Despite the progress that has been made, 
Romania needs to transpose and take on the essential elements of the acquis 
particularly as regards the internal market. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Romania. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
^> 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
Romania will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the 
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving 
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the 
necessary staff and financial resources. 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and 
joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; joint assessment 
of economic policy priorities in the framework of the Europe Agreement; make 
satisfactory progress on the Government's economic reform programme, including 
the privatisation of two banks, the transformation into commercial companies of 
most régies autonomes, the efficient implementation of the foreign Investment 
regime, and restructuring/ privatisation of a number of large state-owned industrial 
and agricultural companies (notably by reducing their losses and financial arrears); 
continue the implementation of the agreements with the international financial 
institutions. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: adoption of draft 
law on the civil service and progress in public administration reform, phytosanitary 
and veterinary controls, particularly as regards facilities at the external borders, the 
financial sector (strengthening of supervisory bodies of banking, financial services 
and capital markets), customs; strengthening of financial control and auditing 
mechanisms and competition, anti-trust and state aid monitoring bodies, 
environment and strengthening of the nuclear regulatory authority, begin to set up 
structures needed for regional and structural policy. 
• Internal Market: including the restructuring of the banking sector and the capital 
markets, the completion of company law reform, including measures for the 
promotion of enterprise development and SME's, foreign direct investment, 
harmonisation and improved application of indirect taxation. Establishment of 
standardisation and conformity assessment structures. 
• Justice and Home Affairs: concrete steps to combat corruption and organised 
crime and improved border management. 
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of 
detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to 
individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these 
programmes and strategies. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Political criteria: continuation of child protection reform, further efforts to 
integrate the Roma, protection of individual liberties and improvement of the 
functioning of the courts. 
• Economic reform: Particular attention should be devoted to creating the basis for 
a sustained increase of productivity and to the further restructuring/privatisation of 
the state-owned enterprises, including banks. 
M 
Economie policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Romania is expected to 
pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the 
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence 
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Romania is not expected 
to adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular the 
implementation of a comprehensive public administration reform programme; 
major efforts to improve public administration, including competition, customs 
and taxation authorities, strengthening of internal financial control; improved 
operation of the judicial system; reinforcement of justice and home affairs 
institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), the reinforcement 
of food control administration. 
Internal Market: including major efforts to approximate legislation and set up 
implementation structures, harmonisation of public procurement, enforcement of 
intellectual property rights, insurance, competition policy, in particular efficient 
enforcement of competition law, adoption of a law on state aid and a first state aid 
inventory, reinforcement of standardisation of conformity assessment structures, 
establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment of technical 
legislation on industrial products, promotion of enterprise development, including 
SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection 
and the internal energy market. 
Justice and home affairs: including pursuit of reform of institutions and the 
judiciary; improvement of border management systems, capacity to handle asylum 
and migration questions, fight against organised crime and corruption, notably in 
view of the Schengen acquis. 
Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary 
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), Development of 
the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental 
management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural 
markets and implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and 
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of 
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, 
restructuring of the agri-food sector. 
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on maritime and 
road freight sectors (safety rules), and to provide necessary investment for transport 
infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European networks. 
Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market 
structures and joint review employment policies as preparation for participation in 
EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety 
legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption 
of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal 
opportunities between women and men; enforcement of equal opportunities 
between women and men; further development of active, autonomous social 
W 
dialogue; development of adequate social protection, undertake steps to bring 
public health standards into line with EU norms. 
• Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation 
control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of 
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis 
should be given to air and the water sector. 
• Regional policy and cohesion: complete establishment of legal basis, 
development of administrative structures and budgetary procedures. Strengthening 
financial instruments and control mechanisms in order to participate in EU 
structural programmes. 
4. Programming 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 284 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. In addition, Romania is eligible for support from 
the catch-up facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare Management 
Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the applicant 
countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. Financial 
assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and a 
structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionally 
Community assistance will be conditional on Romania respect of its commitments 
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a 
decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of 
Article 4 of Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in 
each Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
S c^ 
Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with Slovakia 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Slovakia's 
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further 
work; 
b/ 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for Slovakia will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of 
Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Europe Agreement. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
^ 
Slovakia 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in the Commission's Opinion on Slovakia's 
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to 
help Slovakia implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that 
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of 
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their 
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme 
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Slovakia, the Joint Assessment of 
Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market 
road maps. 
2. Priorities 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Slovakia will have to address all issues 
identified in the Opinion. 
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted a number of problems which Slovakia 
would face in meeting the Copenhagen criteria, a particular effort is needed to 
consolidate the stability and functioning of its democratic institutions and the extent to 
which they are rooted in political life. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Slovakia. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
^ 
Slovakia will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the 
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving 
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the 
necessary staff and financial resources. 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Political criteria: free and fair Presidential, national and local elections in 1998; 
ensuring effective opposition participation in parliamentary oversight committees 
and supervisory boards; the adoption of legislative provisions on minority language 
use and related implementing measures. 
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and 
joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; implementation 
of policies aimed at tackling internal and external imbalances and sustaining 
macroeconomic stability; progress on structural reforms, and on market-driven 
enterprise, finance and banking restructuring, and to continue the process of 
conversion of energy intensive heavy industries. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: including the 
adoption of a civil service law and development of public administration reform 
strategy with emphasis on the strengthening of administration dealing with EU 
accession, institutional strengthening in the area of environment, veterinary and 
phytosanitary administrations, particularly as regards facilities at the external 
borders, begin to set up structures needed for regional and structural policy.. 
• Internal Market: including continued legislative alignment in the fields of 
standards and certification, state aids (progress towards adoption of a law), 
intellectual property (alignment of legislation), public procurement and agriculture 
(veterinary and phytosanitary fields), establishment of standardisation and 
conformity assessment structures. 
• Environment, continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of 
detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to 
individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these 
programmes and strategies. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Political criteria: further steps to ensure respect for the Constitution and rights of 
the opposition, to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, and; to foster and 
strengthen the functioning of the institutions of democracy, NGOs, an independent 
media and the policies and institutions protecting the rights of minorities. 
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Slovakia is expected to 
pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the 
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence 
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Slovakia is not expected 
to adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
& 
Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: the state audit 
office, financial control and internal audit functions, customs, banking and 
financial market supervisory bodies, regional development institutional structures 
and budgetary mechanisms; improved operation of the judicial system; 
reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and 
properly trained personnel), the reinforcement of food control administration. 
Internal Market: including alignment of legislation and effective implementation 
and enforcement in the fields of standards and conformity assessment, competition 
(anti-trust and state aids monitoring and transparency) indirect taxation, intellectual 
property (enforcement), financial services, data protection and audio-visual, 
reinforcement of standardisation and conformity assessment structures, 
establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment of technical 
legislation on industrial products, promotion of enterprise development, including 
SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection 
and the internal energy market. 
Justice and Home Affairs: further development and strengthening of JHA 
institutions (with a view in particular to ensuring the accountability of the police, 
and the independence of the judiciary), to further develop effective border 
management; to fight organised crime and corruption, and to align visa policy with 
that of the EU and to complete alignment to international conventions, improve 
capacity to handle asylum and migration questions, notably in view of the 
Schengen acquis. 
Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary 
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls). Development of 
the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental 
management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural 
markets and implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and 
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of 
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, 
restructuring of the agri-food sector. 
Energy: implementing a comprehensive energy strategy which foresees the 
alignment to and implementation of EC energy legislation as well as the 
strengthening of the nuclear safety authority the completion of Mochovce nuclear 
power station according to international safety standards, and implementation of a 
realistic programme for the closure of the Bohunice plant. 
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport 
(market access, safety rules and taxation) and rail, and to provide necessary 
investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European 
networks. 
Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market 
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation 
in EU co-ordination of employment policies, alignment of labour and occupational 
health and safety legislation, in particular early adoption of the framework directive 
on health and safety at work, further development of an active social dialogue; 
further development of adequate social protection; enforcement of equal 
opportunities between women and men, undertake steps to bring public health 
standards into line with EU norms. 
r 
Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation 
control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of 
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis 
should be given to air, water and the waste sector as well as the integrated 
industrial pollution control and risk management. 
Regional policy and cohesion: establishment of a legal, administrative and 
budgetary framework for an integrated regional policy in order to participate in EU 
structural programmes. 
4. Programming 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 95 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999 in addition, Slovakia is eligible for support from 
the catch-up facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare Management 
Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the applicant 
countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. Financial 
assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and a 
structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionally 
Community assistance will be conditional on Slovakia respect of its commitments 
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment Of the 
Copenhagen criteria. .Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a 
decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of 
Article 4 of Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in 
each Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
çc 
. Council Decision 
on 
the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions 
contained in the Accession Partnership with Slovenia 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community; 
Having regard to Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the 
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of 
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2; 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; 
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession 
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession 
strategy; 
Whereas Regulation [ ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles, 
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable 
to each individual Accession Partnership; 
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments 
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria; 
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be 
monitored in particular in the framework of the Cooperation Agreement and the 
Europe Agreement upon its entry into force; 
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Slovenia's 
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further 
work; 
Sï 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The Accession Partnership for Slovenia will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of 
Regulation [ ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision. 
Article 2 
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of 
the Cooperation Agreement and the Europe Agreement upon its entry into force. 
Article 3 
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998. 
Done at.. 
For the Council 
<s 
Slovenia 
ANNEX 
1. Objectives 
The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the 
priority areas for further work identified in the Commission's Opinion on Slovenia's 
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to 
help Slovenia implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that 
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of 
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their 
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme 
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Slovenia, the Joint Assessment of 
Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market 
road maps. 
2. Criteria 
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to 
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings: 
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of 
minorities 
the economy 
meeting the obligations of membership 
The-Accession Partnerships will indicate that Slovenia will have to address all issues 
identified in the Opinion. 
3. Priorities and Intermediate Objectives 
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of 
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have 
been identified for Slovenia. 
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or 
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the 
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to 
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others 
this depends on steps taken in 1998. 
Slovenia will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the 
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving 
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the 
necessary staff and financial resources. 
ÇT 
3.1 Short-term (1998) 
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and 
joint assessment within the framework of the Interim/ Cooperation agreement; 
sustainable reduction of government deficit; action on market-driven restructuring 
in the enterprise, finance and banking sectors and preparation of pension reform. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular 
introduction of civil service act, improvements in the areas of the judiciary, of land 
registration, phytosanitary and veterinary administration, particularly as regards 
facilities at the external borders, financial control and audit functions, institutional 
strengthening in the area of environment, being to set up structures needed for 
regional and structural policy. 
• Internal Market: including in the areas of indirect taxation, adoption of VAT law 
and preparation for implementation in 1999. of standardisation and certification 
(conformity assessment), technical regulations, and of company legislation and 
liberalisation of capital movements, establishment of a state aid monitoring 
authority, a first aid inventory and the creation of a legal framework for state aid 
control, progress towards adoption of an anti trust law. 
• Property law: further clarification of the situation pertaining to property 
legislation. 
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, finalising the 
detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to 
individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these 
programmes and strategies. 
3.2 Medium-term 
• Political criteria: pursue efforts to improve the working of the judicial system and 
speed up property restitution. 
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy 
priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the 
Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of 
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of 
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Slovenia is expected to 
pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the 
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence 
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Slovenia is not expected 
to adopt the euro immediately upon accession. 
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: as regards public 
procurement, supervision of the insurance and security market, the Slovene 
Competition Office, completion of competition law, development and 
implementation of agricultural and regional policies, customs administration and 
enforcement of the customs code; improved operation of the judicial system; 
reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and 
properly trained personnel), the reinforcement of food control administration. 
• Internal Market: including the alignment of legislation on public procurement, 
financial services, state aid (in particular alignment of monitoring rules and 
exclusive and special rights), upgrading of standardisation and conformity 
assessment structures, establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment 
G& 
of horizontal technical legislation on industrial products, increased efforts to 
liberalise the capital market and to facilitate foreign investments, further alignment 
of consumer protection, reinforcement of the competition office and the state aid 
monitoring authority, efficient enforcement of competition law, promotion of 
enterprise development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields 
of télécoms, consumer protection and the internal energy market. 
Justice and home affairs: completion of alignment to international conventions, 
particularly in criminal field, fight against organised crime and corruption, 
implementation of migration policy and asylum procedures, notably in view of the 
Schengen acquis. 
Nuclear safety: nuclear policy and investment plans to be adjusted in line with the 
results of the seismic risk assessment to be carried out in the surroundings of the 
Krsko NPP. 
Agriculture: establishment of a functioning land registry, strengthening of 
structural and rural development policy, including alignment with the agricultural 
acquis (including veterinary and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border 
controls). Development of the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in 
particular the fundamental management mechanisms and administrative structures 
to monitor the agricultural markets and implement structural and rural development 
measures, adoption and implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary 
requirements, upgrading of certain food processing establishments and testing and 
diagnostic facilities, restructuring of the agri-food sector. 
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport 
(market access, safety rules and taxation) and rail, and to provide necessary 
investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European 
networks. 
Employment and Social Affairs: development of appropriate labour market 
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation 
in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety 
legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption 
of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal 
opportunities between women and men; further development of active, 
autonomous social dialogue; further development of adequate social protection. 
Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation 
control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of 
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis 
should be given to the waste water sector as well as the integrated industrial 
pollution control and risk management. 
Regional policy and cohesion: introduce the legal administrative and budgetary 
framework for a national policy to address regional disparities through and 
integrated approach, in order to participate in EU structural programmes. 
4. Programming 
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 72 mecu. Subject to the 
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm 
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare 
£f 
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by 
the applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. 
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and 
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion 
fund. 
5. Conditionally 
Community assistance will be conditional on Slovenia respect of its commitments 
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the 
Copenhagen criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a 
decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of 
Article 4 of Regulation [ ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in 
each Financing Memorandum. 
6. Monitoring 
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework 
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary 
and will be reviewed in 1999. 
67-
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 53 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 01 06 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-068-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-30899-4 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg