Brussel 7.12.2004

KUMM(2004) 781 finali

2004/0272 (COD)

.

Proposta għal

DEĊIŻJONI TAL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW U TAL-KUNSILL

li temenda d-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 2000/819/KE dwar il-programm multiannwali għall-impriżi u intraprenditorija, u b'mod partikolari għall-impriżi żgħar u ta' daqs medju (SMEs) (2001–2005)

.

(preżentata mill-Kummissjoni)

MEMORANDUM TA' SPJEGAZZJONI

1. Il-programm multiannwali (MAP) għall-impriżi u intraprenditorija, u b'mod partikolari għall-impriżi żgħar u ta' daqs medju (SMEs) ġie adottat fl-20 ta’ Diċembru 2000 biex jibda mill-1 ta’ Jannar 2001 sal-31 ta’ Diċembru 2005, b’baġit ta’ 450 miljun euro.

2. L-MAP għandu l-għan li jikseb l-għanjiet li ġejjin:

- biex isaħħaħ it-tkabbir u l-kompetittività ta’ l-impriżi f’ekonomija internazzjonalizzata u msejsa fuq l-għarfien;

- biex jippromwovi l-intraprenditorija;

- biex jissemplifika u jtejjeb il-qafas amministrattiv u regolatorju għan-negozju sabiex ir-riċerka, l-innovazzjoni u l-ħolqien tan-negozju jikber;

- biex itejjeb l-ambjent finanzjarju għan-negozju, speċjalment għall-SMEs;

- biex jagħti lin-negozju aċċess aktar faċli għas-servizzi ta’ appoġġ tal-Komunità, programmi u netwerks u biex itejjeb il-koordinazzjoni ta’ dawn il-faċilitajiet; u

- biex isostni l-implimentazzjoni tal-Karta Ewropea għall-Impriżi żgħar fuq Livell Komunitarju.

3. L-MAP hu implimentat permezz ta’ 3 tipi ta’ strumenti tat-twassil.

- l-iskambju ta’ esperjenza u l-identifikazzjoni ta’ prattiċi tajbin bejn l-Istati Membri;

- l-operazzjoni ta’ netwerk ta' Ċentri Ewropej tat-Tagħrif li joffru servizzi u parir dwar suġġetti Ewropej lill-impriżi madwar ir-reġjuni Ewropej;

- id-dispożizzjoni, permezz tal-Fond Ewropew ta’ l-Investiment (EIF), ta’ numru ta’ strumenti finanzjarji Komunitarji għall-SMEs.

4. Evalwazzjoni esterna tal-MAP ġiet mwettqa minn esperti indipendenti. L-esperti kkonfermaw li l-MAP kienet issodisfat l-għanjiet globali tagħha kollha u li l-istrumenti tat-twassil tagħha kienu effettivi.

- L-istrumenti finanzjarji tal-Komunità għall-SMEs instabu li għinu b'suċċess għat-tħaffif ta' l-aċċess ta' l-SMEs għall-finanzi. Huma jindirizzaw lakuni magħrufa fis-suq jew fallimenti tas-suq li jkomplu jeżistu minkejja l-integrazzjoni tas-suq għal servizzi finanzjarji. Madankollu, evalwazzjonijiet urew li l-konċentrazzjoni eċċesiva, ta’ l-istrumenti finanzjarji tal-Komunità għall-SMEs, fuq setturi speċifiċi ta’ l-ekonomija jew fuq ċerti għanjiet tal-politika tista’ tillimita l-approvazzjoni tagħhom fis-suq. Minbarra dan, għandha tinkiseb visibilità aħjar għall-istrumenti finanzjarji tal-Komunità. Ir-rwol ta’ l-EIF fit-tħaddim ta’ l-istrumenti finanzjarji tal-Komunità għall-SMEs imsejjes fuq talba ġie meqjus bħala prattika aħjar.

- L-evalwazzjonijiet ivverifikaw ir-rwol pożittiv tan-Netwerk taċ-Ċentri Ewropej tat-Tagħrif biex jipprovdu servizzi ta’ appoġġ ta’ negozju għall-SMEs. Madankollu, ġie ssuġġerit li r-rwol trasversali tan-netwerk taċ-Ċentri Ewropej tat-Tagħrif fit-twassil tal-programm għandu jissaħħaħ, per eżempju, fit-tixrid ta’ l-attivitajiet u riżultati tal-programm.

- Ġie ssuġġerit li l-iskambju ta’ esperjenza u l-identifikazzjoni ta’ prattiċi tajbin bejn l-Istati Membri bl-għan li jissaħħaħ l-ambjent għall-intraprenditorija u l-impriżi jsir aktar ikkonċentrat. Ma’ dan, il-monitoraġġ ta’ l-attivitajiet ta’ segwitu mwettaq mill-Istati Membri sejjer isaħħaħ l-effikaċja tiegħu.

5. L-implimentazzjoni tal-MAP kienet suġġetta għal evalwazzjonijiet regolari. Waħda minnhom ikkonċernat il-Programm Ewropew Konġunt ta’ l-Intrapriża (JEV) li kien parti mill-Inizjattiva tat-Tkabbir u ta’ l-Impjieg adottata mill-Kunsill fl-1998 u li ġiet integrata fil-MAP fl-aħħar ta' l-2000, mingħajr baġit supplimentari. Ir-rapport ta’ evalwazzjoni ta’ l-2003 dwar l-Inizjattiva tat-Tkabbir u l-Impjieg indika effettività fl-infiq baxx u talba tas-suq baxxa għall-programm JEV u ġiegħel lill-Kummissjoni li tipproponi li temenda l-MAP sabiex jintemm l-użu tal-JAV f’mod gradwali. L-emenda rispettiva tal-programm ġiet adottata bid-Deċiżjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill fil-21 ta’ Lulju 2004.[1]

6. Konsultazzjoni pubblika fuq l-elementi possibbli fuq programm ta’ appoġġ fil-ġejjieni għall-kompetittività ta’ l-intraprenditorija u ta’ l-impriżi, biex tagħti segwitu lill-MAP, twettqet mill-Kummissjoni minn Marzu sa Mejju 2004. Din il-konsultazzjoni indikat appoġġ qawwi għal bażi akbar għall-analiżi tal-politika, żvilupp u koordinazzjoni kif ukoll għal miżuri speċifiċi biex jgħinu lill-impriżi biex ikunu kompetittivi u innovattivi.

7. Il-programm propost għandu jibda fl-2006, taħt il-perspettiva finanzjarja attwali, u jispiċċa fl-2010, id-data li fiha suppost jinkisbu l-għanjiet ambizzjużi stipulati mill-aġenda ta' Lisbona. L-isfida għall-programm il-ġdid tkun għalhekk li tgħin għal kompetittività b’mod aktar globali minn dak miksub mill-MAP. Wara l-evalwazzjoni u l-konsultazzjoni pubblika, il-Kummissjoni ddeċidiet li programm ta’ qafas jkollu l-aqwa potenzjal biex jinkoraġġixxi l-innovazzjoni u l-kompetittività. Għalhekk, il-Kummissjoni pproponiet, f’ Komunikazzjoni ta’ l-14 ta’ Lulju 2004[2] li tipprepara programm ta’ qafas bħal dan fil-kuntest tal-perspettiva finanzjarja l-ġdida (2007-2013). Il-programm ta’ qafas sejjer jipprovdi l-mezzi u l-istrumenti għall-politika ta’ implimentazzjoni f’setturi varji li jinfluwenzaw il-kompetittività Ewropea. Dan jinkludu:

- It-titjib ta’ l-ambjent tan-negozju (aċċess għall-kapital għall-investiment, netwerks elettroniċi żguri, it-twassil effettiv ta’ servizzi tan-negozju madwar l-UE; u servizzi modernizzati permezz ta’ l-użu tat-teknoloġija u l-komunikazzjoni ta’ l-informatika.

- il-garanzija li l-innovazzjoni taħdem biex tippromwovi l-kompetittività u tiġi mwettqa fil-prattika fuq livell ta’ negozju. (Sinerġiji mal-Programm ta’ Qafas għal Riċerka “Pjattaformi teknoloġiċi”, teknoloġija ambjentali, enerġija li tiġġedded, li jaħdmu permezz ta’ l-Aġenzija ta’ Enerġija Intelliġenti).

- L-appoġġ tal-politika Ewropea dwar il-kompettività ta’ l-intrapriżi, innovazzjoni, intraprenditorija u SMEs ma’ kompetenza politika u l-promozzjoni ta’ azzjoni ta’ l-UE.

8. Mhux possibbli li tiġi ppreżentata proposta tal-Kummissjoni bħal din għal programm ta’ qafas dwar l-innovazzjoni u l-kompetittività fl-2004 sabiex tiżgura l-bidu tagħha fl-1 ta’ Jannar 2006. Il-programm ta’ qafas għall-innovazzjoni u l-kompetittività għandu jikkoinċidi mas-Seba’ Programm ta’ Qafas għar-Riċerka. Għaldaqstant, iż-żewġ programmi ta’ qafas għandhom jibdew konsekuttivament fl-1 ta’ Jannar 2007.

9. Madankollu, jeħtieġ li tiġi ggarantita t-tkomplija tas-sostenn tal-Komunità għat-titjib ta’ l-ambjent tan-negozju u għat-tkabbir u l-kompetittività ta’ l-impriżi, b'mod partikolari l-SMEs. Għalhekk hu importanti li jiġi evitat kull tħarbit ta' l-istrumenti użati taħt il-MAP. Fid-dawl ta’ dawn iċ-ċirkostanzi, il-Kummissjoni tipproponi li l-programm preżenti, kif emendat fl-2004, għandu jiġi estiż sal-31 ta’ Diċembru 2006. Dan sejjer jawtorizza lill-Kummissjoni li tippreżenta proposta għal programm ta’ qafas tal-Komunità dwar l-innovazzjoni u l-kompetittività mill-aktar fiss.

10. B’hekk il-Kummissjoni tal-Komunità tipproponi:

- li testendi l-MAP sal-31 ta’ Diċembru 2006;

- li żżied l-ammont ta’ referenza finanzjarja b’EUR 81.5 miljun.

- 2004/0272 (COD)

Proposta għal

DEĊIŻJONI TAL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW U TAL-KUNSILL

li temenda d-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 2000/819/KE dwar il-programm multiannwali għall-impriżi u intraprenditorija, u b'mod partikolari għall-impriżi żgħar u ta' daqs medju (SMEs) (2001–2005) (Test b’rilevanza għaż-ŻEE)

Il-PARLAMENT EWROPEW U L-KUNSILL TA' L-UNJONI EWROPEA,

Wara li kkunsidraw it-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ewropea, u b'mod partikolari l-Artikolu 157(3) tiegħu,

Wara li kkunsidraw il-proposta mill-Kummissjoni [3],

Wara li kkunsidraw l-opinjoni tal-Kumitat Ekonomiku u Soċjali [4],

Wara li kkunsidraw l-opinjoni tal-Kumitat tar-Reġjuni [5],

Jaġixxu bi qbil mal-proċedura stabbilita fl-Artikolu 251 tat-Trattat [6],

Billi:

(1) Jeħtieġ li tiġi ggarantita t-tkomplija tas-sostenn tal-Komunità għall-impriżi u intraprenditorija, u b'mod partikolari għall-impriżi żgħar u ta' daqs medju (SMEs)

(2) Għalhekk, jeħtieġ li jiġi estiż il-perijodu tal-validità tad-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill 2000/819/KE[7] għal sena oħra sal-31 ta’ Diċembru 2006 u li jitkabbar l-ammont ta’ referenza finanzjarja b’EUR 81.5 miljun.

(3) Id-Deċiżjoni 2000/819/KEE għandha tiġi emendata kif jeħtieġ,

IDDEĊIDEW KIF ĠEJ:

Artikolu 1

Id-Deċiżjoni 2000/819/KE hija emendata kif ġej:

(1) Fl-Artikolu 7(1), l-ammont ta’ referenza finanzjarja ta’ EUR 450 miljun hu ssostitwit b’EUR 531.5 miljun.

(2) Fl-Artikolu 8, id-data tal-31 ta' Diċembru 2005 hi ssostitwita b’dik tal-31 ta' Diċembru 2006.

Artikolu 2

Din id-Deċiżjoni għandha tidħol fis-seħħ fil-ġurnata tal-pubblikazzjoni tagħha fil- Ġurnal Uffiċjali tal-Unjoni Ewropea .

Magħmula fi Brussel, […]

Għall-Parlament Ewropew Għall-Kunsill

Il-President Il-President

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area: Enterprise Activity: Encouraging entrepreneurship |

TITLE OF ACTION: MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME FOR ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND IN PARTICULAR FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMES) (2001-2005) |

1. BUDGET LINES + HEADINGS

The following existing budget lines:

010405: Improvement of the financial environment for SMEs;

02020301: Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and in particular for SMEs;

02010404: Administrative support;

2. OVERALL FIGURES

2.1 Total allocation for action (Part B):

€ 81.5 million for commitment

This amount represents the budgetary impact of the proposal to prolong the existing programme, which is due to end on 31 December 2005, for the additional year to 31 December 2006.

2.2 Period of application: 1st January 2006 - 31st December 2006

Payment appropriations may extend beyond the end of the legal base until 31 December 2008.

2.3 Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:

a) Schedule of commitment appropriations/payment appropriations (financial intervention) (see point 6.1.1)

€ million (to three decimal places)

2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Total |

Commitment appropriations | 74.700 | 74.700 |

Payment appropriations | 29.880 | 22.410 | 22.410 | 74.700 |

b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure (see point 6.1.2)

2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Total |

Commitment appropriations | 6.800 | 6.800 |

Payment appropriations | 6.800 | 6.800 |

Sub-total a+b |

Commitment appropriations | 81.500 | 0 | 0 | 81.500 |

Payment appropriations | 36.680 | 22.410 | 22.410 | 81.500 |

c) Overall financial impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure (see points 7.2 and 7.3)

Commitments/ payments | 8.914 | 0 | 0 | 8.914 |

TOTAL a+b+c |

Commitment appropriations | 90.414 | 0 | 0 | 90.414 |

Payment appropriations | 45.594 | 22.410 | 22.410 | 90.414 |

2.4 Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective

[ X ] Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming.

[..] Proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant headings in the financial perspective.

[..] Proposal may require application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement.

2.5 Financial impact on revenue

[X] Proposal has no financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of a measure).

[..] Proposal has financial impact.

3. BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

Type of expenditure | New | EFTA contributions | Contributions from applicant countries | Heading in financial perspective | Budgetary lines |

Objective 1: To enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy | 3.050 | 3.050 |

Objective 2: To Promote Entrepreneurship | 3.450 | 3.450 |

Objective 3: To simplify and improve the administrative and regulatory framework for business so that research, innovation and entrepreneurship in particular can flourish | 1.300 | 1.300 |

Objective 4: To improve the financial environment for business, especially SMEs | 57.300 | 57.300 |

Objective 5:To give business easier access to support services, Community programmes and networks and to improve the coordination of these facilities | 9.400 | 9.400 |

Objective 6: Other | 200 | 200 |

TOTAL | 74.700 | 74.700 |

6.1.2 Technical and administrative assistance, support expenditure and IT expenditure (commitment appropriations)

Expenditure on Budget Line 02 01 04 04 | 2006 | Total |

1) Technical and administrative assistance: |

a) Technical assistance offices (TAO) for operation of the Euro Info Centres and Euro Info Correspondence Centres network | 6.100 | 6.100 |

b) Other technical and administrative assistance: |

- intra-muros: |

- extra-muros: |

of which for construction and maintenance of computerised management systems: |

Sub-total 1 | 6100 |

2) Support expenditure: |

a) Studies |

b) Meetings of experts | 700 |

c) Information, publications and audio-visual material |

Sub-total 2 | 700 |

TOTAL | 6800 | 6800 |

6.2. Calculation of costs by measure envisaged in Part B (over the entire programming period)

Commitment appropriations in € million (to three decimal places)

Breakdown | Type of outputs (projects, files, etc.) | Number of outputs | Average unit cost | Total cost |

(total for years 1…n) | (total for years 1…n) |

1 | 2 | 3 | 4=(2X3) |

Expenditure on budget line 02 02 03 01 |

Objective 1: To enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy |

Identification of dissemination of good practice in the incorporation of enterprises into the digital economy, including development of indicators | Open method project and report | 6 | 100 | 600 |

Actions to promote adoption of standardisation by SMEs | Participation and information to SME organisations on standardisation bodies | 1 | 350 | 350 |

Benchmarking of other issues affecting the competitiveness of enterprises | 8 | 100 | 800 |

Improve access of crafts and small businesses to ICT by improved support services; electronic networking between support organisations, authorities and small businesses | projects and reports | 7 | 100 | 700 |

Statistical development and analysis | Studies and reports | 2 | 200 | 400 |

Studies | study | 2 | 100 | 200 |

Total: Objective 1 | 3.050 |

Objective 2: To Promote Entrepreneurship |

Strategy to promote entrepreneurship | Open method project and report | 10 | 100 | 1.000 |

Identification, exchange and implementation of good practice through benchmarking, concerted actions, seminars and conferences, use of working groups and databases | projects and reports | 8 | 150 | 1.200 |

Statistical development and analysis | Studies and reports | 2 | 275 | 550 |

Studies | 7 | 100 | 700 |

Total: Objective 2 | 3.450 |

Objective 3: To simplify and improve the administrative and regulatory framework for business so that research, innovation and entrepreneurship in particular can flourish |

Identification, exchange and implementation of good practice through benchmarking, concerted actions, seminars and conferences, use of working groups and databases | Open method project and report | 5 | 100 | 500 |

Statistical development and analysis for the development of the Business Impact Assessment system for Community legislation | Studies and reports | 2 | 250 | 500 |

Studies for the development of the Business Impact Assessment system for Community legislation | projects and reports | 3 | 100 | 300 |

Total: Objective 3 | 1.300 |

Objective 4: To improve the financial environment for business, especially SMEs |

Organisation of Round Table of Bankers and SMEs in the candidate countries | 0 |

Identification, exchange and implementation of good practice through benchmarking, concerted action, business angels, seminars, workshops and conferences, use of working groups and databases | projects and reports | 3 | 200 | 600 |

Monitoring of the use of the euro by enterprises and, where necessary, facilitation of the adjustment process | 0 |

Statistical development and analysis | Studies and reports | 2 | 150 | 300 |

Studies | Studies and reports | 2 | 200 | 400 |

Total: Objective 4 | 1.300 |

Objective 5:To give business easier access to support services, Community programmes and networks and to improve the coordination of these facilities |

Ensure effective operation of the Euro Info Centres and Euro Info Correspondence Centres network (excludes expenditure on line 02 01 04 04 (see 6.1.2) | Grants to EICs | 360 | 25 | 9.000 |

Identification, exchange and implementation of good practice through benchmarking of support services | projects and reports | 4 | 100 | 400 |

Promotion of enterprise policy, information, EURO-info bulletin (excludes expenditure on line 02 01 04 04 (see 6.1.2)) | 0 |

Total: Objective 5 | 9.400 |

Objective 6: Other |

European Observatory for SMEs; publication, dissemination | 0 |

Evaluation of the Multiannual Programme | Evaluation report | 1 | 200 | 200 |

Total: Objective 6 | 200 |

Expenditure on budget line 01 04 05 |

Objective 4: To improve the financial environment for business, especially SMEs |

ETF-Start up | EIF investments in VC funds | 5 | 3600 | 18.000 |

SME Guarantee Facilities | EIF (counter) guarantee agreements for SME loans with financial intermediaries | 30 | 1200 | 36.000 |

Seed Action Capital | facility grants | 4 | 500 | 2.000 |

JEV* | 0 |

Total | 56.000 |

TOTAL (A + B) | 74.700 |

* JEV has been phased out under Decision 593/2004/EC of 21/07/2004.

Nota bene : Open Method of Co-ordination between participating countries will normally include expert meetings, analyses, seminars and publications.

7. IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

The needs for human and administrative resources shall be covered within the allocation granted to the managing DG in the framework of the annual allocation procedure.

7.1. Impact on human resources

Type of post | Staff to be assigned to management of the action using existing and/or additional resources (1), (2) | Total | Description of tasks deriving from the action |

Number of permanent posts | Number of temporary posts |

Officials or temporary staff | Preparation of the work programme, launch of calls for tenders and/or proposals, evaluation of the tenders/proposals, negotiation of and monitoring of contracts, monitoring and evaluation of the programme and reporting, technical and financial monitoring of the projects and contracts, monitoring of the implementation of the programme, information and programme promotion actions, coordination between other Community programmes and EU Member State initiatives, relations with the Committee, links to the institutions regarding the implementation of the programme, monitoring. 3 A-grade and 3 B-grade officials are employed in DG ECFIN to monitor and co-ordinate the execution of the Community financial instruments via EIF |

A | 28 | 10 | 38 |

B | 12 | 1 | 13 |

C | 16 | 6 | 22 |

Other human resources |

Total | 56 | 17 | 73 |

The estimates provided in the above table are based on current human resources involved in management or co-ordination of MAP actions. The figures exclude human resources from horizontal resources services.

At present 67 people (equivalent full time) are involved in implementing the multiannual programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship (2001-2005) within DG Enterprise (35 grade A, 10 grade B and 22 grade C). In addition, central support services for the Euro-Info-Centres Network (as provided for by Council Decision 2000/819/EC on the MAP) employ 52 people in benefit of the Network. 6 further staff members (3 grade A; 3 grade B) work in DG ECFIN on the execution of the Community financial instruments for SMEs by the EIF requiring monitoring during and beyond the programme duration on the Commission side.

7.2 Overall financial impact of human resources

Type of human resources | Amount (€) | Method of calculation * |

Officials: | 56 |

Temporary staff: | 17 | 7.884 | €million | 73 | x €0.108 million per annum |

Other human resources (specify budget line) |

- ENDs | 0 | x € 0.0445 million p.a. |

- Auxiliaries | 0 | x € 0.0870 million p.a. |

Total | 73 | 7.884 | €million |

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

7.3 Other operating expenditure deriving from the action

Budget line | Amount (€million) | Method of calculation |

(number and heading) |

Overall allocations (Title ex-A7) | (Annual extimates based on previous years experience) |

ex-A0701 - Missions | 0,200 | € million | €800/mission x 250/year |

ex A07030 - Meetings | 0,400 | € million | €800/meetingx25exp./meetgx 20/year |

ex A07031 - Compulsory committees[12] | 0,080 | € million | €800/meetingx32exp./meeting 3/year |

ex A07032 - Non-compulsory committees |

ex A07040 - Conferences | 0,350 | € million |

ex A0705 - Studies and consultations |

… Other expenditure (specify) |

Information systems (ex-A-5001/A-4300) | X |

Other expenditure - Part A (specify) | X |

Total | 1,030 | € million |

The amounts are total expenditure for 12 months.

I. Annual total (7.2 + 7.3) II. Duration of action III. Total cost of action (I x II) | 8.914 €million 1 year 8.914 €million |

8. FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

8.1 Follow-up arrangements

Following the adoption of this Decision, the management of the programme actions will continue to be based on an annual programming cycle. The Commission will establish, in consultation with the Enterprise Programme Management Committee (EPMC), the 2006 annual work programmes including specific, appropriate and coherent performance indicators for the deliverables (quality and quantity), implementation and effectiveness. Each action will be explicitly linked to one or more stated objectives of the programme.

The performance of the programme will be scrutinised by the Management Committee which will meet 3 or 4 times in the year. As has been the case thus far, the EPMC will receive an annual Implementation Report, covering implementation and budget execution. The Implementation Report will also be made available to the European Parliament and general public.

8.2 Arrangements and schedule for evaluation

An independent external final evaluation of the actions carried out under the MAP has been carried out in accordance with Council Decision 2000/819/EC (Article 5) and will be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council. The recommendations of the evaluation will be taken into account in the proposed period of extension.

9. ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

(Article 3(4) of the Financial Regulation: "In order to prevent risk of fraud or irregularity, the Commission shall record in the financial statement any information regarding existing and planned fraud prevention and protection measures.")

There are no (internal or external) audit reports giving raise to indications for fraud underthe activities undertaken in pursuance of Council Decision 2000/819/EC.

Verification before payment of subsidies or the delivery of services and studies ordered and carried out by Commission services will take place, taking into account the contractual obligations and the principles of economy and sound financial and global management. All contracts, conventions and legal undertakings concluded between the Commission and the beneficiaries under the programme foresee the possibility of an audit at the premises of the beneficiary by the Commission’s services or by the Court of Auditors, as well as the possibility of requiring the beneficiaries to provide all relevant documents and data concerning expenses relating to such contracts, conventions or legal undertakings up to 5 years after the contractual period. Beneficiaries are subject to the requirement to provide reports and financial accounts, which are analysed as to the eligibility of the costs and the content, in line with the rules on Community financing and taking account of contractual obligations, economic principles and good financial management.

[1] [pic]U L 268, tas-16.8.2004, p. 3-5.

[2] KUMM(2004) 487 finali.

[3] [pic]U C [& ], [& ], p. [& ].

[4] [pic]U C [& ], [& ], p. [& ].

[5] [pic]U C [& ], [& ], p. [& ].

[6] [pic]U C [& ], [& ], p. [& ].

[7] [pic]U L 333, tad-29.12.2000, p. 84. De[pic]i|[pic]joniĠU L 268, tas-16.8.2004, p. 3-5.

[8] KUMM(2004) 487 finali.

[9] ĠU C […], […], p. […].

[10] ĠU C […], […], p. […].

[11] ĠU C […], […], p. […].

[12] ĠU C […], […], p. […].

[13] ĠU L 333, tad-29.12.2000, p. 84. Deċiżjoni kif emendata l-aħħar mid-Deċiżjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill Nru 593/2004/KE (ĠU L 268, tas-16.8.2004, p. 3).

[14] OJ L268 of 16/08/2004, pp. 3-5.

[15] Flash Eurobarometer, Nov 2002.

[16] SEC(2004)1460

[17] OJ L11 of 16.1.2003, p.1

[18] Enterprise Policy Management Committee (EPMC)