Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the basic Decision relating to the Socrates programme to include Turkey among the beneficiary coutries
Date: 1996-05-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, Türkiye, education, vocational training, young person

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  13.05.1996 
COM(96)  199 final 

%/OI3()(COD) 
%/()13l  (COD) 
96/0132  (SYN) 

Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament 
and of the Council 

amending the basic Decision relating to the Socrates programme 
to include Turkey among the beneficiary  countries 

Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament 
and of the Council 

amending the basic Decision relating to the third phase of the Youth for  Europe 
programme to include Turkey  among the beneficiary  countries 

Proposal for a decision of the Council 

amending the basic Decision relating to the Leonardo programme 
to include Turkey among the beneficiary countries 

(presented  by the  Commission) 

Explanatory memorandum 

The Council Decision of 6 December  1994 establishing the Leonardo programme and the 
Parliament  and Council  Decisions of  14 March 1995 setting up the  Socrates programme 
and the  Youth  for  Europe programme  (third  phase)  pave the  way  for  opening  up these 
programmes to the associated countries but make no mention of the Republic of Turkey. 

At  the  Association  Council  meeting  held  in  Luxembourg  on  30 October  1995,  Turkey 
asked  to  be  allowed  to  participate  in  European  programmes  open  to  other  associated 
countries, notably the Leonardo, Socrates, and Youth for Europe programmes in the field 
of education, training and youth. 

In  response,  the  Council  said  it  would  continue  looking  at  Turkey's  requests  in  a 
constructive  spirit  and  would  let  it  know  the  outcome  of  its  examination  as  soon  as 
possible. 

The  Commission  considers  that  against  the  background  of  the  final  phase  of  the  EC-
Turkey  customs  union  which  entered  into  force  on  31  December  1995,  Turkey's 
participation  in these programmes  is in the Community's  interest.  Turkey's  participation 
will  enable  beneficiaries  in  the  Community,  in particular  students,  university  staff  and 
young people, to establish closer links with their opposite numbers in Turkey in the fields 
in  these 
of  education, 
programmes will help strengthen democracy and respect for human rights in that country. 

training  and  youth.  Furthermore,  Turkey's  participation 

Turkey's  financial  contribution  would  be  made  in  the  same  way  as  for  the  other 
associated  countries,  i.e. either  through  a  direct  contribution  from  Turkey  or  by  using 
funds  earmarked  for  financial  cooperation  with Turkey  (or a combination  of the two). In 
the  latter  case,  the  Commission  will  in due course  propose  that  the  budgetary  authority 
create  a new budget  item,  with  a legal  basis, financed  from  the  said  funds  for  financial 
cooperation. 
financial  assistance  programme 
(ECU 375 million) linked to the entry  into force  of the agreement  on customs union and 
Turkey's share in the context of the MEDA programme.  The size of the budget item will 
depend  on  the  outcome  of  negotiations  with  Turkey  for  an  agreement  on  the  budget 
necessary for its participation. 

That  cooperation  comprises  a 

Accordingly, the Commission recommends to the Council that it adopt an amendment to 
the basic Decisions relating to these programmes  so that the Republic  of Turkey  can be 
included among the beneficiary  states. 

* 

Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament 
and of the Council 

96/0130 (COD) 

amending the basic Decision relating to the Socrates programme 
to include Turkey among the beneficiary  countries 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Articles  126 and  127 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal  from  the Commission, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions, 

Acting in accordance with the procedure referred  to in Article  189b of the Treaty, 

Having  regard  to  Decision  No 819/95/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council of  14 March  1995 establishing the Community action programme  Socrates, 

Whereas  Turkey  is  an  associated  country  whose  links  with  the  Community  have  been 
substantially  bolstered  with the entry  into force  of the final  phase of customs union; 

Whereas  the  economic  and  trade  links  instituted  by  the  customs  union  should  be 
strengthened  by closer cooperation  in the field  of education, training  and youth, 

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The second sentence of Article 7(3) of Decision 819/95/EC of the European  Parliament 
and of the Council of  14 March  1995 shall be replaced by the  following: 

"This programme shall be open to the participation of  Cyprus  and Malta on the basis 
of additional appropriations  in accordance with the same rules as  apply to  the EFT A 
countries  and  Turkey following  procedures  to  be  agreed  with  the  countries  in 
question. " 

Article 2 

This Decision  shall enter  into force  on the day of  its publication  in the  Official Journal 
of the European  Communities. 

3 

Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament 
and of the Council 

96/0i 31  (COD) 

amending the basic Decision relating to the third phase of the Youth for  Europe 
programme to include Turkey  among the beneficiary  countries 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article  126 thereof, 

Having regard  to the proposal  from  the Commission, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions, 

Acting in accordance with the procedure referred  to in Article  189b of the Treaty, 

Having  regard  to  Decision  No 818/95/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council  of  14 March  1995  adopting 
for 
Europe programme, 

third  phase  of 

the  Youth 

the 

Whereas  Turkey  is  an  associated  country  whose  links  with  the  Community  have  been 
substantially  bolstered  with the entry  into force  of the final  phase of customs union; 

Whereas  the  economic  and  trade  links  instituted  by  the  customs  union  should  be 
strengthened  by closer cooperation  in the field  of education,  training  and youth, 

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The second  sentence of Article 7(4) of Decision  818/95/EC  of the European  Parliament 
and of the Council  of  14 March  1995 shall be replaced  by the  following: 

" This programme shall be open to the participation of  Cyprus and Malta on the basis 
of additional appropriations  under the same rules as apply to the EFJA  countries  and 
Turkey, in accordance with procedures to be agreed on with those countries. " 

Article 2 

This Decision  shall  enter  into force  on the day of its publication  in the  Official  Journal 
of the European  Communities. 

1+ 

Proposai for a decision of the Council 

%/OI32 (SYN) 

amending the basic Decision  relating to the Leonardo  programme 
to include Turkey  among the beneficiary  countries 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article  127 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from  the Commission, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions, 

Acting  in accordance  with the procedure  referred  to in Article  189c of the Treaty, 

Having  regard  to  Decision  No 94/819/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council  of  6 December  1994 establishing  an action programme  for  the  implementation 
of a European Community training policy, 

Whereas  Turkey  is an  associated  country  whose  links  with  the  Community  have  been 
substantially  bolstered  with the entry  into force  of the final phase of customs union; 

Whereas  the  economic  and  trade  links  instituted  by  the  customs  union  should  be 
strengthened  by closer cooperation in the field  of education, training and youth, 

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

Article  9(2)  of  Decision  94/819/KC  of  6  December  1994  shall  be  replaced  by  the 
following: 

"This programme shall be opened up to the participation of  Cyprus and Malta  on the 
basis of additional appropriations  in accordance with the same rules as  those applied 
to the EFT A  countries and Turkey, in accordance with procedures to be agreed on with 
those countries. " 

Article 2 

This  Decision shall enter  into force  on the day  of  its publication  in the Official  Journal 
of the European Communities. 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

BUDGET HEADING B7-4035 

TITLE OF OPERATION 

Turkish participation in a number of Community programmes 

Appropriations authorized 1996 
Commitments 
1 

Payments 
2 

Appropriations requested  1997 
Commitments 
Payments 
4 
3 

ECU million 
% variation 

Commitments 
5-3/1 

Payments 
6-4/2 

LEGAL  BASIS 

The  Commission  will  ask the budgetary  authority  to create  this  specific  budget 
heading, which will be given a legal basis. 

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 

4.1  Overall objective 

In  the  final  phase  of  creation  of  the  EC-Turkey  customs  union,  which 
started on 31 December  1995, Turkey's participation  in these programmes 
will  be in the Community's  interest.  Beneficiaries  of the programmes in 
the Community, especially  students, academics and young people, will be 
able to establish  closer  links with  their Turkish  counterparts  in the iields 
in  the 
of  education,  training  and  youth. 
programmes will also help to strengthen democracy and the observance of 
human rights in Turkey itself. 

Turkey's  participation 

The  Community  programmes  of  obvious  interest  to  Turkey  are  those 
aimed  at  enhancing  human  resources:  Socrates,  Leonardo,  Youth  for 
Europe III.  These programmes are designed to help build up a large open 
area  for  education  and  vocational  training  and  develop  high  quality 
education, in particular through exchanges in the widest sense of the term. 

4.2 

Period covered 

Indefinite 

CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

5.1 

Non-compulsory  expenditure 

5.2 

Differentiated  appropriations 

5.3 

Type of revenue involved: none 

TYPE OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

100% grant 

Grant aid for cofmancing 

Should the operation prove to be an economic  success, is there  provision 
for all or part of the Community contribution to be reimbursed? 

Will the proposed  operation cause any change in the level of revenue?  If 
so, what sort of change and what type of revenue is involved? 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

Turkey  will  make  its  financial  contribution  in the  same way as  other  associated 
countries,  namely by making a direct contribution or by allocating funds  provided 
for financial  cooperation (or a mix of the two). 

7.1 

Itemised breakdown of cost 

Breakdown 

1996  budget 

PDB 1997  % variation 

EC/ECU million 

TOTAL 

8.  FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES; RESULTS OF MEASURES TAKEN 

All  contracts,  agreements  and  legal  undertakings  entered  into  by  the  Commission 
provide for the possibility of on-the-spot checks by the Commission itself or the Court 
of Auditors.  In addition,  on the beneficiaries'  side, operations must be  accompanied 
by reports and financial  statements, which are then evaluated in terms of the activities 
carried out  and the eligibility of the expenditure in accordance with the objectives  of 
Community expenditure. 

The  anti-fraud  provisions  of  the  basic  budgetary  headings  are  applicable  following 
adjustments  for Turkey's situation. 

9.  ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 

9.1  Quantifiable specific objectives and target population 

-  Specific objectives: links with the overall objective 

Turkey's participation  in these programmes will  enable  Community  participants 
in  these  programmes  ,  above  all  students,  academics  and  young  people,  to 
establish closer links with their  Turkish counterparts. 

Furthermore,  one of  the  aims of closer  relations  with  Turkey,  which  are  in  the 
process  of  being  created  thanks  to  customs  union,  is  to  ensure  that  Turkey  is 
continues  on  the  path  of  greater  democratization,  stricter  observance  of 
fundamental  human  rights  and  a  greater  role  for  civil  society  in  the  country's 
development.  Cooperation  in  the  fields  of  education,  training  and  youth  will 
further this process. 

Target  population:  distinguish  as  applicable  for  each  objective;  indicate  the 
end-beneficiaries  of 
the 
intermediaries involved. 

financial  contribution  and 

the  Community's 

Mainly students, academics and young people 

The intermediaries will usually be teaching establishments, above all universities 
and other institutions of higher education. 

9.2  Grounds for the operation 

-  Need for Community financial aid 

For reasons of economies of scale and economic and social cohesion  and, above 
all, because  the EU  is a catalyst  for  the  aid  that  the  Member  States  could  offer 
individually. 

-  Choice of ways and means 

Spin-offs 

Closer economic relations with Turkey: economic and social development 

Main factors of uncertainty which could affect  the specific results of the operation 

9.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation 

Performance  indicators 

*  number of students, academics and young people involved in the programmes 

8 

*  the extent to which Turkey's image is enhanced in the European Union and vice 

versa 

*  the  establishment  of  sounder  and  more  numerous  links  between  Turkish  and 

EU citizens 

*  the EU's influence on the career of the Turkish participants 

Details and frequency  of planned evaluations 

The  projects  will  be  monitored  and  evaluated  at  regular  intervals  by  both  the 
implementing agency and the Commission. 

Assessment of the results obtained 

The method  of  assessment  used  for  basic  budget  headings  will  also  be  used  for 
this heading, with the necessary adjustments for the situation of Turkey. 

STATEMENT RELATING TO SMALL 
AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES  (SME) 

The opening  of the programmes to Turkey  will have a positive effect  on SME owing to 
the  numerous  contacts  that  can  be  made  and  developed,  chiefly  in  the  field  of 
vocational training. 

AD 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 199  final 

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