Proposal for a Council Decision on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the accession partnership with Latvia
Date: 1998-02-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Central and Eastern European countries, EU policy, Latvia, accession to the European Union, cooperation policy

*-^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 

]  on  assistance  to  the  applicant  countries  in  the 
Having  regard  to  Regulation  [ 
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; 

]  sets  out  that  the  Council  shall  decide  on  the  principles, 
Whereas  Regulation  [ 
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. 

This Decision  shall enter into force on  15 March  1998. 

Article 3 

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 
including  privatisation  of  state 
programme 
enterprises  and  banks  and  restructuring  measures  in  industry,  financial  sector  and 
agriculture and measures to encourage increased foreign direct  investment. 

the  Government, 

launched  by 

•  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 
Planning  and  commencement  of 

implementation  of  detailed  approximation  programmes  and 
individual  acts. 
strategies 
implementation  of these programmes and strategies. 

related 

to 

•  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, 

trained  personnel),  and 

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 
the  reinforcement  of  food  control 
and  properly 
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 
implementation  of  migration  policy  and  asylum 
frontier  control  systems. 
procedures  as  well  as the  fight  against  organised  crime  and  corruption,  notably  in 
view of the Schengen acquis. 
including  the  land  restitution  process  and  establishment  of  a 
Agriculture: 
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: 
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 

implementation  of  a  comprehensive  policy 

? 

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 
financial 
instruments  and  control  mechanisms  in  order  to  participate  in  EU  structural 
programmes. 

structures  and  budgetary  procedures.  Strengthen 

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 
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. 

to 

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 
].  Specific  project  related  conditions  will  be agreed  in 
Article 4 of Regulation  [ 
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. 

This Decision shall enter into force on  15 March 1998. 

Article 3 

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 
in  their  preparations  for  membership.  These  will  include  inter 
candidate  countries 
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, 
and  veterinary 
administrations  particularly  as regards  facilities  at external  borders, begin to  set up 
structures needed  for regional  and structural  policy. 

reinforcement  of  phytosanitary 

•  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 
Planning  and  commencement  of 

implementation  of  detailed  approximation  programmes  and 
individual  acts. 
strategies 
implementation  of these programmes and strategies. 

related 

to 

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: 

legislation, 
accounting  legislation,  data  protection,  financial  services,  indirect  taxation,  audio-

including  alignment  of  public  procurement 

/?? 

standardisation  and  conformity 

visual,  consumer  protection,  technical  legislation  industrial  products,  further 
development  of 
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. 
implementation  control 
Environment: 
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. 

the  development  of  monitoring  and 

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. 

This Decision  shall enter into force on  15 March 1998. 

Article 3 

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, 
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. 

technical 

taxation, 

services, 

financial 

•  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 
approximation  programmes  and  implementation  strategies  related  to 
Planning  and  commencement  of  implementation  of  these 

detailed 
individual  acts. 
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 
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. 

agriculture; 

•  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, 
fundamental  management  mechanisms  and 
implement 
administrative  structures  to  monitor  the  agricultural  markets  and 
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. 

in  particular 

the 

•  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 
further  development  of  active, 
opportunities  between  women  and  men; 
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 
implementation  of 
capacities,  continuous  planning  and 
approximation  programmes  related  to  individual  legal  acts.  A particular  emphasis 
should  be given to the water and waste sector, including radioactive  waste. 

and 

•  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; 

]  on  assistance  to  the  applicant  countries  in  the 
Having  regard  to  Regulation  [ 
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 
], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
Regulation  [ 
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. 

This Decision shall enter into force  on  15 March 1998. 

Article 3 

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 
internal  financial  control  and 
the  external  borders)  environment,  customs  policy 
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. 
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 

•  Internal  Market: 

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 
transport 

(technical  controls),  and 
infrastructure,  notably extension of trans-European networks. 

to  provide  necessary 

investment 

for 

•  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 
].  Specific  project  related  conditions will  be agreed  in 
Article 4 of Regulation  [ 
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; 

]  on  assistance  to  the  applicant  countries  in  the 
Having  regard  to  Regulation  [ 
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; 

]  sets  out  that  the  Council  shall  decide  on  the  principles, 
Whereas  Regulation  [ 
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. 

This Decision shall enter into force on  15 March 1998. 

Article 3 

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 

facilitating 
naturalisation  procedures  for  stateless  children.  Revision  of  the  naturalisation 
mechanism and further  measures to accelerate the process. 

integration  of  non-citizens  by 

•  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 

internal  market 

legislation  and  establishment  of  institutions  able 

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 
to 
EC's 
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 
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 
legislation  and 
labour  and  occupational  health  and  safety 
development  of  enforcement  structures  in  particular  early  adoption  of  the 
framework  directive  on  health  and  safety  at  work;  enforcement  of  equal 
further  development  of  active, 
opportunities  between  women  and  men; 

rural  development  measures, 

structural 

adoption 

and 

?/ 

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 
].  Specific  project  related  conditions  will  be  agreed  in  each 
Regulation  [ 
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; 

]  on  assistance  to  the  applicant  countries  in  the 
Having  regard  to  Regulation  [ 
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 
], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives  and conditions set 
Regulation  [ 
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. 

This Decision shall enter into force on  15 March 1998. 

Article 3 

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, 
industrial  property,  public  procurement,  .financial  services, 
intellectual  and 
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 
to 

the  nuclear  power  plant  Ignalina  according 

decommissioning  plan  for 
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) 
further  efforts  on  alignment  to  acquis  in  particular  on  maritime 
Transport: 
(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 
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. 

to 

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; 

]  on  assistance  to  the  applicant  countries  in  the 
Having  regard  to  Regulation  [ 
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; 

]  sets  out  that  the  Council  shall  decide  on  the  principles, 
Whereas  Regulation  [ 
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 
], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set 
Regulation  [ 
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. 

This Decision shall enter into force on  15 March  1998. 

Article 3 

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 
in  their 
policy  instruments  which  will  be  used  to  help  the  candidate  countries 
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 
Planning  and  commencement  of  implementation  of  these 
individual  acts. 
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 
trained  personnel), 
affairs 

and  properly 

institutions 

(ensuring 

sufficient 

L{L 

and 

law, 

technical 

structural 

legislation  on 

lawmaking  procedures,  improvement  of  tax 

strengthening  of  parliamentary 
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 
audio-visual,  property 
and  external  frontier  control,  upgrading  of  standardisation  and 
ownership 
conformity  assessment  structures,  establishment  of  a  market  surveillance  system 
and  alignment  of  horizontal 
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 
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 
further  development  of  active, 
opportunities  between  women  and  men; 
autonomous  social  dialogue;  further  development  of  social  protection,  undertake 
steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms. 
including  the  development  of  monitoring  and  implementation 
Environment: 
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, 
instruments, 
monitoring  and  control  mechanisms  in  order  to  participate  in  EU  structural 
programmes. 

rural  development  measures, 

financial 

adoption 

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. 

This Decision shall enter into force  on  15 March  1998. 

Article 3 

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 
in  their 
policy  instruments  which  will  be  used  to  help  the  candidate  countries 
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 

regular  review  of  the  joint  assessment  of  economic  policy 
Economie  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; 

]  on  assistance  to  the  applicant  countries  in  the 
Having  regard  to  Regulation  [ 
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. 

This Decision shall enter into force on  15 March  1998. 

Article 3 

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. 

& 

conformity 

assessment 

the  judicial 

standardisation 

improved  operation  of 

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 
system; 
and  budgetary  mechanisms; 
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, 
structures, 
and 
reinforcement  of 
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 
the 
capacity  to  handle  asylum  and  migration  questions,  notably  in  view  of 
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 
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. 

infrastructure,  notably  extension  of 

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 
].  Specific  project  related conditions  will be agreed  in 
Article 4 of Regulation  [ 
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; 

]  on  assistance  to  the  applicant  countries  in  the 
Having  regard  to  Regulation  [ 
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; 

]  sets  out  that  the  Council  shall  decide  on  the  principles, 
Whereas  Regulation  [ 
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. 

This Decision shall enter into force on  15 March 1998. 

Article 3 

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: 
legislation. 

further  clarification  of  the  situation  pertaining  to  property 

•  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, 
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. 

completion  of  competition 

law,  development 

•  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 
further  development  of  active, 
opportunities  between  women  and  men; 
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