Decision No 3/98 of the Association Council between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic, of the other part, of 25 November 1998 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic in the Community programme in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises
Date: 1998-11-25
Institutions: EC–Czech Republic Association Council
Subjects: Czechia, EU programme, association agreement (EU), small and medium-sized enterprises

12. 1. 1999

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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DECISION No 3/98 OF THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part,
and the Czech Republic, of the other part

of 25 November 1998

adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic in
the Community programme in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises

(1999/15/EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an
association between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Czech Republic,
of the other part (1),

Having regard to the Additional Protocol to the Europe
Agreement establishing an association between the Euro-
pean Communities and their Member States, of the one
the other part (2),
part, and the Czech Republic, of
concerning
the Czech Republic’s participation in
Community programmes, and in particular Articles 1 and
2 thereof,

the Czech Republic may participate

Whereas according to Article 1 of the said Additional
in
Protocol
Community
specific
programmes, projects or other Community actions
notably in the field of small and medium-sized enter-
prises;

programmes,

framework

Article 1

The Czech Republic shall participate in the third multi-
annual programme for small and medium-sized enter-
in the European Union (1997 to 2000)
prises (SMEs)
according to the terms and conditions set out in Annexes
I and II which shall
this
Decision.

form an integral part of

Article 2

This Decision shall apply for
programme.

the duration of

the

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the first day of the
month following its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 25 November 1998.

Whereas according to Article 2 of the said Additional
Protocol the terms and conditions for the participation of
the Czech Republic in the activities referred to in Article
1 are to be decided by the Association Council,

For the Association Council

The President

J. KAVAN

(1) OJ L 360, 31. 12. 1994, p. 2.
(2) OJ L 317, 30. 12. 1995, p. 45.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

12. 1. 1999

ANNEX I

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN THE
THIRD MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES
(SMEs) IN THE EUROPEAN UNION (1997 TO 2000)

1. The Czech Republic will participate in all activities of the third multiannual programme for small and
(hereinafter called ‘the
medium-sized enterprises
programme'), except for the organisation of IBEX events, in conformity, unless otherwise provided in this
Decision, with the objectives, criteria, procedures and time limits laid down in Council Decision 97/15/EC
of 9 December 1996 on a third multiannual programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in
the European Union (1997 to 2000) (1), and in particular Article 7(1) thereof.

in the European Union (1997 to 2000)

(SMEs)

2. The terms and conditions for the submission, assessment and selection of applications related to eligible
institutions, organisations and individuals of the Czech Republic will be the same as those applicable to
eligible institutions, organisations and individuals of the Community.

3. Where appropriate, in order to ensure the Community dimension of the programme, transnational projects
and activities proposed by the Czech Republic will be required to include a minimum number of partners
from the Member States of the Community. This minimum number will be decided in the framework of
the implementation of the programme, taking into account the nature of the various activities, the number
of partners in a given project and the number of countries participating in the programme.

4. The Czech Republic will pay each year a contribution to the general budget of the European Communities
to cover the costs resulting from its participation in the programme (see Annex II). The Association
Committee is entitled to adapt this contribution whenever necessary.

5. The Member States of the Community and the Czech Republic will make every effort, within the
framework of the existing provisions, to facilitate the free movement and residence of all eligible persons to
the programme moving between the Czech Republic and the Member States of the Community for the
purpose of participating in activities covered by the Decision.

6. Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Commission and the Court of Auditors of the European
Community in relation to the evaluation of the programme according to the Decision on a third
multiannual programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (Article 6),
the participation of the Czech Republic in the programme will be continuously evaluated on a partnership
basis involving the Czech Republic and the Commission of the European Communities. The Czech
Republic will submit the necessary reports to the Commission and take part in other specific activities set
out by the Community in that context.

7. Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 4 of the Decision on a third multiannual
programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union, the Czech Republic
will be invited to coordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision
prior to regular meetings of the Programme Committee. The Commission will inform the Czech Republic
about the results of such regular meetings.

8. The language to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other
administrative arrangements for the programme will be one of the official languages of the Community.

(1) OJ L 6, 10. 1. 1997, p. 25.

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ANNEX II

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO THE THIRD MULTIANNUAL
PROGRAMME FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN THE EURO-
PEAN UNION (1997 TO 2000)

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

— financial support from the programme for the participation of Czech entities in activities as defined in

Annex I.1,

— supplementary costs of an administrative nature related to the management of the programme by the

Commission stemming from the Czech Republic’s participation.

2. For every financial year, the aggregated amount of subsidies or any other financial support received from
the programme by the Czech beneficiaries will not exceed the contribution paid by Czech Republic, after
deduction of the supplementary administrative costs.

Should the contribution paid by the Czech Republic to the general budget of the European Communities,
after deduction of the supplementary costs, be higher than the aggregated amount of subsidies or other
financial support received by the Czech beneficiaries from the programme, the Commission will transfer
the balance to the next budgetary exercise, and it will be deducted from the following year’s contribution.
Should such a balance be left when the programme comes to an end, the corresponding amount will be
reimbursed to the Czech Republic.

3. The Czech Republic’s annual contribution will be ECU 654 626 from 1998. From this sum, an amount of
ECU 42 826 will cover supplementary costs related to the management of the programme by the Commis-
sion stemming from the Czech Republic’s participation.

4. The financial regulations applicable to the general budget of the European Communities will apply,

notably to the management of the contribution of the Czech Republic.

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

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

The Czech Republic will pay its contribution to the annual costs under this Decision according to the call
for funds and at the latest three months after the call for funds is sent. Any delay in the payment of the
contribution shall give rise to the payment of interest by the Czech Republic on the outstanding amount
from the due date. The interest rate corresponds to the rate applied by the European Monetary Cooperation
Fund, for the month of the due date, for its operations in ecus, increased by 1,5 %.

5. The Czech Republic will pay the supplementary administrative costs referred to in paragraph 3 from its

national budget.

6. Of the remaining costs of its participation in the programme, the Czech Republic will pay ECU 411 800

from its national budget.

Subject to regular PHARE programming procedures, the remaining ECU 200 000 will be paid from the
Czech Republic’s annual PHARE allocation.