Amended proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) laying down the requirements for the implementation of development cooperation operations which contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms
Date: 1999-01-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European cooperation, development policy, human rights, protection of freedoms, social development

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II

(Preparatory  Acts)

COMMISSION

Amended  proposal  for  a  Council  Regulation  (EC)  laying  down  the  requirements  for  the
implementation  of  development  cooperation  operations  which  contribute  to  the  general
objective  of  developing  and  consolidating  democracy  and  the  rule  of  law  and  to  that  of
respecting  human  rights  and  fundamental  freedoms (1)

(1999/C  89/01)

COM(1999)  13  final  —  97/0191/A(SYN)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  pursuant  to  Article  189  a  (2)  of  the  EC-Treaty  on  22  January
1999)

(1)  OJ  C  282,  18.9.1997,  p.  14.

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Article  130w  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in
Article  189c  of  the  Treaty,

Whereas  procedures  should  be 
laid  down  for  the
implementation  of  development  cooperation  operations
which  contribute  to  the  general  objective  of  developing
and  consolidating  democracy  and  the  rule  of  law  and  to
fundamental
that  of  respecting  human  rights  and 
freedoms;  whereas  procedures  should  also  be  laid  down
for  the 
implementation  of  development  cooperation
operations  which  contribute  to  good  governance;

operations, other than those of development cooperation,
which, within the framework of Community cooperation
policy,  contribute  to  the  general  objective  of  developing
and  consolidating  democracy  and  the  rule  of  law  and  to
that  of  respecting  human  rights  and 
fundamental
freedoms  in  third  countries;

Whereas Community policy in the sphere of development
cooperation  contributes  to  the  general  objective  of
developing  and  consolidating  democracy  and  the  rule  of
law,  and  to  that  of  respecting  human  rights  and
fundamental  freedoms;

Whereas  Article  F.2  of  the  Treaty  on  European  Union
stipulates  that  the  Union  respects  fundamental  rights,  as
the
guaranteed  by 
Protection  of  Human  Rights  and  Fundamental  Freedoms
signed  in  Rome  on  4  November  1950  and  as  they  result
from 
the
Member  States,  as  general  principles  of  law;

the  European  Convention 

traditions  common 

the  constitutional 

for 

to 

Whereas  the  Council  has  adopted  simultaneously  with
this Regulation, Regulation (EC) No . . ., laying down the
implementation  of  Community
requirements  for  the 

Whereas  Community  action  to  promote  human  rights
and  democratic  principles  is  guided  by  belief  in  the

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universality  and  indivisibility  of  human  rights,  principles
that  underpin  the  international  system  for  the  protection
of  human  rights  and  constitute  the  very  foundations  of
European  integration;

society  and  by  confidence-building  measures  aimed  at
preventing  conflicts,  supporting  peace  initiatives  and
addressing  the  issue  of  impunity;

Whereas  Community  action  to  promote  human  rights
in  the  general
and  democratic  principles 
principles  established  by  the  Universal  Declaration  of
Human  Rights,  the  International  Covenant  on  Civil  and
Political  Rights  and  the  International  Covenant  on
Economic,  Social  and  Cultural  Rights;

is  rooted 

Whereas  the  Community  recognises  the  interdependence
of  all  human  rights,  and  that  progress  in  economic  and
social  development  and  in  the  achievement  of  civil  and
political  rights  are  mutually  supportive;

Whereas  human  rights  within  the  meaning  of  this
Regulation  should  be  considered  to  encompass  respect
for  international  humanitarian  law,  also  taking  into
account  the  1949  Geneva  Conventions  and  the  1977
Additional  Protocol 
the  1951  Geneva
thereto, 
Convention  relating  to  the  Status  of  Refugees,  the  1948
Convention  on  the  Prevention  and  Punishment  of  the
Crime  of  Genocide  and  other  acts  of  international  treaty
or  customary  law;

Whereas the Resolution on human rights, democracy and
development  adopted  by  the  Council  and  the  Member
States meeting within the Council on 28 November 1991
sets  out  guidelines,  procedures  and  practical  measures
aimed at promoting civil and political freedoms alongside
economic  and  social  rights,  by  means  of  a  representative
political  system  based  on  respect  for  human  rights;

Whereas  the  financial 
instruments  used  to  support
positive action in individual countries should be used in a
manner  consistent  with  geographical  programmes  and
integrated  with  other  development 
to
maximise  their  impact  and  effectiveness;

instruments 

it 

Whereas 
is  also  necessary  to  ensure  that  these
operations  are  coherent  with  the  European  Union’s
foreign  policy  as  a  whole,  including  the  common  foreign
and  security  policy.

Whereas  these  operations  should  in  particular  focus  on
those  discriminated  against  or  suffering  from  poverty  or
refugees,  migrants,
disadvantage,  children,  women, 
minorities,  displaced  persons, 
indigenous  peoples,
prisoners  and  victims  of  torture;

Whereas  Community  support  for  democratisation  and
observance  of  the  principles  of  the  rule  of  law  within  a
political  system  respecting  the  individual’s  fundamental
freedoms  helps  fulfil  the  objectives  laid  down  in  the
agreements  concluded  by  the  Community  with 
its
partners, 
for  human  rights  and
democratic  principles  is  an  essential  element  of  relations
between  the  parties;

in  which  respect 

Whereas the quality, impact and continuity of operations
should  in  particular  be  safeguarded  by  providing  for
multiannual  programmes  to  promote  human  rights  and
democratic  principles  in  partnership  with  the  authorities
of  the  country  concerned,  taking  account  of  its  specific
needs;

Whereas  Community  action  to  promote  human  rights
and democratic principles is the product of a positive and
constructive  approach 
in  which  human  rights  and
democratic  principles  are  seen  as  a  matter  of  common
interest  for  the  Community  and  its  partners,  and  as  a
subject  for  dialogue  that  can  produce  measures  to
promote  respect  for  these  rights  and  principles;

Whereas  efficient  and  consistent  action  requires  the
specific  characteristics  of  action  on  human  rights  and
democratic  principles  to  be  reflected  in  the  establishment
of 
transparent  and  rapid  decision-making
procedures for the financing of operations and projects in
this  field;

flexible, 

Whereas this positive approach should be reflected by the
implementation 
of
democratisation, the strengthening of the rule of law and
the  development  of  a  pluralist  and  democratic  civil

of  measures 

support 

in 

Whereas  the  Community  needs  to  be  able  to  respond
rapidly 
to  emergencies  or  situations  of  particular
importance  in  order  to  enhance  the  credibility,  visibility
and  effectiveness  of  its  commitment  to  the  promotion  of

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human  rights  and  democratic  principles  in  countries
where  such  situations  arise;

Community  development  cooperation  policy,  contribute
to  good  governance.

for 

Whereas  the  procedures  for  the  award  of  assistance  and
the  evaluation  of  projects  in  particular  should,  with  due
regard 
the  Financial  Regulation  and  budget
transparency,  take  account  of  the  special  nature  of  the
recipients of Community support in this field, namely the
non-profit  nature  of  their  activities,  the  risks  run  by
members  who  are 
the
sometimes hostile environment in which they operate and
the  limited  room  for  manoeuvre  afforded  by  their  own
resources;

in  many  cases  volunteers, 

Whereas  the  development  of  civil  society  naturally  leads
to  the  emergence  and  organisation  of  new  players,
whereas  the  Community  may  therefore  be  called  on  to
provide  financial  support  to  partners  in  the  beneficiary
third  countries  who  can  show  no  previous  experience  in
the  field  concerned;

Whereas  decisions  to  fund  projects  to  promote  human
rights  and  democratic  principles  must  be 
taken
impartially,  without  racial,  religious,  cultural,  social  or
ethnic 
receiving
Community  support  and  persons  or  groups  targeted  by
the  projects  supported,  and  must  not  be  guided  by
political considerations;

discrimination 

between 

bodies 

Whereas  procedures  should  be  established  for  the
implementation  and  administration  of  aid 
the
promotion  of  human  rights  and  democratic  principles
financed  from  the  Community’s  general  budget,

for 

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  REGULATION:

The  operations  referred  to  in  this  Regulation  shall  be
implemented,  within  the  framework  of  Community
development  cooperation  policy, 
in  the  territory  of
developing  countries  or  shall  be  directly  related  to
situations  connected  with  them.

Article  2

Within  the  limits  of  Article  1,  and  consistent  with  the
European  Union’s  foreign  policy  as  a  whole,  the
European  Community  shall  provide 
technical  and
financial  aid  for  operations  aimed  at:

1.  promoting  and  defending  the  human  rights  and
fundamental  freedoms  proclaimed  in  the  Universal
the  other
Declaration  of  Human  Rights  and 
international  instruments  concerning  the  development
and  consolidation  of  democracy  and  the  rule  of  law,
in particular:

(a)  the promotion and protection of civil and political

rights;

(b) the  promotion  and  protection  of  economic,  social

and  cultural  rights;

(c)  the promotion and protection of the human rights
of  those  discriminated  against,  or  suffering  from
poverty  or  disadvantage,  which  will  contribute  to
reduction  of  poverty  and  social  exclusion;

(d) the  protection  and  promotion  of  the  rights  of
indigenous  peoples,

minorities,  ethnic  groups, 
refugees,  and  displaced  persons;

(e)  supporting 

local, 

national, 

regional 
or
international 
including  NGOs,
involved  in  the  protection,  promotion  or  defence
of  human  rights;

institutions, 

CHAPTER  I

Objectives

Article  1

(f)  support  for  rehabilitation  centres  for  torture
victims  and  for  organisations  offering  concrete
help  to  victims  of  human  rights  abuses  or  help  to
improve  conditions  in  places  where  people  are
deprived  of  their  liberty  in  order  to  prevent
torture  or  ill-treatment;

for 

the 

The  purpose  of  this  Regulation  is  to  lay  down  the
procedures 
implementation  of  Community
operations  which,  within  the  framework  of  Community
development cooperation policy, contribute to the general
objective of developing and consolidating democracy and
the  rule  of  law  and  to  that  of  respecting  human  rights
and  fundamental  freedoms.  Its  purpose  is  also  to  lay
down 
implementation  of
for 
Community  operations  which,  within  the  framework  of

the  procedures 

the 

(g)  support 

for 

consciousness-raising 
rights;

education, 
in 

and
training 
the  area  of  human

(h) supporting  action  to  monitor  human  rights,

including  the  training  of  observers;

(i)  the  promotion  of  equality  of  opportunity  and
non-discriminatory  practices,  including  measures
to  combat  racism  and  xenophobia;

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(j)  promoting  and  protecting 

fundamental
freedoms mentioned in the International Covenant
on  Civil  and  Political  Rights,  in  particular  the
freedom  of  opinion,  expression  and  conscience,
and  the  right  to  use  one’s  own  language;

the 

3.  support  for  measures  to  promote  the  respect  for
human  rights  and  democratisation  by  preventing
conflict  and  dealing  with  its  consequences,  in  close
collaboration  with  the  relevant  competent  bodies,  in
particular:

(a)  supporting 

including 
capacity-building, 
establishment  of  local  early  warning  systems;

the

2.  supporting 
particular:

the  processes  of  democratisation, 

in

(a)  promoting  and  strengthening  the  rule  of  law,  in
particular  upholding  the  independence  of  the
judiciary  and  strengthening  it,  and  support  for  a
humane  prison  system;  support  for  constitutional
and  legislative  reform;  support  for  initiatives  in
favour  of  the  abolition  of  the  death  penalty;

(b) promoting  the  separation  of  powers,  particularly
the
the 
legislature  from  the  executive,  and  support  for
institutional  reforms;

independence  of 

judiciary  and 

the 

(c)  promoting  pluralism  both  at  political  level  and  at
the  level  of  civil  society  by  strengthening  the
institutions  needed  to  maintain  the  pluralist
nature of that society, including non-governmental
and  by  promoting
organisations 
independent 
and
supporting  a  free  press  and  respect  for  the  rights
of  freedom  of  association  and  assembly;

(NGOs), 
and 

responsible  media 

(b) supporting  measures 

balancing
opportunities  and  at  bridging  existing  dividing
lines  among  different  identity  groups;

aimed 

at 

(c)  supporting  measures 

facilitating 

the  peaceful
conciliation  of  group  interests,  including  support
to confidence-building measures relating to human
rights  and  democratisation,  in  order  to  prevent
conflict  and  to  restore  civil  peace;

(d) promoting  international  humanitarian  law  and  its

observance  by  all  parties  to  a  conflict;

(e)  supporting 

regional  or 

international, 

resolving  and  dealing  with 

local
organisations,  including  the  NGOs,  involved  in
preventing, 
the
consequences  of  conflict,  including  support  for
criminal
establishing 
tribunals and setting up a permanent international
criminal  court, 
support  and
assistance  for  victims  of  human  rights  violations.

together  with 

international 

ad  hoc 

Article  3

(d) promoting  good  governance,  particularly  by
supporting  administrative  accountability  and  the
prevention  and  combating  of  corruption;

Community  support  for  these  aims  may  include  the
financing  of:

(e)  promoting  the  participation  of  the  people  in  the
decision-making  process  at  national,  regional  and
local  level,  in  particular  by  promoting  the  equal
participation  of  men  and  women  in  civil  society,
in  economic  life  and  in  politics;

(f)  support  for  electoral  processes,  in  particular  by
supporting 
independent  electoral  commissions,
granting material, technical and legal assistance in
electoral
preparing 
censuses, 
the
specific  groups,  particularly
participation  of 
women,  in  the  electoral  process,  and  by  training
observers;

for 
taking  measures 

to  promote 

including 

elections, 

1.  education,  information  and  training  for  the  agencies
the

including 

involved  and  public  opinion, 
countries  concerned;

in 

2.  the  measures  needed  for  the 
preparation  of  projects,  namely:

identification  and

(a)  identification  and  feasibility  studies;

(b) exchange  of  technical  know-how  and  experience
between  European  organisations  and  bodies  in
third  countries;

(c)  costs  arising 

in
particular  the  evaluation  of  tenders  and  the
preparation  of  project  documents;

tendering  procedures, 

from 

(g)  supporting national efforts to separate civilian and
military  functions,  training  civilian  and  military
personnel  and  raising  their  awareness  of  human
rights;

(d) financing  of  general  studies  concerning 

the
Community’s  action  within  the  scope  of  this
Regulation;

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3.  the  implementation  of  projects:

Article  6

(a)  technical  assistance  and  expatriate  and  local  staff

to  help  implement  the  projects;

(b) purchasing  and/or  delivering  any  product  or
the
in
circumstances,  and  when  duly

equipment 
implementation  of  operations, 
exceptional 
justified,  the  purchasing  or  leasing  of  premises;

for 
including, 

necessary 

strictly 

(c)  where  appropriate,  actions  for  the  purpose  of
highlighting  the  Community  character  of  the
operations.

4.  measures  to  monitor,  audit  and  evaluate  Community
operations, 
technical
assistance  of  mutual  benefit  to  the  Commission  and
the  recipients.

administrative 

and 

and 

CHAPTER  II

Procedures  for  the  implementation  of  aid

Without  prejudice  to  the 
institutional  and  political
environment  in  which  the  partners  referred  to  in  Article
4(1)  operate,  the  following  factors  shall  in  particular  be
considered  when  determining  a  body’s  suitability  for
Community  funding:

(a)  where  appropriate,  its  experience  in  the  field  of
promoting  human  rights  and  democratic  principles;

(b) its 

administrative 

and 

financial  management

capacities;

(c)  its  technical  and  logistical  capacity  in  relation  to  the

planned  operation;

(d) the results, where relevant, of any previous operations
carried  out,  in  particular  those  financed  by  the
Community;

(e)  its  capacity  to  build  up  a  working  relationship  with
other  elements  of  civil  society  in  the  third  country
concerned  and 
local
to  direct  assistance 
organisations  accountable  to  civil  society.

to 

Article  4

Article  7

for 

financing  under 

1. The  partners  eligible 
this
Regulation  are  regional  and  international  organisations,
non-governmental  organisations,  national  regional  and
local  authorities  and  official  agencies,  community-based
organisations  and  public  or  private-sector  institutes  and
operators.  All  partners  shall  undertake  to  propagate,
respect  and  promote  democratic  principles  and  human
rights through their actions, without discrimination. With
a  view  to  actively  involving  the  target  population,  the
Community  shall  take  a  particular  interest  in  those  —
frequently  small  scale  —  activities  which  encourage
grassroots democracy.

2. Operations  financed  by  the  Community  under  this
Regulation  shall  be  implemented  by  the  Commission
either at the request of a partner referred to in paragraph
1  or  on  its  own  initiative.

Article  5

To  be  eligible  for  Community  aid,  the  partners  referred
to in Article 4(1) must have their main headquarters in a
third  country  eligible  for  Community  aid  under  this
Regulation  or  in  a  Member  State  of  the  Community.
Such  headquarters  must  be  the  effective  decision-making
centre  for  all  operations  financed  under  this  Regulation.
Exceptionally,  the  headquarters  may  be  in  another  third
country.

1. Aid shall not be allocated to the partners to in Article
4(1)  unless  they  undertake  to  comply  with  the  allocation
and 
the
Commission,  to  which  they  shall  be  contractually
bound.

implementation  conditions 

laid  down  by 

2. Activities  aided  by 
shall  be
implemented in accordance with the objectives laid down
in  the  Commission  financing  decision.

the  Community 

3. Community  financing  under  this  Regulation  shall
take  the  form  of  grants.

4. Where  operations  financed  under  this  Regulation  are
the  subject  of 
the
Community  and  the  recipient  countries,  such  agreements
shall  stipulate  that  taxes,  charges  and  customs  duties  are
not  to  be  borne  by  the  Community.

financing  agreements  between 

Article  8

1. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of
contracts shall be open on equal terms to natural or legal
persons  from  the  beneficiary  county  and  the  Member
States.  It  may  be  extended  to  other  countries 
in
exceptional  and  duly  justified  cases.

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2. Supplies  shall  originate  in  the  Member  States  or  the
beneficiary  country.  They  may  originate 
in  other
countries  in  exceptional  and  duly  justified  cases.

—  any  programme 

intended  to  provide  a  coherent
framework for action in a given country or region or
in  a  specific  field  where  the  scale  and  complexity  of
the  needs  identified  are  such  that  they  seem  likely  to
continue.

Article  9

1.
In  the  interests  of  consistency  and  complementary
and  in  order  to  maximise  the  overall  effectiveness  of
operations,  the  Commission,  in  close  cooperation  with
the  Member  States,  may  take  any  coordination  measures
necessary.

2. The  Commission  shall  notify  the  Committee  referred
to  in  Article  12  of  financing  decisions  that  it  intends  to
take  concerning  projects  and  programmes  costing  less
than EUR 1 million. Notice shall be given at least a week
before  the  decision  is  taken.

2. For  the  purposes  of  the  previous  paragraph,  the
Commission  shall  in  particular  promote:

Article  12

(a)  the  introduction  of  a  system  for  the  exchange  and
systematic  analysis  of  information  on  operations
financed  or  considered 
the
Community  and  the  Member  States;

financing  by 

for 

(b) the  coordination  of  the  implementation  of  operations
on  the  spot  by  means  of  regular  meetings  for  the
exchange  of  information  between  the  representatives
of  the  Commission  and  the  Member  States  in  the
recipient  country.

3. The  Commission  shall,  in  close  cooperation  with  the
Member  States,  also  promote  a  coherent  approach  in
relation 
to  humanitarian  assistance  and,  whenever
possible,  integrate  the  protection  of  human  rights  into
humanitarian assistance.

CHAPTER  III

Procedures  for  the  implementation  of  operations

Article  10

The Commission shall programme, appraise, decide upon
and  administer,  monitor  and  evaluate  operations  under
this  Regulation  in  accordance  with  the  budgetary  and
other  procedures  in  force,  and  in  particular  those  laid
down  in  the  Financial  Regulation  applicable  to  the
general budget of the European Communities. It shall lay
down  the  conditions  for  allocating,  mobilising  and
implementing  aid  under  this  Regulation.

Article  11

1. The  following  shall  be  approved  according  to  the
procedure  laid  down  in  Article  12(2):

—  decisions  on  operations  for  which  financing  under
this  Regulation  exceeds  EUR  1  million  and  any
modifications  to  such  operations 
leading  to  an
increase  of  more  than  20 %  in  the  sum  initially
agreed,

1. The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  an  advisory
committee,  hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  Human  Rights
and  Democracy  Committee,  composed  of  representatives
of  the  Member  States  and  chaired  by  the  representative
of  the  Commission.

2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to
the  Committee  a  proposal  containing  a  draft  of  the
measures  to  be  taken.  The  Committee  shall  deliver  its
opinion  on  the  draft  within  a  time  limit  which  the
Chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the
matter,  if  necessary  by  taking  a  vote.

The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition
each  Member  State  shall  have  the  right  to  have  its
position  recorded  in  the  minutes.  The  Commission  shall
take  the  utmost  account  of  the  opinion  delivered  by  the
Committee. It shall inform the Committee of the manner
in  which  its  opinion  has  been  taken  into  account.

Article  13

1. The Commission may finance emergency measures up
to  a  maximum  of  EUR  2  million.  Emergency  measures
shall  be  deemed  necessary  in  cases  of  urgent  and
unforeseeable need arising from the sudden suspension of
the  democratic  process  or  the  emergence  of  a  state  of
crisis or exceptional and imminent danger affecting all or
part  of  the  population  of  a  country  and  posing  a  grave
threat  to  the  fundamental  rights  and  freedoms  of  the
individual.

these 

conditions, 

2. Where  operations 
the
fulfil 
Commission  shall  act  after  consulting  the  Member  States
by  the  most  efficient  means.  The  Member  States  shall  be
allowed  five  working  days  in  which  to  put  forward  any
objections.  If  there  are  any  objections,  the  Committee,
referred to in Article 12, shall examine the question at its
next  meeting.

30.3.1999

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  89/7

3. The Commission shall inform the Committee referred
to  in  Article  12,  at  its  next  meeting,  of  all  emergency
measures  financed  under  these  provisions.

procedures  established  by  the  Commission  under  the
rules  in  force,  and  in  particular  those  of  the  Financial
Regulation  applicable  to  the  general  budget  of  the
European  Communities.

3a. The  Commission  shall  also  inform  the  European
Parliament  of  these  emergency  measures.

Article  17

Article  14

The  Committee  may  examine  any  general  or  specific
issues  concerning  Community  aid  in  the  field  and  should
also  play  a  useful  role  as  a  means  for  improving  the
coherence  of  the  human  rights  and  democratisation
actions  of  the  European  Union  towards  third  countries.
Once  a  year  it  will  discuss  the  programme  proposed  for
the  coming  financial  year  or  the  general  guidelines  for
operations  to  be  undertaken  in  the  year  ahead.

1. Within a month of its decision, the Commission shall
notify  the  Member  States  of  operations  and  projects
approved, 
indicating  the  sums,  the  nature  of  the
operations,  the  recipient  country  and  the  partners
involved.

2. Each  year  the  Commission  shall  submit  an  annual
report  to  the  European  Parliament  and  to  the  Council.
This  report  shall  contain  at 
following
information:

least 

the 

(a)  a summary of the operations financed in the course of

the  previous  financial  year;

Article  15

(b) the  programme  for  the  current  financial  year;

1. The  Commission  shall  regularly  evaluate  operations
financed  by  the  Community  under  this  Regulation  in
order  to  establish  whether  they  have  achieved  their
objectives  and  to  produce  guidelines  for  improving  the
effectiveness  of  subsequent  operations.  The  Commission
shall  submit  to  the  Committee  a  summary  of  the
evaluation exercises carried out that it might, if necessary,
examine.  The  evaluation  reports  shall  be  available  to  the
Member  States  on  request.

2. At the request of the Member States, the Commission
may,  with  them,  also  evaluate  the  results  of  the
Community’s  operations  and  programmes  under  this
Regulation.

(c)  a  summary  of  evaluations  conducted  pursuant  to

Article  15  of  this  Regulation;

(d) information on the agencies with which the operation
referred  to  in  Article  1  have  been  implemented.

Article  18

Three  years  after  this  Regulation  enters  into  force,  the
Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and
to  the  Council  an  overall  assessment  of  the  operations
financed by the Community under this Regulation, which
may  be 
appropriate  proposals
concerning  the  future  of  this  Regulation.

accompanied  by 

Article  16

Article  19

All  contracts  or  financing  agreements  concluded  under
this  Regulation  shall  provide  in  particular  that  the
Commission  and  the  Court  of  Auditors  may  conduct
checks  on  the  sport  and  at  the  headquarters  of  the
partners referred to in Article 4(1) according to the usual

This  Regulation  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  third  day
following that of its publication in the Official Journal of
the  European  Communities.

This  Regulation  shall  be  binding  in  its  entirety  and
directly  applicable  in  all  Member  States.