Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Slovenia in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education
Date: 1999-02-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Association Council (EU), EU programme, Slovenia, education, vocational training

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Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  concerning  the  Community  position  within  the  Association
Council  on  the  participation  of  Slovenia  in  Community  programmes  in  the  fields  of  training,
youth  and  education

(1999/C  89/06)

COM(1999)  71  final  —  99/0052(CNS)

(Submitted  by  the  Commission  on  22  February  1999)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Articles  126  and  127,  in
conjunction  with  Article  228(3)  first  paragraph  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission,

Having  regard 
Parliament,

to 

the  opinion  of 

the  European

the  Europe  Agreement 

Whereas 
establishing  an
association between the European Communities and their
Member  States,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  Republic  of
Slovenia,  of  the  other  part,  entered  into  force  on  1
February  1999.

Whereas,  according  to  Article  106  of  the  Europe
Agreement and to its Annex XI, Slovenia may participate
in  Community 
specific
programmes,  projects  or  other  actions  notably  in  the
fields of training, youth and education, and the terms and
conditions  for  the  participation  of  Slovenia  in  these
activities  shall  be  decided  by  the  Association  Council,

programmes, 

framework 

Article  7(4)  thereof  and  Decision  No  819/95/EC  of  14
March  1995  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the
Council  establishing  the  Community  action  programme
in  the  field  of  education (3)  (hereinafter  called  ‘Socrates’)
and  in  particular  article  7(3)  thereof,  provide  that  these
programmes  shall  be  open  to  the  participation  of
associated Central European countries in accordance with
the  conditions  set  out  in  the  Additional  Protocols  to  the
Association  Agreements  on  participation  in  Community
programmes,

HAS  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS:

The  position  to  be  taken  by  the  Community  within  the
Association Council established by the Europe Agreement
between  the  European  Communities  and  their  Member
States, on the one part, and the Republic Slovenia, of the
other  part,  concerning  the  participation  of  Slovenia  in
Community  programmes  in  the  fields  of  training,  youth
and  education,  is  the  attached  draft  decision  of  the
Association  Council.

Whereas  Council  Decision  94/819/EC  of  6  December
the
1994  establishing  an  action  programme 
implementation  of  a  European  Community  vocational
training  policy (1),  (hereinafter  called 
‘Leonardo  da
Vinci’),  and  in  particular  Article  9(1)  thereof,  Decision
No  818/95/EC  of  14  March  1995  of  the  European
Parliament  and  the  Council  adopting  the  third  phase  of
the  ‘Youth  for  Europe’  programme (2)  and  in  particular

for 

Done  at  . . .

For  the  Council

. . .

President

(1)  OJ  L  340,  29.12.1994,  p.  8.
(2)  OJ  L  87,  20.4.1995,  p.  1.

(3)  OJ  L  87,  20.4.1995,  p.  10.

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Draft

DECISION  No  . . ./. . .  OF  THE  EC-SLOVENIA  ASSOCIATION  COUNCIL

of  . . .

adopting the terms and conditions for Slovenia’s participation in Community programmes in the
fields  of  training,  youth  and  education

THE  ASSOCIATION  COUNCIL

Having regard to the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member
States,  of  the  one  part,  and  the  Republic  of  Slovenia,  of  the  other (1),  and  in  particular  Article
106  thereof;

Whereas  according  to  Article  106  of  the  Europe  Agreement  and  its  Annex  XI,  Slovenia  may
participate  in  Community  framework  programmes,  specific  programmes,  projects  or  other
actions  notably  in  the  fields  of  training,  youth  and  education;

Whereas according to the same Article the terms and conditions for the participation of Slovenia
in  these  activities  shall  be  decided  by  the  Association  Council;

HAS  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS:

Article  1

Slovenia  shall  participate  in  the  European  Community  programmes  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  Youth
for  Europe  and  Socrates  according  to  the  terms  and  conditions  set  out  in  Annexes  I  and  II
which  shall  form  an  integral  part  of  this  Decision.

This  Decision  shall  apply  for  the  duration  of  the  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  Youth  for  Europe  and
Socrates programmes.

Article  2

This  Decision  shall  enter  into  force  the  first  day  of  the  month  following  its  adoption  by  the
Association  Council.

Article  3

Done  at  . . .

For  the  Association  Council

. . .

Chairman

(1)  OJ  L  51,  26.2.1999,  p.  3.

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ANNEX  I

Terms and conditions for Slovenia’s participation in the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates
programmes

1.  Slovenia  will  participate  in  all  activities  of  the  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  Youth  for  Europe  and  Socrates
programmes  (hereinafter  called  ‘the  programmes’)  in  conformity,  unless  otherwise  provided  in  this
Decision,  with  the  objectives,  criteria,  procedures  and  deadlines  as  defined  in  Council  Decision
94/819/EC  establishing  an  action  programme  for  the  implementation  of  a  European  Community
vocational  training  policy,  Decision  No  818/95/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council
adopting  the  third  phase  of  the  ‘Youth  for  Europe’  programme  and  Decision  No  819/95/EC  of  the
European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  the  European  Community  action  programme
Socrates.

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

Language  preparation  and  training  activities  concern  the  official  languages  of  the  Community.  In
exceptional  circumstances,  other  languages  could  be  accepted  if  the  implementation  of  the  programmes
so  requires.

3.  To ensure the Community dimension of the programmes, transnational projects and activities proposed
by  Slovenia  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
programmes, 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. Projects and activities carried out
solely  between  Slovenia  and  EFTA  States  which  are  parties  to  the  EEA  agreement  or  any  other  third
countries, including those with an Association agreement with the Community, to which participation in
the  programmes  is  open,  are  not  eligible  for  Community  financial  support.

4.  In  conformity  with  the  terms  of  the  relevant  provisions  of  the  Decisions  on  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  Youth
for  Europe  and  Socrates,  Slovenia  will  provide  the  appropriate  structures  and  mechanisms  at  national
level  and  will  take  all  other  necessary  steps  to  ensure  national  coordination  and  organisation  of  the
implementation  of  the  programmes.

5.  Slovenia  will  pay  a  contribution  each  year  to  the  general  budget  of  the  European  Union  to  cover  the

costs  resulting  from  its  participation  in  the  programmes  (see  Annex  II).

The  Association  Committee  is  entitled  to  adapt  this  contribution  whenever  necessary.

6.  The  Member  States  of  the  Community  and  Slovenia  will  make  every  effort,  within  the  framework  of
existing  provisions,  to  facilitate  the  free  movement  and  residence  of  students,  teachers,  university
administrators,  young  people  and  other  eligible  persons  moving  between  Slovenia  and  the  Member
States  of  the  Community  for  the  purpose  of  participating  in  activities  covered  by  this  Decision.

7.  Without  prejudice  to  the  responsibilities  of  the  Commission  of  the  European  Communities  and  the
Court  of  Auditors  of  the  European  Community  in  relation  to  the  monitoring  and  evaluation  of  the
programmes  pursuant  to  the  Decisions  concerning  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  Youth  for  Europe  and  Socrates
(Articles 10, 9 and 8 respectively), the participation of Slovenia in the programmes will be continuously
monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission of the European Communities and Slovenia.
Slovenia will submit to the Commission relevant reports and take part in other specific activities set out
by  the  Community  in  that  context.

8.  Without  prejudice  to  the  procedures  referred  to  in  Article  6  of  the  Decision  on  Leonardo  da  Vinci,
Article 6 of the Decision on Youth for Europe and Article 4 of the Decision on Socrates, Slovenia will be
invited  to  coordination  meetings  on  any  question  concerning  the  implementation  of  this  Decision  prior
to  the  regular  meetings  of  the  Committees.  The  Commission  will  inform  Slovenia  about  the  results  of
such  regular  meetings.

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

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ANNEX  II

Slovenia’s  financial  contribution  to  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  Socrates  and  Youth  for  Europe

1.  Slovenia’s  financial  contribution  will  cover:

—  subsidies  or  any  other  financial  support  from  the  programmes  to  Slovene  participants,

—  financial  support  from  the  programmes  to  the  functioning  of  the  national  agencies,  where

applicable,

—  supplementary  administrative  costs  related  to  the  management  of  the  programmes  by  the

Commission  stemming  from  Slovenia’s  participation.

2.  For every financial year, the aggregated amount of subsidies or any other financial support received from
the programmes by the Slovene beneficiaries and by the national agencies of Slovenia will not exceed the
contribution  paid  by  Slovenia,  after  deduction  of  the  supplementary  administrative  costs.

Should the contribution paid by Slovenia to the general budget of the European Union, after deduction
of  the  supplementary  administrative  costs,  be  higher  than  the  aggregated  amount  of  the  subsidies  or
other  financial  support  received  by  the  Slovene  beneficiaries  and  by  the  national  agencies  from  the
programmes,  the  Commission  of  the  European  Communities  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 programmes come to an end, the corresponding amount will be reimbursed to
Slovenia.

3.  Leonardo  da  Vinci

Slovenia’s  annual  contribution  will  be  EUR  1 006 000  in  1999.  From  this  sum,  an  amount  of  EUR
66 000  will  cover  supplementary  administrative  costs  related  to  the  management  of  the  programme  by
the  Commission  stemming  from  Slovenia’s  participation.

4.  Socrates

Slovenia’s annual contribution will be EUR 856 000 in 1999. From this sum, an amount of EUR 56 000
will  cover  supplementary  administrative  costs  related  to  the  management  of  the  programme  by  the
Commission  stemming  from  Slovenia’s  participation.

5.  Youth  for  Europe

Slovenia’s  annual  contribution  will  be  EUR  321 000  in  1999  for  participating  in  all  the  actions  of  the
programme,  except  Action  D.

From this sum, an amount of EUR 21 000 in 1999 will cover supplementary administrative costs related
to  the  management  of  the  programme  by  the  Commission  stemming  from  Slovenia’s  participation.

6.  The  financial  regulation  applicable  to  the  general  budget  of  the  European  Union  will  also  apply  to  the

management  of  Slovenia’s  contribution.

After  the  entry  into  force  of  this  Decision  the  Commission  will  send  Slovenia  a  call  for  funds
corresponding  to  its  contribution  to  the  costs  under  this  Decision.

This  contribution  shall  be  expressed  in  euros  and  paid  into  an  EUR  bank  account  of  the
Commission.

The  calculation  of  the  annual  contribution  is  based  on  a  participation  during  a  full  financial  year.
Should be Association Council Decision enter into force in the course of a year, the contribution for that
year  will  be  adapted  taking  into  account  the  state  of  implementation  of  the  programmes  for  that
particular year.

Slovenia  will  pay  its  contribution  to  the  annual  costs  under  this  Decision  according  to  the  call  for
founds,  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  Slovenia  on  the  outstanding  amount  from  the

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due  date.  The  interest  rate  corresponds  to  the  rate  applied  by  the  ECB,  for  the  month  of  the  due  date,
for  its  operations  in  euros (1),  increased  by  1,5  percentage  points.

7.  Slovenia  will  pay  the  supplementary  administrative  costs  referred  to  in  paragraphs  3,  4  and  5  from  its

national budget.

8.  Of  the  remainder  of  its  annual  contribution  to  the  Leonardo  da  Vinci  programme,  referred  to  in
paragraph  3,  Slovenia  will  pay  EUR  470 000  from  its  national  budget  in  1999.  Subject  to  regular
PHARE  programming  procedures,  EUR  470 000  will  be  paid  from  Slovenia’s  annual  PHARE  National
Programme  of  1999.

Of  the  remainder  of  its  annual  contribution  to  the  Socrates  programme,  referred  to  in  paragraph  4,
Slovenia  will  pay  EUR  400 000  from  its  national  budget  in  1999.  Subject  to  regular  PHARE
programming  procedures,  EUR  400 000  will  be  paid  from  Slovenia’s  annual  PHARE  national
programme  of  1999.

Of  the  remainder  of  its  annual  contribution  to  the  Youth  for  Europe  programme,  referred  to  in
paragraph  5,  Slovenia  will  pay  EUR  150 000  from  its  national  budget  in  1999.  Subject  to  regular
PHARE  programming  procedures,  EUR  150 000  will  be  paid  from  Slovenia’s  annual  PHARE  national
programme  of  1999.

(1)  Rate  published  monthly  in  the  Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities  —  C  Series.