Decision No 2/99 of the Association Council between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Bulgaria, of the other part, of 15 March 1999 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Bulgaria in Community programmes in the fields of vocational training and education
Date: 1999-03-15
Institutions: EC–Bulgaria Association Council
Subjects: EU programme, Latvia, association agreement (EU), education, financing of the EU budget, vocational training, young person

L 99/28

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Official Journal of the European Communities

14. 4. 1999

DECISION No 2/99 OF THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

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

of 15 March 1999

adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Bulgaria in
Community programmes in the fields of vocational training and education

(1999/256/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 Republic of
Bulgaria, 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
part, and the Republic of Bulgaria (2), of the other part
concerning Bulgaria’s participation in Community
programmes, and in particular Articles 1 and 2 thereof,

Whereas according to Article 1 of the said Additional
Protocol, Bulgaria may participate in Community frame-
work programmes, specific programmes, projects or other
actions in particular in the fields of vocational training
and education;

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

Article 1

Bulgaria shall participate in the Community programmes
Leonardo da Vinci (3) and Socrates (4) in accordance with
the terms and conditions set out in Annex I and II which
shall form an integral part of this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply for
Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates programmes.

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, 15 March 1999.

For the Association Council

The President

J. FISCHER

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.1994, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 317, 30.12.1995, p. 25.

(3) OJ L 340, 29.12.1994, p. 8.
(4) OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 10. Decision as amended by Decision

No 576/98/EC (OJ L 77, 14.3.1998, p. 1).

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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ANNEX I

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF BULGARIA IN THE
LEONARDO DA VINCI AND SOCRATES PROGRAMMES

1. Bulgaria will participate in all activities of the Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates programmes (hereinafter
called ‘the programmes') in conformity, unless otherwise provided in this Decision, with the objectives,
criteria, procedures and time limits laid down in Council Decision 94/819/EC of 6 December 1994
establishing an action programme for the implementation of a European Community vocational training
policy (1) and Decision No 819/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 1995
establishing the European Community action programme ‘Socrates' (2).

2. The terms and conditions for the submission, assessment and selection of applications by eligible institu-
tions, organisations and individuals of Bulgaria shall be the same as those applicable to eligible institutions,
organisations and individuals of the Community.

Language preparation and vocational 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
Bulgaria 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 programmes. Projects and activities carried out
solely between Bulgaria 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 the programmes, Bulgaria will
lay down 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. Bulgaria will pay each year a contribution to the general budget of the European Communities 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 Bulgaria will make every effort within the framework of the
existing provisions, to facilitate the free movement and residence of students, teachers, university adminis-
trators and other eligible persons moving between Bulgaria 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 and the Court of Auditors of the European
Communities in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of the programmes pursuant to Decisions
94/819/EC and No 819/95/EC concerning Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates programmes (Articles 10 and 8
respectively), the participation of Bulgaria in the programmes will be continuously monitored on a
partnership basis involving Bulgaria and the Commission of the European Communities. Bulgaria will
submit the necessary reports to the Commission and take part in other specific activities undertaken by the
Community in that context.

8. Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 6 of Decision 94/819/EC on Leonardo da Vinci
and Article 4 of Decision No 819/95/EC on Socrates, Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria 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.

(1) OJ L 340, 29.12.1994, p. 8.
(2) OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 10. Decision as amended by Decision No 576/98/EC (OJ L 77, 14.3.1998, p. 1).

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Official Journal of the European Communities

14. 4. 1999

ANNEX II

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF BULGARIA TO THE LEONARDO DA VINCI AND
SOCRATES PROGRAMMES

1. The financial contribution of Bulgaria will cover:

subsidies or any other financial support from the programmes to Bulgarian participants;

financial support from the Leonardo da Vinci programme to the functioning of the national agency;

supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programmes by the Commission
stemming from Bulgaria’s participation.

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

Should the contribution paid by Bulgaria to the general budget of the European Communities, after
deduction of the supplementary administrative costs, be higher than the aggregated amount of the subsidies
or other financial support received from the programmes by the Bulgarian beneficiaries and by the
Leonardo da Vinci national agency, 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 Bulgaria.

3. Leonardo da Vinci

Bulgaria’s contribution for participating in 1999 will be EUR 1 114 000. Of this sum, an amount of EUR
72 000 will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the
Commission stemming from Bulgaria’s participation.

4. Socrates

Bulgaria’s contribution will be EUR 4 140 000 in 1999 for its participation in the entire Socrates
programme, including Chapter I (Erasmus). Of this sum, an amount of EUR 270 000 will cover supple-
mentary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming
from Bulgaria’s participation.

5. The Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities will apply,

notably to the management of the contribution of Bulgaria.

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

This contribution shall be expressed in euro and paid into a euro bank account of the Commission.

The calculation of the annual contribution is based on a participation during a full financial year. Should
the 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.

Bulgaria will pay its contribution to the annual costs under this Decision according to the call for funds, 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 Bulgaria 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 euro (1), increased by 1,5 percentage points.

6. Bulgaria will pay the supplementary administrative costs referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 from its national

budget.

7. Of the remainder of its annual contribution to the Leonardo da Vinci programme, referred to in paragraph
3, Bulgaria will pay EUR 31 000 from its national budget in 1999. Subject to regular PHARE programming
procedures, EUR 1 011 000 will be paid from Bulgaria’s PHARE national programme of 1999.

Of the remainder of its annual contribution to Socrates, referred to in paragraph 4, Bulgaria will pay EUR
116 000 from its national budget in 1999. Subject to regular PHARE programming procedures, EUR
3 754 000 will be paid from Bulgaria’s PHARE national programme of 1999.

(1) Rate published monthly in the Official Journal of the European Communities (cid:190) C Series.