Decision No 4/1999 of the EC-Slovenia Association Council of 30 September 1999 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Slovenia in the Community Programme in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises
Date: 1999-09-30
Institutions: EC–Slovenia Association Council
Subjects: EU programme, Slovenia, association agreement (EU), small and medium-sized enterprises

4. 11. 1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 281/79

DECISION No 4/1999 OF THE EC-SLOVENIA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

of 30 September 1999

adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Slovenia in the Community Programme
in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises

(1999/709/EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an asso-
ciation between the European Communities and their Member
States, acting in the framework of the European Union, of the
one part, and the Republic of Slovenia, of the other part, and in
particular Article 106 thereof (1),

(1) Whereas according to Article 106 of the Europe Agree-
ment, Slovenia may participate in Community frame-
work programmes, specific programmes, projects or
other Community actions, notably in the field of small
and medium-sized enterprises;

(2) Whereas according to the said Article the terms and
conditions for the participation of Slovenia in those
activities are to be decided by the Association Council,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Slovenia shall participate in the Third Multiannual Programme
for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European
Union (1997 to 2000) according to the terms and conditions

set out in Annexes I and II which shall form an integral part of
this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply for the duration of the programme.

Article 3

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

Done at Brussels, 30 September 1999.

For the Association Council

The Chairman

T. HALONEN

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

L 281/80

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

4. 11. 1999

ANNEX I

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF SLOVENIA IN THE THIRD MULTIANNUAL
IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
PROGRAMME FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMES)

(1997 TO 2000)

1. Slovenia will participate in the activities of the Third Multiannual Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
(SMEs) in the European Union (1997 to 2000) (hereinafter called ‘programme’) 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.

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.

3. Where appropriate,

in order to ensure the Community dimension of the programme, transnational projects and
activities proposed by Slovenia must 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. Slovenia 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 Slovenia 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
Slovenia 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 of the European Communities and the Court of Auditors
of the European Communities in relation to the evaluation of the programme according to Decision 97/15/EC (Article
6), the participation of Slovenia in the programme will be continuously evaluated on a partnership basis involving
Slovenia and the Commission. Slovenia 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 Decision 97/15/EC, Slovenia 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 Slovenia 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.

4. 11. 1999

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 281/81

ANNEX II

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF SLOVENIA TO THE THIRD MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME FOR SMALL
AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN THE EUROPEAN UNION (1997 TO 2000)

1. The financial contribution of Slovenia will cover:

— financial support from the programme to the participation of Slovenian 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

of the European Communities stemming from Slovenia's participation.

2. For every year, the aggregated amount of subsidies or any other financial support received from the programme by the
Slovenian beneficiaries 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 Communities, after deduction of the
supplementary administrative costs, be higher than the aggregated amount of subsidies or other financial support
received by the Slovenian 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 Slovenia.

3. Slovenia's annual contribution will be EUR 506 324 from 1999. From this sum, an amount of EUR 33 124 will
cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming
from Slovenia'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 Slovenia.

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

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

Slovenia 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 will give rise to the
payment of interest by Slovenia on the outstanding amount from the due date. The interest rate will correspond to the
rate applied by the European Central Bank, for the month of the due date, for its operations in euro increased by 1,5
percentage points.

5. Slovenia will pay the supplementary administrative costs referred to in point 3 from its national budget.

6. Slovenia will pay EUR 236 600 of the remaining costs of its participation in the programme from its national budget.

7. Subject to regular PHARE programming procedures, the remaining EUR 236 600 will be paid from Slovenia's annual

PHARE allocation.