Decision No 2/2000 of the EU-Slovak Association Council of 24 July 2000 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Slovak Republic in Community programmes in the fields of training and education
Date: 2000-07-24
Institutions: Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Slovakia, association agreement (EU), education, vocational training

31.10.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

DECISION No 2/2000 OF THE EU-SLOVAK ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

of 24 July 2000

adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Slovak Republic in Community
programmes in the fields of training and education

(2000/662/EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Having regard to the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agree-
establishing an association between the European
ment
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the
Slovak Republic, of
the other part, concerning the Slovak
Republic's participation in Community programmes, and in
particular Articles 1 and 2 thereof (1),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

According to Article 1 of the Additional Protocol, the
Slovak Republic may participate in Community frame-
work programmes, specific programmes, projects or
other actions notably in the fields of
training and
education.

According to Article 2 of the Additional Protocol, the
terms and conditions for the participation of the Slovak
Republic in these activities shall be decided by the Asso-
ciation Council.

for

Following Decision No 1/98 of the Association Council
between the European Communities and their Member
States, of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the
other part, of 3 March 1998 adopting the terms and
Slovak
conditions
Republic (2) in Community programmes in the fields of
training, youth and education, the Slovak Republic has
been participating in the first phase of the Leonardo da
Vinci (3) and Socrates (4) programmes since 1 April
1998, and has expressed the wish to participate in the
second phase of the programmes,

participation

the

the

of

Article 1

The Slovak Republic shall participate in the second phase of
the European Community programmes Leonardo da Vinci and
Socrates set out respectively in Council Decision 1999/382/EC
of 26 April 1999 establishing the second phase of
the
Community vocational training action programme ‘Leonardo
da Vinci’ (5) and Decision No 253/2000/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 24 January 2000 establishing
the second phase of the Community action programme in the
field of education ‘Socrates’ (6) (hereinafter called ‘Leonardo da
Vinci II’ and ‘Socrates II’) 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 Leonardo da
Vinci II and Socrates II programmes, starting from 1 January
2000.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption
by the Association Council.

Done at Brussels, 24 July 2000.

For the Association Council

The President

E. KUKAN

(1) OJ L 115, 9.5.1996, p. 43.
(2) OJ L 88, 24.3.1998, p. 49.
(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).

(5) OJ L 146, 11.6.1999, p. 33.
(6) OJ L 28, 3.2.2000, p. 1.

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC IN THE LEONARDO DA
VINCI II AND SOCRATES II PROGRAMMES

ANNEX I

1. The Slovak Republic will participate in the activities of the Leonardo da Vinci II and Socrates II programmes
(hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programmes’) in conformity, unless otherwise provided for in this Decision, with the
objectives, criteria, procedures and deadlines as defined in Council Decision 1999/382/EC and Decision No 253/
2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing these Community action programmes.

2. In conformity with the terms of the Articles 5 of the Decisions on Leonardo da Vinci II and Socrates II and with the
provisions relating to the responsibilities of the Member States and of the Commission concerning the Leonardo da
Vinci and Socrates National Agencies adopted by the Commission, the Slovak Republic will establish the appropriate
structures for the coordinated management of the implementation of the programme actions at national level, and
will take the measures needed to ensure the adequate funding of these Agencies which will receive programme grants
for their activities. The Slovak Republic will take all other necessary steps for the efficient running of the Programmes
at national

level.

3. To participate in the Programmes, the Slovak Republic will pay each year a contribution to the general budget of the

European Communities according to the arrangements set out in Annex II.

If necessary in order to take account of programme developments, or the evolution of the Slovak Republic's
absorption capacity, the Association Committee is entitled to adapt this contribution, so as to avoid a budgetary
imbalance in the implementation of the Programmes.

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

Slovak experts may be taken into consideration by the Commission when appointing independent experts according
to the relevant provisions of the Decisions establishing the Programmes to assist it in project evaluation.

5. With a view to ensuring the Community dimension of the Programmes, in order to be eligible for Community
financial support, projects and activities will have to include a partner from at least one of the Member States of the
Community.

6. For the mobility activities referred to in Annex I, section III.1 of the Leonardo da Vinci II Decision, and for the
Socrates decentralised actions, as well as for financial support to the activities of the National Agencies set up in
accordance with point 2, funds will be allocated to the Slovak Republic on the basis of the annual programme budget
breakdown decided at Community level and the Slovak Republic's contribution to the Programme. The maximum
amount of financial support to the activities of the National Agencies will not exceed 50 % of the budget for the
National Agencies' work programmes.

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

8. Activities covered by this Decision will be exempt from imposition by the Slovak Republic of indirect taxes, customs
duties, prohibitions and restrictions on imports and exports in respect of goods and services intended for use under
such activities.

9. 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 monitoring and evaluation of the Programmes pursuant to the
Decisions on Leonardo da Vinci II and Socrates II (Articles 13 and 14 respectively), the participation of the Slovak
Republic in the Programmes will be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission of the
European Communities and the Slovak Republic. The Slovak Republic will submit to the Commission relevant
reports and take part in other specific activities set out by the Community in that context.

10. In conformity with the Community's Financial Regulations, contractual arrangements concluded with, or by, entities
of the Slovak Republic shall provide for controls and audits to be carried out by, or under the authority of, the
Commission and the Court of Auditors. As far as financial audits are concerned, they may be carried out with the
purpose of controlling such entities' income and expenditures, related to the contractual obligations towards the
Community. In a spirit of cooperation and mutual interest, the relevant authorities of the Slovak Republic shall
provide any reasonable and feasible assistance as may be necessary or helpful under the circumstances to perform
such controls and audits.

The provisions relating to the responsibilities of the Member States and of the Commission concerning the Leonardo
da Vinci and the Socrates National Agencies adopted by the Commission will apply to the relations between the
Slovak Republic, the Commission and the Slovak National Agencies. In the event of irregularity, negligence or fraud
imputable to the Slovak National Agencies, the Slovak authorities shall be responsible for the funds not recovered.

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11. Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 7 of the Decision on Leonardo da Vinci II and Article 8 of
the Decision on Socrates II, representatives of the Slovak Republic will participate as observers in the Programme
Committees, for the points which concern them. These committees shall meet without the presence of representatives
of the Slovak Republic for the rest of the points, as well as, at the time of voting.

12. The language to be used in contacts with the Commission, as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be
submitted and other administrative arrangements for the Programmes, will be any one of the official languages of the
Community.

13. The Community and the Slovak Republic may terminate activities under this Decision at any time on 12 months'
notice in writing. Projects and activities in progress at the time of termination shall continue until their completion
under the conditions laid down in this Decision.

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ANNEX II

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC TO LEONARDO DA VINCI II AND SOCRATES II

1. Leonardo da Vinci

The financial contribution to be paid by the Slovak Republic to the budget of the European Union to participate in the
Leonardo da Vinci II programme will be the following (in euro):

Year 2000

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

2 068 000

2 126 000

2 268 000

2 369 000

2 469 000

2 597 000

2 697 000

2. Socrates

The financial contribution to be paid by the Slovak Republic to the budget of the European Union to participate in the
Socrates II programme in 2000 will be EUR 2 131 000.

The contribution to be paid by the Slovak Republic for the following years of the Programme will be decided by the
Association Council

in the course of the year 2000.

3. The Slovak Republic will pay the contribution mentioned above, partly from the Slovak national budget, and partly
from the Slovak Republic's Phare National Programme. Subject to a Phare separate programming procedure, the
request Phare funds will be transferred to the Slovak Republic by means of a separate Financing Memorandum.
Together with the part coming from the Slovak Republic's State budget, these funds will constitue the Slovak
Republic's national contribution, out of which it will make payments in response to annual calls for funds from the
Commission.

4. Phare funds will be requested according to the following schedule:

— EUR 1 456 700 for the contribution to the Socrates II programme in 2000,
— for the contribution to the Leonardo da Vinci II programme, the following yearly amounts (in euro):

Year
2000

Year
2001

Year
2002

Year
2003

Year
2004

Year
2005

Year
2006

1 430 800 1 262 000 1 122 000 Amount

to be

specified later

Amount
specified later

to be

Amount
specified later

to be

Amount
specified later

to be

The remaining part of the contribution of the Slovak Republic will be covered from the Slovak State budget.

5. The Financial Regulation applicable to the General Budget of the European Communities (1) will apply, notably as

regards the management of the contribution of the Slovak Republic.

Travel costs and subsistence costs incurred by representatives and experts of the Slovak Republic for the purposes of
taking part as observers in the work of the committees referred to in Annex I, Point 11 or other meetings related to
the implementation of the Programmes shall be reimbursed by the Commission on the same basis as and in
accordance with the procedures currently in force for nongovernmental experts of the Member States of the European
Union.

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

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

The Slovak Republic will pay its contribution according to the call for funds:

— by 1 May for the part financed from its national budget, provided that the call for funds is sent by the Commission

before 1 April, or at the latest one month after the call for funds is sent if later,

— by 1 May for the part financed from Phare, provided that the corresponding amounts have been sent to the Slovak
Republic by this time, or at the latest in a period of 30 days after these funds have been sent to the Slovak
Republic.

Any delay in the payment of the contribution shall give rise to the payment of interest by the Slovak Republic on the
outstanding amount from the due date. The interest rate corresponds to the rate applied by the European Central Bank,
on the due date, for its operations in euro,

increased by 1,5 percentage points.

(1) OJ L 356, 31.12.1977, p. 1. Financial Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC, ECSC, Euratom) No 2673/1999 (OJ L 326,

18.12.1999, p. 1).