Proposal for a Council Regulation on assistance to Turkey in the framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of an Accession Partnership
Date: 2000-07-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, Türkiye, accession to the European Union, cooperation policy, economic aid

C 337 E/274

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

28.11.2000

Proposal for a Council Regulation on assistance to Turkey in the framework of the pre-accession
strategy, and in particular on the establishment of an Accession Partnership

(2000/C 337 E/43)

COM(2000) 502 final (cid:14) 2000/0205(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 28 July 2000)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) The conditions to be fulfilled by applicant countries
wishing to join the European Union were set out at the
European Council meeting in Copenhagen in June 1993.

(2) The Heads of State or Government meeting at

the
European Council in Helsinki from 10 to 11 December
the accession
1999 reaffirmed the inclusive nature of
process which now comprises 13 candidate States within
a single framework.

(3) The Heads of State or Government meeting at

the
European Council
in Helsinki stated that Turkey is a
candidate State designated to join the Union on the
the same criteria applied to other candidate
basis of
States and that building on the
existing European
like other candidate States, will benefit
strategy, Turkey,
from a pre-accession strategy to stimulate and support its
reforms.

the taking up of the acquis as well as a relevant timetable
for its implementation.

(8) It is essential to manage the available financial resources
carefully and in line with the priorities arising out of the
Accession Partnership for Turkey and the regular reports.

(9) Community assistance under the pre-accession strategy
should be provided by applying to Turkey the aid
programmes adopted in accordance with the provisions
of the Treaties; and that therefore the present Regulation
will have no financial implications.

(10) Community assistance is conditional upon respect of the
commitments contained in the EC-Turkey Agreements, the
Accession Partnership and upon progress
towards
fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria.

(11) The programming of the financial resources making up
Community assistance will be decided in accordance with
the procedures set out in the Regulations relating to the
corresponding financial instruments or programmes.

(12) It is appropriate to adopt the principles, priorities, inter-
mediate objectives and conditions applicable to the
Accession Partnership for Turkey as soon as possible, in
order to enable the Commission to establish in its regular
the
report of 2001 progress made by Turkey after
adoption of the accession partnership.

(4) The European Council in Helsinki stated that an accession
partnership will be drawn up for Turkey on the basis of
previous European Council conclusions while containing
priorities
preparations must
concentrate in the light of the political and economic
criteria and the obligations of a Member State.

on which

accession

(5) It would be

appropriate

for European Community
assistance within the framework of the Accession Part-
nership to focus on the criteria set out by previous
European Council Conclusions and be guided by defined
principles,
and
conditions.

intermediate

objectives

priorities,

(6) The Heads of State or Government meeting at

the
European Council
in Feira from 19 to 20 June invited
the Commission to present as soon as possible these
proposals.

(7) The Partnership, and in particular

intermediate
objectives,
for
assist Turkey
membership within a framework of economic and social
convergence and in developing its national programme for

in preparing

should

the

(13) The

role played by the bodies

the
Association Agreement is central to ensuring the proper
implementation and follow-up of
this Accession Part-
nership.

set up under

(14) Implementing the Accession Partnership is likely to help
achieve the Community’s objectives; the Treaty does not
provide, for the adoption of this Regulation, powers other
than those of Article 308,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

As part of the pre-accession strategy an Accession Partnership
shall be established for Turkey. The Accession Partnership shall
provide a single framework covering:

@ the priorities, as defined in the analysis of the situation in
Turkey, on which preparations
accession must
concentrate in view of the political and economic criteria
set out by previous European Council Conclusions and the
obligations
the
incumbent upon a Member State of
European Union as defined by the European Council,

for

28.11.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 337 E/275

@ the financial resources for assisting Turkey to implement
the priorities identified during the pre-accession period.

in the Regulations
set out
financial instruments or programmes.

relating to the corresponding

Article 2

Article 4

Following a proposal by the Commission, the Council shall
decide by qualified majority on the principles, priorities, inter-
mediate objectives and conditions contained in the Accession
Partnership, as it will be submitted to Turkey, as well as on
subsequent significant adjustments applicable to it.

Article 3

This regulation shall have no financial implication. Under the
pre-accession strategy, the Community assistance shall be the
assistance provided for
adopted in
accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

in the programmes

On the basis of decision taken by the Council pursuant to
Article 2, the programming of the financial resources of the
assistance granted in the framework of the Accession Part-
nership shall be established in accordance with the procedures

for continuing to grant
Where an element that is essential
pre-accession assistance is lacking,
in particular when the
commitments contained in the EC-Turkey Agreements are not
respected
the
Copenhagen criteria is insufficient, the Council, acting by a
qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may
take appropriate steps with regard to pre-accession assistance
to Turkey.

fulfilment

progress

towards

and/or

of

Article 5

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.