Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in Community programmes in the fields of training, education and youth
Date: 2000-12-22
Institutions: Cyprus, European Community
Subjects: Cyprus, EU programme, agreement (EU), education, vocational training, young person

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Official Journal of the European Communities

31.1.2001

between the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus adopting the terms and conditions
for the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in Community programmes in the fields of training,
education and youth

AGREEMENT

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

of the one part, and

THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS, hereinafter referred to as Cyprus,

of the other part,

Whereas:

Council Decision 1999/382/EC of 26 April 1999 estab-
lishing the second phase of the Community vocational
training action programme ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ (1), and
in particular Article 10 thereof, and Decision No 253/
2000/EC of 24 January 2000 of the European Parlia-
ment and of the Council establishing the second phase
of the Community action programme in the field of
education ‘Socrates’ (2), and in particular Article 12
thereof, and Decision No 1031/2000/EC of 13 April
2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council
establishing
action
programme (3), and in particular Article 11 thereof,
provide that these programmes shall be open to the
participation of Cyprus.

Community

‘Youth’

the

Article 1

Cyprus shall participate, from 2001, in the second phase of the
European Community action programmes Leonardo da Vinci
and Socrates (‘Leonardo da Vinci II’ and ‘Socrates II’) and in the
‘Youth’ Community action programme (‘Youth’) according to
the terms and conditions set out in Annexes I and II which
shall form an integral part of this Agreement.

Article 2

This Agreement shall apply from 1 January 2001 until the end
of the programmes.

Article 3

This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories
in which the Treaty establishing the European Community is
applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and,
on the other, to the territory of Cyprus.

Article 4

Cyprus has expressed the wish to participate in these
programmes.

The participation of Cyprus in these programmes consti-
tutes a significant step in the pre-accession strategy of
Cyprus as set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 555/
2000 of 13 March 2000 on the implementation of
operations
the pre-accession
strategy for the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of
Malta (4),

in the framework of

This Agreement shall enter into force on the day of the noti-
fication by the Contracting Parties of the completion of their
respective procedures.

Article 5

This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch,
English, French, Finnish, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese,
Spanish and Swedish languages, each of
these texts being
equally authentic.

Done at Brussels, 22 December 2000.

For the European Community

For the Republic of Cyprus

(1)

(2)

(3)

(1) OJ L 146, 11.6.1999, p. 33.
(2) OJ L 28, 3.2.2000, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 117, 18.5.2000, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 68, 16.3.2000, p. 3.

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Terms and conditions for the participation of Cyprus in Leonardo da Vinci II, Socrates II and Youth

ANNEX I

1. Cyprus will participate in Leonardo da Vinci II, Socrates II and Youth (‘Programmes’) in conformity, unless otherwise
provided in this Agreement, with the objectives, criteria, procedures and deadlines as defined in Decision 1999/
382/EC, Decision No 253/2000/EC and Decision No 1031/2000/EC. It will participate in all the activities of the
Programmes, with the exception of certain activities within Youth which are devoted to cooperation with third
countries which are not full participants in that programme.

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

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

Union according to the detailed arrangements described in Annex II.

If necessary in order to take into account programme developments, or the evolution of Cyprus's absorption capacity,
the Association Council is entitled to adapt this contribution, so as to avoid budgetary imbalance in the implementa-
tion of the programmes.

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

Cypriot 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 the project evaluation.

5. With a view to ensuring the Community dimension of the Programmes, to be eligible for Community financial
support, projects and activities will have to include at least a partner from 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 actions
to be managed on a decentralised basis within Socrates and Youth, as well as for financial support to the activities of
the National Agencies set up in accordance with point 2 of this Annex, funds will be allocated to Cyprus on the basis
of
the annual programme budget breakdown decided at Community level and Cyprus'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 Cyprus will make every effort, within the framework of existing
provisions, to facilitate the free movement and residence of students, teachers, trainees, trainers, university adminis-
trators, young people and other eligible persons moving between Cyprus and the Member States of the Community
for the purpose of participating in activities covered by this Agreement.

8. Activities covered by this Agreement shall be exempt from imposition by Cyprus 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 concerning Leonardo da Vinci
II, Socrates II and Youth (Articles 13, 14 and 13 respectively), the
participation of Cyprus in the programmes will be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the
Commission of the European Communities and Cyprus. Cyprus 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
Cyprus 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 Cyprus 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, Socrates and Youth National Agencies adopted by the Commission will apply to the relations between
Cyprus, the Commission and the Cypriot National Agencies.
In the event of irregularity, negligence or fraud
imputable to the Cypriot National Agencies, the Cypriot 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 respective
Articles 8 of the Decisions on Socrates II and Youth, representatives of Cyprus will participate as observers in the
Programme Committees, for the points which concern them. These committees shall meet without the presence of
representatives of Cyprus for the rest of the points, as well as at the time of voting.

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

13. The Community and Cyprus may terminate activities under this Agreement at any time upon twelve 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 Agreement.

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Financial contribution of Cyprus to Leonardo da Vinci II, Socrates II and Youth

ANNEX II

1. Leonardo da Vinci

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

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

497 000

529 000

552 000

574 000

603 000

626 000

2. Socrates

The financial contribution to be paid by Cyprus to the general budget of the European Union to participate in the
Socrates II programme will be the following (in euro):

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

681 000

697 000

712 000

731 000

753 000

780 000

3. Youth

The financial contribution to be paid by Cyprus to the general budget of the European Union to participate in the
Youth programme will be the following (in euro):

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

533 000

565 000

598 000

627 000

658 000

698 000

4. Cyprus will pay the contribution mentioned above partly from the Cypriot national budget, and partly from Cyprus's
pre-accession funds. Subject to a separate programming procedure within the framework of Regulation (EC) No
555/2000, the requested pre-accession funds will be transferred to Cyprus by means of a separate Financing
Memorandum. Together with the part coming from Cyprus's State budget, these funds will constitute Cyprus's
national contribution, out of which it will make payments in response to annual calls for funds from the Commission.

5. The pre-accession funds will be requested according to the following schedule:

— for the contribution to the Leonardo da Vinci II programme, the following yearly amounts (in euro)

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

200 000

200 000

200 000

200 000

200 000

150 000

— for the contribution to the Socrates II programme, the following yearly amounts (in euro)

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

400 000

350 000

300 000

300 000

200 000

150 000

— for the contribution to the Youth programme, the following yearly amounts (in euro)

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

400 000

300 000

250 000

200 000

200 000

150 000

The remaining part of the contribution of Cyprus will be covered from the Cypriot State budget.

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6. The financial regulation applicable to the general budget of

the European Union will apply, notably to the

management of the contribution of Cyprus.

Travel costs and subsistence costs incurred by representatives and experts of Cyprus 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.

7. After the entry into force of this Agreement and at the beginning of each following year, the Commission will send to
Cyprus a call for funds corresponding to its contribution to each of the respective programmes under this Agreement.

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

Cyprus 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 the pre-accession funds, provided that the corresponding amounts have been
sent to Cyprus by this time, or at the latest in a period of 30 days after these funds have been sent to Cyprus.

Any delay in the payment of the contribution shall give rise to the payment of interest by Cyprus 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.