Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the financial contribution of the Slovak Republic for participation in the Socrates and Youth programmes in the years 2001 to 2006
Date: 2001-01-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, Slovakia, financial agreement, teaching, youth exchange scheme

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 15.01.2001
COM(2001) 14 final

2001/0019 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the financial
contribution of the Slovak Republic for participation in the Socrates and Youth
programmes in the years 2001 to 2006

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Helsinki European Council of December 1999 confirmed the enlargement process
launched at its meeting of December 1997 in Luxembourg. The enhanced Pre-Accession
Strategy defined in 1997 has been reiterated, which includes the participation of the 13
candidate States in Community programmes as an important part of such strategy.

As regards the ten candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs), participation
in Community programmes is provided in their respective Europe Agreements. Pursuant to
the Europe Agreements, the conditions and modalities of these countries’ participation are
defined by the respective Association Councils.

In the case of the education, training and youth programmes, all the CEECs have been
participating in 1999 in the first phase of the Leonardo da Vinci and of the Socrates
programmes, and in the Youth for Europe programme, which expired on 31 December 1999.
Their participation in these programmes has been an important element in these countries’
pre-accession process.

Moreover, Association Council decisions have already been adopted in 2000 to allow them to
participate in the second phase of Leonardo da Vinci, the second phase of Socrates, and the
new Youth programme, which have taken the place of the previous programmes as from 2000.
The CEECs have thus participated in these new programmes since their beginning, and the
activities undertaken within the first generation of programmes have been able to continue
within the successor programmes without any interruption.

For the Socrates and Youth programmes, the Association Council decisions adopted in 2000,
which apply until the end of the programmes, establish the financial contribution to be paid by
each CEEC for participation in the year 2000, and specify that their financial contribution for
the following years will be decided by the respective Association Councils in the course of
the year 2000. The Commission has calculated this contribution on the basis of the budgets
for the programmes concerned. All the CEECs have confirmed their agreement, and indicated
their willingness to pay their financial contribution partly from their national budget, and
partly from their annual Phare allocation. As provided in the conclusions of the meeting of the
European Council in Luxembourg of 12 and 13 December 1997, these countries’ financial
contributions of their own are steadily increasing.

Therefore, the Commission now proposes to the Council to specify the financial contribution
of each CEEC to Socrates and Youth for the years 2001 to 2006 in a new decision, which will
complete the decisions of the respective Association Councils adopting the terms and
conditions for the participation of these countries in the Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci
programme on one part, and the Youth programme on the other.

Accordingly, the Council is invited to adopt the annexed proposal for a Council Decision
concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the financial
contribution of the Slovak Republic for participation in the Socrates and Youth programmes
in the years 2001 to 2006.

2

2001/0019 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the financial
contribution of the Slovak Republic for participation in the Socrates and Youth
programmes in the years 2001 to 2006

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles
149 and 150, in conjunction with Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Decision 2/2000 of 24 July 2000 of the Association Council between the European
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of
the other part1, has adopted the terms and conditions for the participation of the Slovak
Republic in the second phase of the Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates programmes, and
it applies for the duration of these programmes.

Decision 3/2000 of 19 September 2000 of the Association Council between the
European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Slovak
Republic, of the other part2 , has adopted the terms and conditions for the participation
of the Slovak Republic in the Youth programme, and it applies for the duration of this
programme.

Annex II, point 2 of Decision 2/2000, and annex II, point 1 of Decision 3/2000 provide
that the financial contribution to be paid by the Slovak Republic to the budget of the
European Union to participate in these programmes in the years 2001 to 2006 will be
decided by the Association Council in the course of the year 2000,

1

2

OJ L 278, 31.10.2000, p. 17.
OJ L …, …2001, p. …

3

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

The position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council established by the
Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one
part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, concerning the financial contribution of the
Slovak Republic for participation in the Socrates and Youth programmes in the years 2001 to
2006, is the attached draft decision of the Association Council.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

4

Draft

DECISION N° …/ 2001 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 .....

establishing the financial contribution of the Slovak Republic for participation in the
Socrates and Youth programmes in the years 2001 to 2006

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

Having regard to the Additional Protocol
to the Europe Agreement establishing an
Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part,
and the Slovak Republic, of the other, concerning the Slovak Republic’s participation in
Community programmes, and in particular Articles 1 and 2 thereof3;

Whereas :

(1)

(2)

(3)

Decision 2/2000 of 24 July 2000 of the Association Council between the European
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of
the other part4, has adopted the terms and conditions for the participation of the Slovak
Republic in the second phase of the Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates programmes, and
it applies for the duration of these programmes.

Decision 3/2000 of 19 September 2000 of the Association Council between the
European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Slovak
Republic, of the other part5, has adopted the terms and conditions for the participation
of the Slovak Republic in the Youth programme, and it applies for the duration of this
programme.

Annex II, point 2 of Decision 2/2000, and annex II, point 1 of Decision 3/2000 provide
that the financial contribution to be paid by the Slovak Republic to the budget of the
European Union to participate in these programmes in the years 2001 to 2006 will be
decided by the Association Council in the course of the year 2000,

3

4

5

OJ L 115, 9.5.1996, p. 43.
OJ L 278, 31.10.2000, p. 17.
OJ L …, …2001, p. …

5

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

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 the years 2001 to 2006 will be the
following (in

):

€

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

2 398 000

2 459 000

2 515 000

2 586 000

2 665 000

2 768 000

Article 2

The financial contribution to be paid by the Slovak Republic to the budget of the European
Union to participate in the Youth programme in the years 2001 to 2006 will be the following
(in

) :

€

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

1 235 000

1 310 000

1 387 000

1 457 000

1 529 000

1 624 000

PHARE funds will be requested according to the following schedule :

Article 3

–

–

€

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

)

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

1 409 000

1 205 000

Amount to be
specified later

Amount to be
specified later

Amount to be
specified later

Amount to be
specified later
€

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

)

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

Year 2005

Year 2006

730 000

646 000

Amount to be
specified later

Amount to be
specified later

Amount to be
specified later

Amount to be
specified later

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

6

Article 4

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Association Council
The President

7

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1.

TITLE OF OPERATION

Participation of the Slovak Republic in Socrates and Youth in 2001-2006

2.

BUDGET HEADING INVOLVED

B7-030 Economic aid to the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe
6091 Revenue accruing from the participation of the associated countries of central
Europe in Community programmes

3.

LEGAL BASIS

Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 149 and 150,
in conjunction with Article 300(2) thereof ;

the Additional Protocol
providing for the participation in Community programmes ;

to the Europe Agreement with the Slovak Republic,

Decisions 2/2000 of 24 July 2000 and 3/2000 of 19 September 2000 of the
Association Council between the European Communities and their Member States,
of the one part, and the Slovak Republic, of the other part, and in particular annex II
thereof ;

4.

4.1

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION

General objective

The Europe Agreement with the Slovak Republic provides for the Slovak Republic’s
participation in Community programmes in a wide range of areas, among which
education and youth.

Its participation will not only contribute towards the implementation of
the
provisions relating to economic and cultural cooperation in the Europe Agreement,
but will also enable the Slovak Republic to familiarise itself with the procedures and
methods used in Community programmes.

The Slovak Republic has been participating in the first phase of the Leonardo da
Vinci and Socrates programmes, and in the Youth for Europe programme, since
1 April 1998. In line with the Commission communication “Agenda 2000” of
16.7.1997 and of the conclusions of the European Council in Luxemburg, the Slovak
Republic’s participation in these programmes has been part of the reinforced
preaccession strategy which assist this country in its preparation for future accession
to the Union.

8

The decision-making process for the opening-up of programmes involves a decision
by the Association Council between the Union and the Slovak Republic. The
decision of the Association Council establishing the participation of the Slovak
Republic in the first generation of programmes in the field of training, education and
youth has expired on 31 December 1999. Two other Association Council decisions,
one for Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates, and one for Youth, have been adopted in
2000 to allow the Slovak participation to be carried on in the new generation of
programmes,
starting from 2000. These two Association Council decisions
established the financial contribution of the Slovak Republic to Socrates and Youth
for the year 2000, but not for the years 2001 to 2006.

A new Association Council decision is thus needed to complete the former ones.

4.2

Period covered and arrangements for renewal

Until the end of the Community programmes concerned, i.e. 31.12.2006.

5.

5.1

5.2

5.3

CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE

Non-compulsory expenditure

Differentiated appropriations

Type of revenue involved

that

the Community may supplement

Since Article 3 of the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement stipulates that
the Slovak Republic itself will meet the costs resulting from its participation, it will
be invited to pay a contribution for participating in the programmes. As the same
article states
the Slovak Republic’s
contribution, the Slovak Republic will contribute only part from its national budget.
The remaining part of its contribution will be taken from its PHARE National
Programme. The required PHARE funds will be charged to heading B7-030, and
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 constitute the Slovak Republic’s national contribution, out of which it will make
payments in response to annual calls for funds from the Commission. The total
contribution, once paid by the Slovak Republic, will be transferred to item 6091 of
the EU’s budget receipts.

6.

TYPE OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE

– 100% subsidy

– Subsidy for joint financing with other sources in the public and/or private sector

– No provision for all or part of the Community contribution to be reimbursed

– As far as revenue is concerned, provision for the Slovak Republic’s contribution
to cover the cost of its participation is made under item 6091. The revenue will be
allocated to the items for expenditure on the two programmes in question and,

9

where appropriate, to the relevant
revenue expected is given under item 7.4.

items of operating expenditure. The total

7.

7.1

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Method of calculating total cost of operation (relation between individual and
total costs)

Based on the Europe Agreement with the Slovak Republic,
budgetary arrangements for the two programmes concerned are as follows:
Slovak Republic’s contribution takes into account two elements :

the financial and
the

- the foreseeable operational costs, which have been calculated on the basis of the
programme budgets,
the country’s estimated take-up capacity, and previous
experience of its participation in the first phase of the Socrates programme, and in
the Youth for Europe programme,

- the foreseeable administrative costs, corresponding to the meetings and missions.
These estimated administrative costs amount yearly to 50 000
for Socrates, and
19 000

for Youth.

€

€

The Slovak Republic will use part of its national PHARE annual programme as a
complement to its state budget to finance its contribution to the operational costs.

7.2

Itemised breakdown of cost (in

€
)

Socrates

2 398 000

2 459 000

2 515 000

2 586 000

2 665 000

2 768 000

15 391 000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Total

Origin: National budget

989 000

1 254 000

To be
specified
later*

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

2 243 000

of which administrative
costs Part B (see point 7.3)

of which administrative
costs Part A (see point 10)

66 000

67 000

69 000

71 000

73 000

76 000

422 000

50 000

50 000

50 000

50 000

50 000

50 000

300 000

Origin: PHARE funds

1 409 000

1 205 000

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

2 614 000

Youth

1 235 000

1 310 000

1 387 000

1 457 000

1 529 000

1 624 000

Origin: National budget

505 000

664 000

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

8 542 000

1 169 000

of which administrative
costs Part B (see point 7.3)

of which administrative
costs Part A (see point 10)

51 000

54 000

57 000

60 000

63 000

67 000

352 000

19 000

19 000

19 000

19 000

19 000

19 000

114 000

Origin: PHARE funds

730 000

646 000

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

1 376 000

*the breakdown between Phare funds and the national budget will be specified in the framework of the Phare
programming procedures

10

7.3

Operational expenditure for studies, experts etc. included in Part B of the
budget

p.m. : up to a maximum in proportion to the appropriations of that kind in the
EUR 15 allocations for Socrates and Youth, but within the limits allowed by the part
of the contribution which comes from the country's national budget.

7.4

Schedule of commitment and payment appropriations

Amounts to be charged to item B7-030

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

TOTAL

Comm. app.

2 139 000 1 851 000

To be
specified
later*

Pay. app.

2 139 000 1 851 000

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

To be
specified
later

3 990 000

3 990 000

To be
specified
later

*the breakdown between Phare funds and the national budget will be specified in the framework of
the Phare programming procedures

The foreseeable annual receipts are as follows:

Item 6091

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

TOTAL

operational
part

administrative
part

3 564 000

3 700 000

3 833 000

3 974 000

4 125 000

4 323 000 23 519 000

69 000

69 000

69 000

69 000

69 000

69 000

414 000

TOTAL

3 633 000

3 769 000

3 902 000

4 043 000

4 194 000

4 392 000 23 933 000

8.

FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES

All the Commission’s contracts, agreements and other legal commitments provide
for on-the-spot checks by the Commission and Court of Auditors. Among other
things, the beneficiaries of the operations are obliged to file reports and financial
statements. These are analysed from the point of view of their content and the
eligibility of the expenditure in line with the objective of Community financing.

The anti-fraud provisions of the basic budget headings apply to this heading too
when adapted to the case of the countries of Central Europe.

11

9.

9.1

ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS

Specific and quantified objectives; target population

The essential aim of Community action on education and youth is to enable all
European citizens to achieve their full potential and to display initiative and
creativity so that they can participate fully in society and in the building of Europe.

The target population comprises students, teachers, pupils, educational institutions,
youth organisations, young people aged 15 to 25 living in one or several Member
States, decision-makers in the field of educational and youth policies.

9.2

Grounds for the operation

– Need for Community financial aid

In view of the high cost of participation in the programmes and the Slovak
Republic’s precarious budgetary situation, assistance from PHARE is essential.

– Choice of ways and means

With a contribution from the national budget, supplemented by one from PHARE,
the Slovak Republic’s integration in the programmes concerned will allow its
citizens to cooperate with their counterparts in the current EU Member States. The
integration of Slovak nationals in Community networks will make a definite
contribution to preparing the Slovak Republic for future membership

– Main factors of uncertainty which could affect the specific results of the operation

Since projects will be selected according to qualitative criteria,
it will only be
possible to measure the real impact on the basis of Slovak institutions’ capacity to
launched by the Commission under the two
respond to the calls for proposal
programmes.

9.3

Monitoring and evaluation of the operation

The monitoring and evaluation procedures included in the Socrates II and Youth
programmes (notably in respect of evaluation, as included in the decisions
establishing the two programmes) will also cover operations financed for Slovak
beneficiaries.

10.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE (SECTION III, PART A OF THE BUDGET)

Actual mobilization of the necessary administrative resources will depend on the
Commission’s annual decision on the allocation of resources, taking into account the
number of staff and additional amounts authorized by the budgetary authority.

12

10.1

Effect on the number of posts

Type of post

Staff to be assigned to managing
the operation

Permanent
posts

Temporary
posts

Officials or
temporary staff

A
B
C

Other resources

Total

1

1

2

Source

Duration

Additional
resources

2001-2006

Existing
resources in
the DG or
department
concerned

1

1

2

10.2

Overall financial impact of the human resources

Amounts

Method of calculation (total cost for the period 2001-2006)

EUR

Officials (*)

1 296 000

2 men x 6 years x 108 000

Temporary staff

Other resources

Total

1 296 000

(*) By using existing resources required to manage the operation (Calculation based on titles A1, A2, A4, A5 and A7)

13

10.3

Increase in other administrative expenditure as a result of the operation

EUR

Budget heading

Amounts Method of calculation (yearly cost of the action)

A 7010 -missions

12 000

1100 EURO x 11 yearly missions

A 7031 -committees

22 000

Travel allowance and subsistence allowance for 23 participants in
two-days meetings*

A 7030 - other meetings

26 000

9 000

Travel allowance and subsistence allowance for 27 participants in
two-days meetings*

Travel allowance and subsistence allowance for Slovak experts
participating in 2 meetings of 7 days in average and 4 two-days
meetings

Total

69 000

* 2 representatives in 10 committee and subcommittee meetings (8 for Socrates and 2 for
Youth), and 1 representative in 3 Socrates subcommittee meetings

2 representatives in 4 Youth meetings, and 1 participant in 19 Socrates meetings

The above expenditure will be met from the receipts (article 4 par.2, third indent of the
financial regulation) received from the Slovak Republic (see point 5.3 and 7.4 of the financial
statement).

14

*
*
*