2002/103/EC: Decision No 8/2001 of the EU-Latvia Association Council of 16 October 2001 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Latvia in the "Culture 2000" programme
Date: 2001-10-16
Institutions: EC–Latvia Association Council
Subjects: EU programme, Latvia, association agreement (EU), cultural policy

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Official Journal of the European Communities

8.2.2002

DECISION No 8/2001 OF THE EU-LATVIA ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

of 16 October 2001

adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Latvia in the ‘Culture
2000’ programme

(2002/103/EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an Asso-
ciation between the European Communities and their Member
States, of the one part, and the Republic of Latvia, of the
other (1), concerning Latvia's participation in Community
programmes, and in particular Article 109 thereof,

Whereas:

Article 1

Latvia shall participate in the ‘Culture 2000’ programme
according to the terms and conditions set out in Annexes I and
II which shall form an integral part of this Decision.

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

Article 2

(1)

(2)

According to Article 109 of the Europe Agreement and
in
Annex XVIII
specific
Community
programmes, projects or other actions in particular in
the field of culture.

Latvia may participate
programmes,

thereto,
framework

shall apply for

It
the
programme, starting from 1 January 2001.

the duration of

‘Culture 2000’

Done at Brussels, 16 October 2001.

According to the said Article 109, the terms and condi-
tions for the participation of Latvia in this area are to be
decided by the Association Council,

For the Association Council

The President

I. BĒRZIŅŠ

(1) OJ L 26, 2.2.1998, p. 3.

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ANNEX I

Terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Latvia in the ‘Culture 2000’ programme

1. Latvia will participate in the activities of the ‘Culture 2000’ programme (hereinafter called ‘the Programme’) in
conformity, unless otherwise provided for in this Decision, with the objectives, criteria, procedures and deadlines as
defined in Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 February 2000
establishing the programme.

2. To participate in the programme, Latvia 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 Latvia's absorption capacity, the Association Committee is entitled to
adapt this contribution, so as to avoid a budgetary imbalance in the implementation of the programme.

3. The terms and conditions for the submission, assessment and selection of applications related to eligible institutions,
organisations and individuals of Latvia will be the same as those applicable to eligible institutions, organisations and
individuals of the Community. Latvian experts may be taken into consideration by the Commission when appointing
independent experts according to the relevant provisions of the decision establishing the programme to assist it in the
project evaluation.

4. With a view to ensuring the Community dimension of the Programme, in order 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.

5. The maximum amount of financial support for the activities of the cultural contact points will not exceed 50 % of the

total budget for its activities.

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 monitoring and evaluation of the programme pursuant to Article 8
of Decision No 508/2000/EC, the participation of Latvia in the programme will be continuously monitored on a
partnership basis involving the Commission of the European Communities and Latvia. Latvia will submit to the
Commission relevant reports and take part in other specific activities set out by the Community in that context.

7. In conformity with the Community's Financial Regulations, contractual arrangements concluded with, or by, entities
of Latvia 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 for 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 Latvia shall provide any reasonable and feasible assistance
as may be necessary or helpful under the circumstances to perform such controls and audits.

8. Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Article 5 of Decision No 508/2000/EC, representatives of Latvia
will participate as observers in the Management Committee for the points which concern them. This committee shall
meet without the presence of representatives of Latvia for the rest of the points, as well as at the time of voting.

9. The language to be used in all sorts of contacts with the Commission, 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.

10. The Community and Latvia may terminate activities under this Decision at any time upon 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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Official Journal of the European Communities

8.2.2002

ANNEX II

Financial contribution of the Republic of Latvia to ‘Culture 2000’

1. The financial contribution to be paid by Latvia to the general budget of the European Union to participate in the

programme will be the following:

2001

110 000

2002

110 000

2003

110 000

(in euro)

2004

110 000

2. Latvia will pay the contribution mentioned above, partly from the Latvian national budget, and partly from Latvia's
PHARE national programme. Subject to a PHARE separate programming procedure, the requested PHARE funds will
be transferred to Latvia by means of a separate Financing Memorandum. Together with the part coming from Latvia's
State budget, these funds will constitute Latvia's national contribution, out of which it will make payments in
response to annual calls for funds from the Commission.

3. PHARE funds will be requested according to the following schedule:

2001

93 000

2002

90 800

2003

88 600

(in euro)

2004

86 400

The remaining part of the contribution of Latvia will come from the Latvian State budget.

4. The Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities will apply, in particular to

the management of the contribution of Latvia.

Travel costs and subsistence costs incurred by representatives and experts of Latvia for the purposes of taking part as
observers in the work of
the committee referred to in Annex I, point 8 or other meetings related to the
implementation of the programme shall be reimbursed by the Commission on the same basis as and in accordance
with the procedures currently in force for non-governmental experts of the Member States of the European Union.

5. After the entry into force of this Decision and at the beginning of each following year, the Commission will send to
Latvia a call for funds corresponding to its contribution to the budget of the programme under this Decision.

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

Latvia 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 Latvia
by this time, or at the latest within a period of 30 days after these funds have been sent to Latvia.

Any delay in the payment of the contribution shall give rise to the payment of interest by Latvia on the outstanding
amount from the due date. The interest rate corresponds to the rate applied by the European Central Bank, on the
increased by 1,5 percentage points.
due date, for its operations in euro,