2002/136/EC: Decision No 6/2001 of the EU-Poland Association Council of 25 October 2001 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Poland in the Culture 2000 programme
Date: 2001-10-25
Institutions: EC–Poland Association Council
Subjects: EU programme, Poland, cultural policy, financing of the EU budget

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Official Journal of the European Communities

20.2.2002

DECISION No 6/2001 OF THE EU-POLAND ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

of 25 October 2001

adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Poland in the Culture
2000 programme

(2002/136/EC)

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

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

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

the Additional Protocol,
According to Article 1 of
in Community framework
Poland may participate
programmes, specific programmes, projects or other
actions in particular in the field of culture.

According to Article 2 of the said Protocol, the terms
and conditions for the participation of Poland in this
area are to be decided by the Association Council,

Article 1

Poland 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.

Article 2

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

It shall apply for the duration of the Culture 2000 programme,
starting from 1 January 2001.

Done at Brussels, 25 October 2001.

For the Association Council

The President

W. CIMOSZEWICZ

(1) OJ L 317, 30.12.1995, p. 35.

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ANNEX I

Terms and conditions for the participation of the Republic of Poland in the Culture 2000 programme

1. Poland 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, Poland 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 Poland'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 Poland will be the same as those applicable to eligible institutions, organisations and
individuals of the Community. Polish 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 Poland in the programme will be continuously monitored on a
partnership basis involving the Commission of the European Communities and Poland. Poland 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 Poland 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 Poland 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 Poland
will participate as observers in the Management Committee for the points which concern them. This committee shall
meet without the presence of representatives of Poland 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 Poland 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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ANNEX II

Financial contribution of the Republic of Poland to Culture 2000

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

programme will be the following:

(in EUR)

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

1 546 225

1 546 225

1 546 225

1 546 225

2. Poland will pay the contribution mentioned above, partly from the Polish national budget, and partly from Poland's
PHARE National Programme. Subject to a PHARE separate programming procedure, the requested PHARE funds will
be transferred to Poland by means of a separate Financing Memorandum. Together with the part coming from Poland's
State budget, these funds will constitute Poland'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:

(in EUR)

Year 2001

Year 2002

Year 2003

Year 2004

1 370 304

1 301 781

1 136 352

1 068 832

The remaining part of the contribution of Poland will come from the Polish 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 Poland.

Travel costs and subsistence costs incurred by representatives and experts of Poland for the purposes of taking part as
observers in the work of the committee referred to in Annex I(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
Poland 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.

Poland 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 Poland

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

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