Proposal for a Council Decision on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Romania
Date: 2001-11-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Union, Romania, accession to the European Union, aid system, cooperation policy

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 13.11.2001
COM(2001) 660 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the
Accession Partnership with Romania

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

At its meeting in Luxembourg in December 1997, the European Council decided that the
Accession Partnership would be the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession strategy,
In
mobilising all forms of assistance to the candidate countries within a single framework.
this manner,
the Community targets its assistance towards the specific needs of each
candidate so as to provide support for overcoming particular problems with a view to
accession.

The first Accession Partnership for Romania was decided in March 1998.
In line with the
provisions laid down in Regulation (EC) No. 622/981 (article 2), the Partnership was updated
a first time in December 1999, taking into account further developments in Romania. Based
on the analysis of the Commission's 2001 Regular Report on progress made by Romania
towards accession, the Commission considers that the time has come for a further revision of
the priorities and intermediate objectives identified in the Accession Partnership. The present
proposal for such a revision draws on the findings of the Commission's 2001 Regular Report
on progress made by Romania towards accession.

The attached decision does not have financial implications.

In view of the above, the Commission invites the Council to adopt the attached decision.

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OJ L 85, 20.3.1998, p. 1

2

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the
Accession Partnership with Romania

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 622/98 of 16 March 1998 on assistance to the
applicant States in the framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the
establishment of Accession Partnerships,2 and in particular to Article 2 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

The Luxembourg European Council stated that the Accession Partnership is a new
instrument and the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession strategy;

Regulation (EC) No 622/98 sets out that the Council is to decide, by a qualified
majority and following a proposal from the Commission, on the principles, priorities,
intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the individual Accession
Partnerships, as they are submitted to each applicant State, as well as on subsequent
significant adjustments applicable to them;

Community assistance is conditional on the fulfilment of essential elements, and in
particular on the respect of the commitments contained in the Europe Agreements and
on progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria; where an essential element
is lacking,
the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the
Commission, may take appropriate steps with regard to any pre-accession assistance;

The Luxembourg European Council decided that the implementation of the Accession
Partnership and progress in adopting the acquis will be examined in the Europe
Agreement bodies;

The 2001 Commission's Regular Report presents an objective analysis on Romania's
preparations for membership and identifies a number of priority areas for further work;

In order to prepare for membership, Romania should continue to update its national
programme for the adoption of the acquis; this programme should set out a timetable
for achieving the priorities and intermediate objectives established in the Accession
Partnership;

2

OJ L 85, 20.3.1998, p. 1

3

(7)

Romania needs to ensure that the appropriate legal and administrative structures
needed for the programming, co-ordination, management, control and evaluation of
EC pre-accession funds are in place;

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

the principles, priorities,
In accordance with Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 622/98,
intermediate objectives and conditions in the Accession Partnership for Romania are set out in
the Annex hereto, which forms an integral part of this Decision.

The implementation of the Accession Partnership shall be examined in the Europe Agreement
bodies and by the appropriate Council bodies to which the Commission shall report regularly.

Article 2

Article 3

This Decision shall take effect on the third day following that of its publication in the Official
Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council
The President

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ANNEX

1.

INTRODUCTION

At its meeting in Luxembourg in December 1997, the European Council decided that the
Accession Partnership would be the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession strategy,
mobilising al forms of assistance to the candidate countries within a single framework. In this
manner, the Community targets its assistance towards the specific needs of each candidate so
as to provide support for overcoming particular problems with a view to accession.

The first Accession Partnership for Romania was decided in March 1998. As provided for in
Regulation (EC) No. 622/98 (article 2), the Accession Partnership was updated a first time in
December 1999, taking into account further developments in Romania. The present revision
is based on a proposal by the Commission following consultation with Romania, and draws
on the analysis of the Commission's 2001 Regular Report on progress made by Romania
towards accession.

2.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the priority areas
for further work identified in the Commission’s 2001 Regular Reports on the progress made
by Romania towards membership of the Union, the financial means available to help Romania
implement
these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that assistance. The
Accession Partnership provides the basis for a number of policy instruments which will be
used to help the candidate States in their preparations for membership. These include inter
alia the updated National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis prepared by Romania,
the pre-accession fiscal surveillance procedure, the Pre-accession Economic Programme, the
Pre-accession pact on organised crime as well as the National Development Plans, the Rural
Developments Plans, a national employment strategy in line with the European Employment
Strategy,
and sectoral plans necessary for the participation in the Structural Funds after
membership and for the implementation of ISPA and SAPARD before accession. Each of
these instruments is different in nature and is prepared and implemented according to specific
procedures and may be supported by pre-accession aid. They are not an integral part of this
Partnership but the priorities they contain will be compatible with it.

3.

PRINCIPLES

The main priority areas identified for each candidate State relate to their ability to take on the
obligations of meeting the Copenhagen criteria which state that membership requires:

•

•

•

that the candidate State has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the
rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;

the existence of a functioning market economy, as well as the capacity to cope with
competitive pressure and market forces within the Union;

the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of
political, economic and monetary union.

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At its meeting in Madrid in 1995, the European Council stressed the need for the candidate
States to adjust their administrative structures to ensure harmonious operation of Community
policies after accession and at Luxembourg, in 1997, it stressed that incorporation of the
acquis into legislation is necessary, but not in itself sufficient; it is necessary to ensure that it
is actually applied. The Feira and Gothenburg European Councils in 2000 and 2001
respectively confirmed the vital importance of the applicant countries’ capacity to implement
and enforce the acquis, and added that this required important efforts by the applicants in
strengthening and reforming their administrative and judicial structures.

4.

PRIORITIES AND INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVES

The Commission’s Regular Reports have highlighted, besides the progress already made, the
extent of the efforts which still have to be made in certain areas by candidate States to prepare
for accession. This situation requires the definition of intermediate stages in terms of
priorities, each to be accompanied by precise objectives to be set in collaboration with the
states concerned, the achievement of which will condition the degree of assistance granted
and the progress of the negotiations under way with Romania. The priorities listed in the
revised Accession Partnership have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to expect that
Romania can complete or take them substantially forward over the next two years (2002 –
2003). Within this list, issues that require particularly urgent action have been highlighted as
such. The progress made in meeting the priorities of the 1999 Accession Partnership is
assessed in the 2001 Regular Report. This assessment has been used in formulating the
priorities for the current Partnership.

Romania submitted an updated version of its National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) on 29 June 2001. The NPAA sets out a timetable for achieving priorities and
intermediate objectives, based on the 1999 Accession Partnership, as well as necessary
administrative structures and financial resources.

the priority areas

for Romania’s membership
The Accession Partnership indicates
preparations. Romania will nevertheless have to address all issues identified in the 2001
Regular Report.
It is also important that Romania fulfils the commitments of legislative
approximation and the implementation of the acquis in accordance with the commitments
made under the Europe Agreement, and in the context of the negotiation process. It should be
recalled that incorporation of the acquis into legislation is not in itself sufficient; it will also
be necessary to ensure that it is actually applied to the same standards as those which apply
within the Union. In all of the areas listed below there is a need for credible and effective
implementation and enforcement of the acquis.

Drawing on the analysis of the Commission’s Regular Report, the following priorities and
intermediate objectives have been identified for Romania. These priorities are presented in
accordance with the structure of the Regular Report3

Political criteria

Democracy and the rule of law
- Develop the policy framework set by the 1999 law on Civil servants by introducing and

implementing necessary secondary legislation.

3 The order of presentation is that used as from the 2000 Regular Report.

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- Adopt and implement a comprehensive public administration reform package. Issues
addressed should include (i) devising mechanisms to ensure the political independence
and accountability of civil servants, (ii) improved provisions for both initial and in-service
training, and (iii) a career structure based on transparent promotion and assessment.
- Enhance policy formulation by (i) improving policy co-ordination and consultation
procedures between ministries, (ii) consulting stakeholders - in
particular the social
partners and representatives from civil society, and (iii) screening all draft legislation for
its budgetary implications as well as compatibility with the Europe Agreement, the acquis
communautaire, and international obligations.

- Reduce the reliance on ordinances, and emergency ordinances, as a legislative tool.
-

Provide adequate resources to the local levels of government to allow resources to match
responsibilities.

-

Intensify the fight against corruption by (i) clarifying the competencies of all bodies
involved in anti-corruption activities, ensuring improved co-ordination between these
bodies, and strengthening their
ratifying relevant
international conventions against corruption, and (iii) introducing the notion of criminal
liability of legal persons into Romanian Criminal Law.

implementation capacities

(ii)

- Guarantee the independence of the judiciary. Improve its functioning by introducing
objective criteria for recruitment and career development for judges and prosecutors, and
ensuring appropriate initial and in-service training of judges, prosecutors and law clerks
through continued support to the National Institute for the Magistracy and the Training
Centre for Law Clerks. Widen the availability of legal aid.

-

Improve the enforcement of civil decisions.

– Develop an effective probation system and limit the use of pre-trial detention.
- Continue police reform by (i) adopting the draft laws on police organisation and the
statute of police officers (ii) completing the demilitarisation of police forces and (iii)
bringing police officers under the jurisdiction of civilian courts.

- Revise those sections of the Penal Code dealing with verbal outrage and offence against
authorities in order to ensure that they do not inhibit legitimate freedom of expression.

Human rights and the protection of minorities
- Complete the reform of the child care system in accordance with the National Strategy on
the Protecton of Children in Need. The reform should (i) include adequate budgetary
support for all children in care (ii) address the particular problems of children with chronic
diseases and handicaps (iii) address the particular problems of young adults leaving
institutions, and (iv) work towards closure of the existing special schools through the
development of an inclusive education system.

- Maintain the moratorium on international adoption in place until new legislation
compatible with the best interests of the child and Romania's international obligations is
adopted and the administrative capacity to implement the new legislation is ensured.

-

Provide adequate financial support and administrative capacity in order to implement the
Government Strategy on the improvement of the situation of Roma.

- Ensure that an efficient system for examining complaints of police misconduct
established and functions properly; access by Roma to this system should be ensured.

is

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-

Provide adequate financial support and administrative capacity in order to adopt and
implement the national strategy on the improvement of the situation of persons with
handicap.

- Establish and ensure the due functioning of institutions to prevent and combat all forms of

discrimination.

Economic criteria

– Establish macroeconomic stability, in particular through the implementation of structural

reforms.

– Promote competitiveness through market-driven enterprise restructuring including: (i)
continuing the privatisation process with a view to completing the Government's
programme (ii) taking measures to stimulate domestic and foreign investment, (iii)
simplification of legal and administrative procedures, (iv) implementing new bankruptcy
procedures, and (v) stabilising and increasing the transparency of the rules governing
privatisation and business operation.

– Implement a plan for restructuring the steel sector in line with EC requirements and

implement viability plans in the steel enterprises.

– Implement a restructuring plan for the national air carrier aimed at reducing financial

losses.

– Speed up the creation of a functioning land market by developing a policy for agricultural
land consolidation, completing the issuance of land titles and strengthening property rights.

– Develop a policy framework for rural credit and rural financial infrastructure compatible

with IFI and EC financial support.

– Create an SME-friendly economic and legal environment, and in particular continue

simplification of registration and licensing procedures.

Ability to assume the obligations of membership

Free movement of goods

– Continue implementation of New Approach directives on the basis of

framework
legislation, and reinforce related administrative capacity (conformity assessment bodies).
Bring Romanian legislation on pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cosmetics, textiles, footwear,
legal metrology and motor vehicles into line with the acquis, and pursue alignment of the
remaining traditional technical legislation. Pursue adoption of EN standards. Establish a
market surveillance system, and prepare administration and food operators to EC principles
of food safety.

– Ensure an appropriate implementation of the new legislation on public procurement.

Proceed with screening of legislation in the non-harmonised area to ensure that it is in
compliance with Articles 28-30 of
the EC Treaty and complete administrative
arrangements for the future monitoring in this area.

Free movement for persons

8

-
– Pursue alignment of mutual recognition of professional qualifications and diplomas and

introduce required administrative structures, education and training programmes.

– Take preparatory measures to develop the administrative structures for the co-ordination of

social security systems.

Freedom to provide services

– Pursue alignment of legislation on securities markets.

– Reinforce the supervision of financial services.

Free movement of capital

– Ensure compliance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force.

Company law

– Strengthen administrative capacity of enforcement bodies of intellectual and industrial
property rights and increase efforts to fight against piracy and counterfeiting. Improve co-
operation among enforcement bodies notably the Police, Customs and the
Judiciary.
Strengthen administrative capacity at the border and ensuring proper enforcement of
Intensify training for enforcement bodies including judges and
border
prosecutors.

legislation.

– Complete the process of alignment to the acquis, in particular through the adoption of

necessary secondary legislation.

Competition

– Complete the legislative framework in both state aid and anti-trust.

Strengthen the
administrative capacity of the competition authorities; ensure enforcement of the rules in
anti-trust and state aid including the alignment of incompatible aid schemes. Complete the
state aid inventory and prepare the annual reports. Increase awareness of the rules among
all market participants and aid grantors; intensify the training of the judiciary in the
competition field.

Agriculture

– Organise and carry out a general agricultural census.

– Prepare the administrative structures needed for the design, implementation, management,

monitoring, control and evaluation of EC-funded rural development programmes.

– Reinforce administrative structures in order to improve capacities for policy formulation

and economic analysis.

– Prepare for the implementation and enforcement of the management mechanisms of the
in particular the Integrated Administration and Control
Common Agricultural Policy,
System including an animal identification and registration system and a land parcels
identification system.

9

– Continue the establishment of a vineyard register and control systems in the wine sector.

– Continue alignment of veterinary and phytosanitary legislation and upgrade inspection

arrangements, in particular at future external borders.

– Strengthen the administrative capacity to implement the food safety strategy.

Fisheries

– Complete the establishment of adequate organisation, adequate institutional resources and
equipment relating to inspection and controls at central and regional levels. Complete the
fishing register in full compliance with EC requirements. Develop a reliable system of
fisheries statistics.

Transport policy

– Reinforce administrative capacity in road transport and continue legal alignment (in
particular phase out discriminatory practices in road transport taxation / charging) and
begin the implementation of an action plan to retrofit Romanian haulage vehicles with
speed limitation devices and recording equipment.

– Ensure due implementation of the maritime safety acquis and strengthen the maritime
administration in order to improve the Flag State performance in the field of maritime
safety.

– Restructure and modernise the Romanian Danube fleet to increase its competitiveness and

to prepare it to comply with the EC technical requirements.

– Transpose and implement the revised railways acquis.

Taxation

– Ensure legislative alignment with particular attention to VAT exemptions,

refund
conditions, taxable scope and zero rating as well as excise duties levels, structure and
exemptions.

– Ensure that existing and future legislation complies with the principles of the Code of

Conduct for Business Taxation.

– Strengthen administrative capacity and control procedures including administrative co-
operation and mutual assistance. Particular attention should be given to revenue collection,
setting up of a Taxpayer Register, and refunding of VAT; elaborate a Tax Administration
Strategy; establish a Code of Ethics and measures to apply such a code; assess the human
resource requirements of the tax system and design and implement a training system
covering both initial and in-service training.

– Develop IT systems so as to allow for the exchange of electronic data with the Community

and its member states.

Statistics

– Carry out a population census.

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– Further improve quality and coverage of statistics by ensuring that adequate resources are

made available to further strengthen statistical capacities, including at regional level.

Social policy and employment

– Define and implement a national policy for employment that is in line with European
Employment Guidelines, including preparations for participation in European Social Fund-
type activities.

– Develop capacity of the national Agency for Employment to implement active measures
and employment programmes and strengthen the employment services at
level
notably by improving the co-operation between local services in the field of employment
and social assistance.

local

– Complete reform of the social assistance system, including financial decentralisation of the

institutions involved.

– Continue alignment and ensure proper implementation of EC legislation in the fields of
labour law, equal treatment for women and men and health and safety at work, notably
through the adoption of the new Labour Code. Strengthen the related administrative and
enforcement structures, including the labour inspectorates. Adopt secondary legislation
against discrimination and develop a timetable for its implementation.

– Transpose and implement legislation on public health and develop a national system for
surveillance and control of communicable diseases and a health monitoring information
system.

– Adopt necessary legislation to strengthen employees’ and employers' organisations and
support social partners’ capacity building efforts, notably in autonomous bipartite social
dialogue,
future role in the elaboration and
implementation of EU employment and social policy, including the European Social Fund.

in particular with a view to their

– Strengthen the capacity to manage health sector reform in a comprehensive manner by
improving strategic planning for human and financial resources to make efficient use of
public funds while ensuring equal access to health care.

– Prepare a national strategy, including data collection, with a view to future participation in

the European strategy on social inclusion.

Energy

– Develop and implement an Energy Strategy in line with EU energy policy objectives. In
addition to the main energy sources, the strategy should also focus on improved energy
efficiency, in particular in the sector of heating, and the use of renewable energy.

– Advance the alignment process in the internal energy market (electricity and gas) through
establishment of an independent electricity transmission system operator (electricity),
elimination of remaining energy price distortions and preparation for continuing the
progressive opening of the market, and ensuring independent and efficient regulatory
mechanisms.

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– Establish strict and transparent financial discipline between all the actors of the energy
market in Romania, in order to phase in a programme of cost recovery and reduction of
arrears.

– Develop and start implementing a programme to align to the oil stocks acquis.

– Implement the recommendations contained in the Council report on “Nuclear safety in the

context of enlargement” with due regard for the priorities assigned in the report.

– Continue to ensure a high level of nuclear safety at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.

– Focus on strengthening the resources and capacities of the national regulatory authority for

nuclear energy.

Industrial policy

– Review policy framework and legislation to improve the access of enterprises (particularly

SMEs) to investment finance.

– Implement a market-oriented

competitiveness strategy including sectoral restructuring

programmes.

Telecommunications and information technologies

– Transpose the acquis on telecommunications and postal services.

– Prepare for the full liberalisation of the telecommunications market by creating a national

regulatory authority.

Culture and audio-visual policy

– Align legislation and strengthen the capacities of

the independent

television/radio

regulatory authority.

Regional policy and co-ordination of structural instruments

– Develop a national policy for economic and social cohesion and, in this context, regularly

update and improve the National Development Plan.

– Set up the required monitoring and evaluation system, in particular for ex-ante and ex-post

evaluation and for the collection of the relevant statistical information and indicators.

– Strengthen the institutional and administrative capacity of the bodies in charge of
programming and managing funds for economic and social cohesion, in line with the
Structural Funds approach; in particular define the Managing and Paying Authorities;
establish a clear division of responsibilities at national and regional level and improve the
administrative capacity in terms of recruitment, career profiles and training. Ensure inter-
ministerial co-operation.

– Prepare to comply with basic financial management and control provisions as laid down by

the respective regulations of the Structural Funds.

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Environment

– Complete transposition and start enforcement of the acquis in the sectors of horizontal
legislation (environmental
impact assessment), waste management, water quality,
industrial pollution control and risk management (integrated pollution prevention and
control, large combustion plants, control of major accident hazards involving dangerous
substances).

– Elaborate directive-specific implementation plans,

including financing plans, with
particular attention to waste management (including a waste management strategy at
national and regional
level), water quality and industrial pollution control and risk
management (integrated pollution prevention and control, control of major accident
hazards involving dangerous substances).

– Strengthen the administrative capacity at the national level to improve capacities for policy
preparation and economic analysis. Particular attention needs to be paid to the enforcement
capacity of the Environmental Protection Inspectorates at local level.

– Integrate environmental protection requirements into the definition and implementation of

all other sectoral policies with a view to promoting sustainable development.

Consumers and health protection

– Continue alignment of

legislation, strengthen market surveillance and enforcement
authorities, and in particular ensure effective implementation of the five-year strategy for
the National Authority for Consumer Protection.

Co-operation in the field of justice and home affairs

– Improve border management by (i) developing an integrated border management strategy
(ii) implementing legislation for the Law on the State Frontier and the Law on the
Organisation and Functioning of the Border Police (iii) ending the use of conscripts in the
border police, and (iv) aligning legislation and practice in the field of countering illegal
migration and trafficking in human beings, especially women and children.

– Develop and present a Schengen Action Plan.

– Continue progressive alignment of visa legislation and practice.

– Elaborate and start implementing an integrated strategy for the fight against corruption
and organised crime and improve the co-ordination between law enforcement bodies from
prevention to prosecution.

– Develop and implement a national drugs strategy and establish a national focal point for

contacts with the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug addiction.

– Continue alignment to the relevant acquis in the field of money laundering; ratify and
implement the 1981 Council of Europe Convention and strengthen the administrative
capacity of the National Office for Preventing and Fighting Money Laundering Operations.

– Take the necessary steps in order to ensure the implementation of Community instruments

in the area of judicial co-operation in civil matters.

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– Take the necessary steps to align the legislation with the Convention on the Protection of

the Communities' Financial Interests and its Protocols.

Customs union

– Continue efforts to implement the customs ethics policy. Implement measures to reduce
waiting times at the border, to fight cross-border movement of pirated and counterfeit
goods and to fight economic crime and organised crime.

– Reinforce administrative and operational capacity in the field of customs enforcement
through inter-service co-operation. Human resource requirements should be assessed and
centralised training developed.

– Accelerate the implementation of the IT strategy of the Romanian customs administration;
develop IT systems to permit the exchange of computerised data between the EC and
Romania.

Financial control

– Prepare a Policy Paper for Public Internal Financial Control, followed by legislation, rules
and procedures in line with internationally accepted standards, covering, in an integrated
manner: (i) the financial management and control responsibilities of the manager of the
budget spending centre (managerial accountability); (ii) the ex-ante controls performed by
the Ministry of Finance delegate preventive financial control systems, and (iii) the internal
audit function, including its functional independence.

– Define and quantify the organisational, human resource and investment needs to establish
internal financial control and internal audit in line with the Policy Paper, in key budget
spending centres; elaborate and implement plans for institution building and human
resource development in the field of internal financial control and internal audit.

– Strengthen the institutional capacities of the Court of Accounts as necessary for the
introduction of modern auditing procedures in line with international standards and best
practice.

– Strengthen the fight against fraud, particularly as regards protection of EC financial

interests.

– Designate a central contact point for the protection of EC financial interests and start

effective co-operation with OLAF through this contact point.

– Step up efforts to ensure the correct use, control, monitoring and evaluation of EC pre-
accession funds as a key indicator of Romania's ability to implement the financial control
acquis.

5.

PROGRAMMING

For the period 2000-2006, in addition to Phare, financial assistance to Romania comprises
support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development through the pre-
accession instrument SAPARD (Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/99, OJ L 161, 26.6.1999,
p.87); and support for infrastructure projects in the fields of environment and transport
through the structural instrument ISPA (Council Regulation (EC) No 1267/99, OJ L 161,

14

26.6.1999, p. 73), which gives priority to measures similar to the cohesion fund in the pre-
accession period. Under these national allocations, Romania can also fund part of its
participation in community programmes
including the Research and Technological
Development Framework Programmes and programmes in the areas of Education and
In addition Romania will have access to funding from multi-country and
Enterprise.
horizontal programmes directly related to the acquis. Joint financing by the applicant States
is systematically required for all investment projects. Since 1998 the Commission has worked
with the European Investment Bank and the International Financial Institutions, in particular
the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank, with a view to
facilitating the co-financing of projects relating to pre-accession priorities.

6.

CONDITIONALITY

Community assistance for financing projects through the three pre-accession instruments
Phare, ISPA and SAPARD is conditional on respect by Romania of its commitments under
the Europe Agreement, further steps towards satisfying the Copenhagen criteria and in
particular progress in meeting the specific priorities of this revised Accession Partnership.
Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a decision by the Council on the
suspension of financial assistance on the basis of Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 622/98.

7.

MONITORING

The implementation of the Accession Partnership is monitored in the framework of the
Europe Agreement. As underlined by the European Council in Luxembourg, it is important
that the institutions of the Europe Agreement continue to be the framework within which the
adoption and implementation of the acquis can be examined. The relevant sections of the
Accession Partnership are discussed in the appropriate sub-committee. The Association
Committee discusses overall developments, progress and problems
in meeting the
Partnership’s priorities and intermediate objectives as well as more specific issues referred to
it from the sub-committees.

The PHARE Management Committee ensures that actions financed under all three pre-
accession instruments, PHARE, ISPA, and SAPARD, are compatible with each other as well
as with the Accession Partnerships as laid down in the Co-ordinating Regulation (Council
Regulation (EC) No 1266/99, OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 68).

The Accession Partnership will continue to be amended as necessary in accordance with
Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 622/98.

15