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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 13.11.2001
COM(2001) 655 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

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

(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,
mobilising all 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  Hungary  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 Hungary. Based
on  the  analysis  of  the  Commission's  2001  Regular  Report  on  progress  made  by  Hungary
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 Hungary 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.

1 

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 Hungary

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  Hungary's
preparations for membership and identifies a number of priority areas for further work;

In  order  to  prepare  for  membership,  Hungary  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) 

Hungary  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

In  accordance  with  Article  2  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  622/98,  the  principles,  priorities,
intermediate objectives and conditions in the Accession Partnership for Hungary 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

4

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 Hungary 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 Hungary. The present revision is
based on a proposal by the Commission following consultation with Hungary, and draws on
the analysis of the Commission's 2001 Regular Report on progress made by Hungary 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 Hungary towards membership of the Union, the financial means available to help Hungary
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  Hungary,
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:

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

(cid:1) 

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.

5

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  Hungary.  The  priorities  listed  in  the
revised Accession Partnership have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to expect that
Hungary  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.

Hungary  submitted  an  updated  version  of  its  National  programme  for  the  Adoption  of  the
Acquis  (NPAA)  in  July  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.

indicates 

the  priority  areas  for  Hungary’s  membership
The  Accession  Partnership 
preparations.  Hungary  will  nevertheless  have  to  address  all  issues  identified  in  the  2001
Regular  Report.  It  is  also  important  that  Hungary  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  2001 Regular Report, the  following priorities
and intermediate objectives have been identified for Hungary. These priorities are presented
in accordance with the structure of the Regular Report.3

Political criteria

Democracy and the rule of law

-  Take measures  to  reduce  further  the  backlog  of  cases  at  the  Supreme  Court,  in  order  to
allow  it  to  carry  out  its  main  functions,  i.e.  the  unification  of  court  practice  and  the

3 

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

6

                                                
provision  of  judicial  guidance  to  the  lower  courts;  maintain  efforts  to  modernise  the
judiciary, in particular ensuring adequate funding; widen the availability of free legal aid;
continue training of judges in EC legislation.

-  Ensure implementation of the newly adopted anti-corruption strategy.

Human rights and the protection of minorities

- 

Improve  the  integration  of  the  Roma  minority  in  the  Hungarian  society  through  more
efficient  implementation  and  impact  assessment  of  the  medium-term  Roma  action
programme,  with  particular  emphasis  on  promoting  access  to  mainstream  education,
fighting  discrimination  in  society  (including  within  the  police  services),  fostering
employment, and improving the housing situation.

-  Ensure that an effective system for addressing complaints of police misconduct is in place.

Economic criteria

-  Develop  and  implement  a  comprehensive  public  health  care  reform  that  ensures  a  high

level of health protection at a sustainable cost to the government budget.

- 

Improve government accounting at local level and improve timeliness of data provision to
central authorities.

-  Accelerate railway restructuring to reduce the medium-term impact on public finances.

-  Create the necessary conditions for an efficient agricultural land market.

(cid:2)  Continue to promote the development of small and medium sized enterprises, in particular

by improving access to credit.

Ability to assume the obligations of membership

Free movement of goods

-  Complete  implementation  of  New  Approach  Directives  and  alignment  of  traditional
sectoral  legislation;  transpose  legislation  on  the  provision  of  information  on  technical
standards  and  regulations;  implement  protection  of  pharmaceutical  test  data  (so-called
‘data exclusivity’).

-  Continue implementation of the food acquis, and develop and implement an action plan to
promote  HACCP  (Hazard  Analysis  and  Critical  Control  Points)  for  the  entire  food
industry.

-  Complete reinforcement of market surveillance and conformity assessment structures, also

in the food industry; ensure effectiveness of implementing structures in all sectors.

- 

Increase  transparency  of  public  procurement  at  all  levels,  including  at  lower  levels  of
government, and in all sectors, including major public  infrastructure  works  such as  road
construction.

7

-  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 of persons

-  Complete alignment of mutual recognition of professional qualifications and diplomas and

further develop the required administrative structures, education and training.

-  With  respect  to  professional  qualifications  obtained  before  harmonisation,  Hungary
should give priority to introducing measures to ensure that all its professionals can, from
accession, meet the requirements laid down by the directives.

-  Reinforce the administrative structures for the co-ordination of social security.

Free movement of capital

- 

In need of particularly urgent action: implement the recommendations of the Financial
Action Task  Force  on  Money  Laundering;  bring  forward  the  phasing  out  of  anonymous
saving books, and strengthen the police’s financial intelligence unit.

Company law

-  Continue to strengthen the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights by all
relevant  law  enforcement  bodies,  including  customs;  intensify  training  for  enforcement
bodies including judges and prosecutors.

Competition policy

-  Complete the legislative framework and  ensure the full enforcement of the  rules in both
anti-trust and state aid including the alignment of incompatible aid schemes, in particular
fiscal aids. Increase awareness of the rules among all market participants and aid grantors.
Intensify the training of the judiciary on competition matters.

Agriculture

-  Reinforce 

the  administrative  structures  needed  for 

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

the  design, 

-  Continue  to  upgrade  the  capacity  of  the  agricultural  administration  and  complete  the
preparations  for  the  practical  implementation  and  the  enforcement  of  the  management
mechanisms of the Common Agricultural Policy, in particular market information systems
(including  price  reporting),  the  Integrated  Administration  and  Control  System  and  the
Paying Agency for the management of funds within the Common Agricultural Policy.

-  Complete the establishment of a vineyard register.

-  Continue the overall upgrading of food processing establishments with a view to meeting

EC food safety standards, in particular in the dairy and meat sector.

8

-  Complete transposition of legislation in the veterinary and phytosanitary field (legislation
on transmissible spongiphorm encephalopathies, plant passports, maximum residue levels,
animal nutrition) and ensure implementation and enforcement.

- 

Implement the identification and registration systems for sheep, goats, swine and horses,
and adopt the secondary legislation for swine and horses; ensure effective functioning of
the bovine identification and registration system.

-  Complete  developments  in  the  veterinary  and  phytosanitary  border  inspection  posts,  in

particular at the future external borders.

Transport Policy

–  Complete  legal  alignment  and  reinforce  administrative  capacity  in  road  transport  (in
particular  control  of  driving  time  restrictions  and  taxation  with  a  view  to  respecting  the
minimum levels foreseen by the acquis, as well as harmonisation with acquis on weights
and dimensions).

–  Continue the alignment in the railway sector and proceed with the restructuring of MÁV in

order to allow for the implementation of the revised railway acquis.

–  Align further with the air transport acquis, notably concerning market access.

–  In all subsectors, and particularly in rail and air transport, set up the required administrative
and  management  bodies  and  strengthen  the  existing  ones,  notably  the  General  Transport
Inspectorate.

Taxation

-  Complete  legislative  alignment,  with  particular  regard  to  VAT  zero-rating  and  reduced
rates,  including  the  transitional  VAT  regime;  continue  gradual  alignment  of  excise  duty
rates.

-  Strengthen  further  the administrative  capacity  in  order  to  ensure  effective  application  of
the acquis, including the up-grading of  equipment, administrative co-operation and,  as a
matter  of  particular  urgency,  the  development  of  IT  systems  so  as  to  allow  for  the
exchange of electronic data with the Community and its Member States.

-  Ensure  that  existing  and  future  legislation  comply  with  the  principles  of  the  Code  of

Conduct for Business Taxation.

Social Policy and Employment

-  Complete alignment and ensure proper implementation of the social acquis, in particular
in  the  field  of  health  and  safety  at  work.  Strengthen  the  related  administrative  and
enforcement  structures,  including  labour  inspectorates.  Continue  adopting  legislation  in
line with the anti-discrimination acquis and prepare for its implementation.

-  Ensure  transposition  and  implementation  of  the  public  health  acquis  and  continue
measures with regard to surveillance and control of communicable diseases and the health
monitoring and information system.

9

-  Continue to support social partners’ capacity building efforts, in particular with a view to
their  future  role  in  the  elaboration  and  implementation  of  EU  employment  and  social
policy,  including  the  European  Social  Fund.  Particular  attention  should  be  paid  to
enhancing  the  social  partners'  capacity  to  conduct  social  dialogue  and  to  ensuring  due
process also in the tripartite social dialogue.

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

the European strategy on social inclusion.

Energy

-  Complete  the  alignment  process  for  the  internal  energy  market  (electricity  and  gas);
eliminate remaining price distortions; strengthen the regulator (Hungarian Energy Office).

-  Further  enhance  energy  efficiency  and  promotion  of  renewable  energy  sources,  and

strengthen the relevant institutions in this area.

- 

Implement the recommendations contained in the Council report on “Nuclear Safety in the
Context of Enlargement” with due regard to the priorities assigned in the report.

-  Continue to ensure a high level of nuclear safety at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.

Telecommunications and Information Technologies

-  Complete transposition and implementation of the acquis including local loop unbundling.
Ensure  effective  functioning  of  the  liberalised  market  through  effective  interconnection
and  leased  lines  regulation,  and  availability  of  carrier  selection  facilities  and  number
portability.

Culture and audio-visual policy

-  Align legislation with the acquis on “television without frontiers”.

Regional Policy and co-ordination of structural instruments

-  Ensure effective inter-ministerial co-ordination and appropriate partnership at central and
regional level with a view to both programming and future implementation of Structural
and Cohesion Funds assistance.

-  Complete  the  preparation  of  a  development  Plan  in  line  with  the  Structural  Funds
Regulations  and  establish  the  structures  required  for  implementing  Structural  and
Cohesion Funds assistance.

-  Prepare operational programmes in line with the Structural Funds Regulations, including

an ex-ante evaluation.

-  Put  in  place  the  necessary  legislative  and  normative  framework  to  allow  early
commitments  of  the  necessary  national  co-financing  of  Structural  and  Cohesion  Funds
assistance;  revise  and  streamline  the  system  of  payments  of  national  and  Community
funding to final beneficiaries so as to ensure efficient and timely utilisation of Funds.

-  Align financial management and control procedures with the specific requirements of the

Structural Funds regulations.

10

-  Ensure  that  the  designated  managing  and  paying  authorities  will  progressively  build  up
their capacity in order to be able, upon accession, to fulfil their responsibilities and deliver
the tasks assigned to each of them according to the Structural Funds Regulations.

-  Define the tasks to be performed by line ministries and other bodies on behalf and under

the responsibility of the managing authorities.

-  Set  up  evaluation  and  monitoring  systems  and  establish  a  system  for  the  computerised
exchange  of  data  required  to  fulfil  the  management,  monitoring  and  evaluation
requirements of the Structural Funds Regulations.

-  Develop the technical preparation of projects eligible for Structural and Cohesion  Funds

(project pipeline).

Environment

-  Complete transposition of the acquis, in particular as regards hazardous waste, packaging
and  packaging  waste,  and  control  of  major  accident  hazards  involving  dangerous
substances.

-  Continue implementation of the acquis, in particular as regards air quality (by ensuring air
monitoring  in  accordance  with  the  acquis),  management  of  municipal  waste,  and  the
discharge of  dangerous  substances  in  the  aquatic  environment  (by  establishing  pollution
reduction programmes).

-  Continue  strengthening  the  administrative  capacity,  in  particular  concerning  the
Environmental  Inspectorates  (both  the  central  and  regional  ones).  Also,  particular
attention should be paid to increasing human resources of the competent authorities in the
sector of chemicals.

-  Continue  integration  of  environmental  protection  requirements  into  the  definition  and
implementation  of  all  other  sectoral  policies  with  a  view  to  promoting  sustainable
development.

Justice and Home Affairs

-  Ensure due implementation of the Schengen Action Plan.

-  Continue to strengthen border management, paying special attention to the Union's future
external  borders  by  continuously  up-grading  of  equipment,  training  and  enhanced  co-
operation between the different services involved.

-  Continue  preparation  for  future  participation  in  the  Schengen  Information  System  by

developing national databases and registers.

- 

Improve the internal co-operation between police, other law enforcement agencies and the
judiciary  (from  prevention  to  prosecution),  in  particular  to  strengthen  the  fight  against
organised crime and money laundering.

-  Strengthen the administrative capacity of, and co-ordination between, bodies involved in

the implementation of a national drug strategy.

11

-  Take  the  necessary  steps  in  order  to  ensure  the  implementation  of  the  most  recent

Community instruments adopted in the area of judicial co-operation in civil matters.

Customs union

-  Harmonise the Hungarian system of customs free zones with the provisions of the acquis.

-  Further strengthen the administrative capacity in order to ensure the effective application

of the acquis, including continued training of customs officers.

- 

In  need  of  particularly  urgent  action:  continue  the  computerisation  process  of  the
Hungarian customs administration; develop IT systems so as to allow for the exchange of
computerised data between the EC and Hungary.

Financial Control

-  Define and strengthen the managerial accountability in budget spending centres.

-  Strengthen the  administrative  framework  for internal  audits at  the  level  of  internal  audit

services in budget spending centres and ensure their functional independence.

-  Specify  the  role  and  functions  of  the  designated  contact  point  for  the  protection  of  the
financial  interests  of  the  Community  and  effectively  start  co-operating  with  OLAF
through this contact point.

-  Establish adequate functional independence of the decentralised internal audit capabilities.

-  Strengthen the fight against fraud, notably in the area of VAT.

-  Continue efforts to ensure the correct use, control, monitoring and evaluation of EC pre-
accession  funding  as  a  key  indicator  of  Hungary's  ability  to  implement  the  financial
control acquis.

5. 

PROGRAMMING

For  the  period  2000-2006,  in  addition  to  Phare,  financial  assistance  to  Hungary  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,
26.6.1999,  p. 73),  which  gives  priority  to  measures  similar  to  the  cohesion  fund  in  the  pre-
accession  period.  Under  these  national  allocations,  Hungary  can  also  fund  part  of  its
participation 
the  Research  and  Technological
Development  Framework  Programmes  and  programmes  in  the  areas  of  Education  and
Enterprise.  In  addition  Hungary  will  have  access  to  funding  from  multi-country  and
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.

in  community  programmes 

including 

12

6. 

CONDITIONALITY

Community  assistance  for  financing  projects  through  the  three  pre-accession  instruments
Phare,  ISPA  and  SAPARD  is  conditional  on  respect  by  Hungary  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 
the
Partnership’s priorities and intermediate objectives as well as more specific issues referred to
it from the sub-committees.

in  meeting 

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.

13