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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 13.11.2001
COM(2001) 656 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

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

(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  Latvia  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 Latvia.  Based on
the analysis of the Commission's  2001  Regular Report on  progress made by Latvia 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 Latvia 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 Latvia

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

In  order  to  prepare  for  membership,  Latvia  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) 

Latvia 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  Latvia 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  Latvia 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 Latvia.  The present revision is
based on a proposal by the Commission following consultation with Latvia, and draws on the
analysis  of  the  Commission's  2001  Regular  Report  on  progress  made  by  Latvia  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  Latvia  towards  membership  of  the  Union,  the  financial  means  available  to  help  Latvia
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 Latvia, 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 Latvia.  The priorities listed in the revised
Accession Partnership have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to expect that Latvia
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.

Latvia  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.

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

Political criteria

Democracy and the rule of law

–  Accelerate  efforts  to  develop  a  professional  and  stable  civil  service  at  all  levels  of  the
public  administration,  including  a  sound  remuneration  system.  Ensure  minimum  staffing

3 

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

6

                                                
levels, training, and adequate financial resources at all levels of the public administration
with a view to strengthening the capacity to implement the acquis.

–  Continue to strengthen the judicial system, including completion of legal framework (law
on  criminal  procedure  and  law  on  administrative  procedure),  alleviation  of  courts’
workload, elimination of backlog of pending court cases and ensuring the enforcement of
court  decisions.  Strengthen  training  and  increase  remuneration  of  judges.  Improve  the
infrastructure  of  court  buildings  and  the  computerisation  of  the  court  system.  Promote
access to justice.

–  Complete  the  legal  framework  for  the  fight  against  all  types  of  corruption  and  ensure
implementation of legislation, as well as the anti-corruption strategy. Improve inter-agency
and international co-operation.

Human rights and the protection of minorities

–  Address the issue of pre-trial detention.

–  Ensure implementation of the Language Law and its implementing regulations in line with

the principle of proportionality, international standards, and the Europe Agreement.

–  Continue to implement further concrete measures for the integration of non-citizens, on the
basis of the National Programme ‘The Integration of Society in Latvia’, including language
training and information campaigns, and provide the necessary financial support.

Economic criteria

–  Complete privatisation of the remaining large enterprises.

–  Continue to strengthen land market and finalise the land and property register.

–  Further promote competitiveness, notably through measures aimed at stimulating domestic

and inward investment in growth-generating activities.

–  Improve  business  environment,  in  particular  through  the  removal  of  the  remaining

regulatory and administrative constraints to enterprise developments.

Ability to assume the obligations of membership

Free movement of goods

–  Complete  alignment  of  public  procurement  legislation  and  ensure  implementation  at  all

levels.

–  Complete  the  process  of  transposition  and  implementation  of  all  New  Approach  and
sectoral  legislation  with  the  acquis;  in  particular  as  concerns  food  legislation  and  the
renewal of existing marketing authorisations for pharmaceuticals.

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

7

–  Reinforce national accreditation system; upgrade the national metrology system; complete
the  reform  of  the  market  surveillance  system;  designate  the  appropriate  bodies  regarding
notification procedure and ensure their functioning.

–  Complete adoption of EN standards.

Free movement of persons

–  Complete alignment of mutual recognition of professional qualifications and diplomas and
further develop required administrative structures, education and training programmes.

–  With  respect  to  professional  qualifications  obtained  before  harmonisation,  Latvia  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.

Freedom to provide services

–  Continue to reinforce supervision of financial services.

–  Complete  alignment  of  data  protection  legislation;  ensure  independence  of  supervisory

body.

Free movement of capital

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

Company law

–  In  need  of  particularly  urgent  action:  strengthen  enforcement  of  intellectual  and
industrial  property  rights,  in  particular  in  police  and  customs,  and  improve  co-operation
among them. Increase efforts to fight against piracy and  counterfeiting; intensify training
for enforcement bodies including judges and prosecutors.

–  In need of particularly urgent action: implement the Commercial Code.

Competition

–  Ensure the enforcement of competition and state aid rules, including the strengthening of
the  Competition  Council  and  Bureau,  as  well  as  the  Secretariat  of  the  State  Aid
Surveillance  Commission.  Increase  awareness  of  the  rules  among  all  market  participants
and aid grantors. Ensure training of the judiciary on competition-related matters.

Agriculture

–  Upgrade the capacity of the  agricultural administration and  complete preparations for the
enforcement  and  practical  application  of  the  management  mechanisms  of  the  Common
Agricultural Policy, in particular the Integrated Administration and Control System and the
Paying Agency.

–  Reinforce 

the  administrative  structures  needed  for 

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

the  design, 

8

–  Continue  alignment  of  veterinary  and  phytosanitary  legislation  and  upgrade  inspection

arrangements, in particular at the future external borders.

–  Continue restructuring of the agri-food sector, including modernisation of meat, dairy and

fish processing plants to meet EC food safety standards.

Fisheries

–  Complete the establishment of adequate administrative structures and equipment at central
and  regional  level  that  can  ensure  the  implementation  of  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy,
including management of resources, inspection and control of fishing activities, the market
policy,  structural  programmes  co-financed  by  the  Financial  Instrument  for  Fisheries
Guidance,  a  fishing  vessel  register  and  a  management  plan  for  the  fleet  capacity  in
accordance with available resources.

Transport policy

–  Continue  legal  alignment  and  reinforce  administrative  capacity  in  road  transport
(particularly  on  social  legislation  including  requirements  for  access  to  profession,  fiscal
harmonisation  and  technical  and  safety  standards),  railway  transport  (with  a  view  to  the
implementation  of  the  revised  railway  acquis),  and  air  transport  (in  particular  the  legal
status of the independent aviation accident investigation authority).

–  Continue to align and implement maritime transport legislation, with continued particular
emphasis on strengthening the administrative capacity in order to further improve the Flag
State performance in the field of maritime safety.

Taxation

–  Complete legislative alignment with particular attention to VAT (including the transitional

VAT regime) and excise tax legislation, especially as regards VAT exemptions.

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

Conduct for Business Taxation.

–  Strengthen  the  administrative  capacity  and  control  procedures  as  well  as  improve  the
administrative  co-operation  and  mutual  assistance  in  order  to  be  able  to  implement  the
acquis.

–  In need of particularly urgent action: develop IT systems so as to allow for the exchange

of electronic data with the Community and its Member States.

Statistics

–  Further improve quality and coverage of statistics; ensure adequate resources are available

to further strengthen statistical capacities, including at regional level.

Social policy and employment

–  Complete  transposition  and  ensure  implementation  of  the  social  acquis  in  the  fields  of
labour law, health and safety at work and equal treatment for women and men. Strengthen
the  related  administrative  and  enforcement  structures,  including  the  labour  inspectorates
and  establish  an  independent  guarantee  fund  for  employees  in  the  case  of  employer's

9

insolvency.  Adopt  legislation  against  discrimination  and  develop  a  timetable  for  its
implementation.

–  Complete transposition and ensure implementation of the acquis in the field public health,
and  further  develop  measures  in  the  area  of  surveillance  and  control  of  communicable
diseases and of health monitoring an information.

–  Continue to support social partners’  capacity-building efforts in particular with a view to
their  future  in  the  elaboration  and  implementation  of  EU  employment  and  social  policy,
including the European Social Fund, notably through autonomous bipartite social dialogue.

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

the European strategy on social inclusion.

Energy

–  Prepare for the internal energy market, notably the electricity and gas directives: accelerate
the  completion  of  alignment  with  the  acquis,  in  particular  as  regards  the  restructuring
process  of  the  electricity  utility;  establish  an  independent  transmission  system  operator
(electricity); eliminate price distortions; strengthen the regulator.

–  Continue  alignment  of  oil  stock  requirements;  make  progress  in  ensuring  the  actual
constitution  of  stocks,  including  the  necessary  investments,  towards  the  level  of  90  days
and develop an administrative structure.

–  Improve  energy  efficiency,  enhance  the  use  of  renewable  energy  and  strengthen  the

relevant institutions in this area.

–  Implement  the  recommendations  contained  in  the  Council  report  “Nuclear  Safety  in  the

Context of Enlargement” with due regard to the priorities assigned in the report.

Telecommunications and information technologies

–  Ensure  alignment  with  the  telecommunications  acquis  and  its  enforcement,  including
liberalisation of the telecommunication market; ensure the independence of the regulator.

–  Continue alignment and ensure implementation of postal legislation.

Culture and audio-visual policy

–  Continue  to  strengthen  the  capabilities  of  the  independent  television/radio  regulatory

authority.

Regional policy and co-ordination of structural instruments

–  Complete legal and administrative framework which allows for the implementation of the

acquis in this area, in particular with regard to financial management and control.

–  Define the bodies in  charge of the  implementation  of  Structural  Funds  and  the  Cohesion
Fund, in particular the managing and paying authorities; define the tasks to be performed
by line ministries and other bodies on behalf and under the responsibility of the managing
authority.

10

–    Prepare  a  single  Programming  Document  in  line  with  the  Structural  Funds  regulations,

including ex-ante evaluation.

–  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.

–  Ensure effective inter-ministerial co-ordination and appropriate partnership with a view to

both programming and implementation.

–  Set up evaluation and monitoring systems.

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

assistance (project pipeline).

Environment

–  Complete  transposition  of  the  acquis,  with  special  emphasis  on  access  to  environmental

information, waste management and chemicals.

–  Continue  implementation  of  the  acquis,  in  particular  as  regards  waste  management  (in
particular  packaging  and  packaging  waste  and  hazardous  waste,  including  PCBs/PCTs,
waste  oils,  accumulators  and  batteries),  water  quality  (in  particular  urban  waste  water,
microbiological  parameters  of  drinking  water,  establishment  of  pollution  reduction
programmes  for  List  II  substances,  designation  of  vulnerable  zones  under  the  nitrates
directive) and chemicals.

–  Continue strengthening the administrative capacity at all levels, in particular regional and

local levels. Special emphasis should be put on nature protection.

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

Consumers and health protection

–  Ensure the effectiveness of administrative structures involved in market surveillance.

Co-operation in the field of Justice and Home Affairs

–  Ensure implementation of the Schengen Action Plan.

–  Strengthen law enforcement bodies and co-operation among them, including the judiciary,
in  the  fight  against  organised  crime,  in  particular  concerning  money  laundering,  cyber
crimes,  trafficking  in  human  beings  and  drugs.  Ensure  that  the  pre-requirements  for  the
conclusion of a co-operation agreement with Europol are met.

–  Update  and  implement  the  National  Drugs  Strategy  and  prepare  for  participation  in  the

activities of the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drugs Addiction.

–  Continue alignment to the acquis and European practice  on visas, migration, and asylum
and strengthen the administrative capacity of the institutions responsible in these areas.

11

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

developing national databases and registers.

–  Continue to strengthen controls at the future external border, including the establishment of

an integrated sea surveillance system.

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

of judicial co-operation in civil matters.

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

Communities’ Financial Interests and its Protocols.

Customs union

–  Complete  alignment  of  customs  legislation  and  ensure  implementation;  reinforce
administrative and operational capacity. Continue efforts to implement the customs ethics
policy.

–  In need of particularly urgent action: accelerate the implementation of the IT strategy of
the Latvian customs administration. Develop IT systems so as to allow for the exchange of
electronic data between the EC and Latvia.

External relations

–  Take  the  necessary  measures  to  ensure  that  any  international  treaties  or  agreements
including  bilateral  investment  treaties  incompatible  with  the  acquis  are  renegotiated  or
terminated by accession.

Financial control

–  Complete the legislative framework for public internal financial control.

–  Develop and implement the concept of managerial accountability.

–  Develop the concept of audit trails and prepare audit trails for EC funds.

–  Accelerate  alignment  in  the  area  of  external  audit,  in  particular  enhance  the  operational

capacity and the independence of the State Audit Office.

–  Designate  contact  point  for  the  protection  of  the  Communities’  financial  interests,  and

effectively start co-operating with OLAF through this contact point.

–  Strengthen the fight against fraud.

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

5. 

PROGRAMMING

For  the  period  2000-2006,  in  addition  to  Phare,  financial  assistance  to  Latvia  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,

12

in  community  programmes 

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,  Latvia  can  also  fund  part  of  its
the  Research  and  Technological
participation 
Development  Framework  Programmes  and  programmes  in  the  areas  of  Education  and
Enterprise.  In addition Latvia 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.

including 

6. 

CONDITIONALITY

Community  assistance  for  financing  projects  through  the  three  pre-accession  instruments
Phare, ISPA and SAPARD is conditional on respect by Latvia 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
the
Committee  discusses  overall  developments,  progress  and  problems 
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