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

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 13.11.2001
COM(2001) 654 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

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

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

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 Partnerships2, 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  Estonia's
preparations for membership and identifies a number of priority areas for further work;

In  order  to  prepare  for  membership,  Estonia  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) 

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

Estonia  submitted  an  updated  version  of  its  National  programme  for  the  Adoption  of  the
Acquis  (NPAA)  on  12  April  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 Estonia’s membership preparations.
Estonia will nevertheless have to address all issues identified in the 2001 Regular Report.  It
is  also  important  that  Estonia  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  Estonia.  These  priorities  are  presented  in
accordance with the structure of the Regular Report. 3

Political criteria

Democracy and the rule of law

– 

3 

Continue  to  improve  the  efficiency  and  independence  of  the  judiciary.  Address,  in
particular,  workload  in  courts  and  backlogs  of  pending  court  cases;  improve

The order of presentation is that used in the 2000 Regular Report.

6

                                                
infrastructure  and  computerisation  of  courts;  ensure  the  enforcement  of  courts’
decisions; improve citizen’s access to justice; widen the availability of legal aid.

Human rights and protection of minorities

– 

– 

Continue  the  integration  of  non-citizens  by  implementing  concrete  measures,
including  language  training  for  non-Estonian  speakers;  provide  necessary  financial
support for the implementation of these measures.

Ensure  that  the  implementation  of  language  legislation  is  in  line  with  both
international  standards  and  the  Europe  Agreement  and  respects  the  principles  of
justified public interest and proportionality.

Economic criteria

– 

– 

– 

– 

Continue efforts to improve labour market responsiveness, in particular by upgrading
education and training, in order to reduce the level of unemployment.

Continue efforts to improve the conditions for the creation and development of private
enterprises.

Implement the restructuring plan for the oil-shale sector.

Complete  land  reform,  with  particular  emphasis  on  the  registration  of  agricultural
land.

Ability to assume the obligations of membership

Free movement of goods

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Complete  the  transposition  and  implementation  of  New  Approach  directives  and
traditional sectoral legislation.

Reinforce  the  national  accreditation  system  and  market  surveillance  system;  ensure
that the metrology organisation is fully operational.

Continue with the adoption of EN standards.

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

(cid:2)  With respect to the professional qualifications obtained before harmonisation, Estonia
should  give  priority  to  introducing    measures  to  ensure  that  all  its  professionals  can,
from accession, meet the requirements laid down by the directives.

7

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Complete alignment of mutual recognition of professional qualifications and diplomas
and  continue  efforts  to  introduce  required  administrative  structures,  education  and
training programmes.

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

Freedom to provide services

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Complete alignment of financial services legislation.

Reinforce the supervision of financial services, in particular of securities markets.

Complete  alignment  of  data  protection  legislation,  strengthen  and  ensure  the
independence of the supervisory body.

Free movement of capital

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

In  need  of  particularly  urgent  action:  Align  legislation  on  payment  systems  and
ensure effective implementation.

Align  legislation  on  direct  investment  in  those  sectors  still  restricted  (security
services).

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

Company law

(cid:2) 

In  need  of  particularly  urgent  action:  Complete  alignment  in  intellectual  and
industrial  property  rights,  and  strengthen  administrative  and  judicial  capacity  with  a
view to tackling piracy and counterfeiting.

Competition policy

(cid:2) 

Ensure the enforcement of anti-trust and state aid rules; increase awareness of the rules
among all market participants and aid grantors; intensify the training of the judiciary in
the competition field.

Agriculture

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Reinforce  the  administrative  structures  needed  for  the  design,  implementation,
management,  monitoring,  control  and  evaluation  upon  accession  of  EC  funded  rural
development programmes.

Up-grade 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.

Complete upgrading of food processing industry, in particular in the dairy, meat  and
fish  processing  sectors  in  line  with  EC  food  safety  standards;  reinforce  the  food
control administration.

8

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Complete  system  of  animal  identification;  implement  food  safety  control  systems
(Hazard  Analysis  and  Critical  Control  Points),  animal  waste  treatment,  residue  and
zoonosis control programmes.

Complete  alignment  of  veterinary  and  phytosanitary  legislation  and  up-grade
inspection  arrangements,  with  particular  emphasis  on  improvement  of  laboratory
capacity,  with  a  view  to  fulfilling  the  obligations  of  control  of  domestic  production
and at future external borders.

9

Fisheries

(cid:2) 

Complete  the  establishment  of  adequate  administrative  structures  with  sufficient
institutional  resources  and  equipment  at  central  and  regional  level  that  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

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Complete legislative alignment in maritime transport, and in particular, strengthen the
implementation of maritime safety standards.

Complete  legislative  alignment  and  reinforce  administrative  capacity  in  the  inland
waterways  sector,  in  the  road  sector  in  particular  as  regards  road  safety,  dangerous
goods  and  taxation,  and  in  the  railway  transport  sector  with  a  view  to  the
implementation  of  the  revised  railway  acquis,  particularly  by  setting  up  an
independent allocation and charging body; complete legislative alignment in aviation,
and in particular, set up an independent aviation accident investigation authority.

Taxation
(cid:2) 

Complete  alignment  with  the  tax  acquis  as  regards  VAT  (zero-rating  and  the
transitional VAT regime), excise duties and direct taxation.

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Ensure  that  legislation  complies  with  the  principles  of  the  Code  of  Conduct  for
Business Taxation.

Strengthen administrative capacity and control procedures and improve administrative
co-operation and mutual assistance.

Develop  IT  systems  so  as  to  allow  for  the  exchange  of  electronic  data  with  the
Community and its Member States.

Statistics

(cid:2) 

Further improve the quality and coverage of statistics; ensure that adequate resources
are available to further strengthen statistical capabilities, including at regional level.

Social policy and employment

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Complete alignment and ensure proper implementation of EC legislation in particular
in  the  field  of  equal  treatment  for  women  and  men.  Strengthen  the  capacity  of
enforcement  bodies,  in  particular  the  National  Labour  Inspectorate  and  ensure
coherence  and  co-ordination  between  these.  Adopt  legislation  against  discrimination
and develop a timetable for its implementation.

Complete  transposition  and  continue  to  implement    the  acquis  on  public  health  and
develop a national system for surveillance and control.

10

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

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,  notably  through  autonomous
bipartite social dialogue.

Prepare  a  national  strategy,  including  data  collection,  with  a  view  to  the  future
participation in the European strategy on social inclusion.

Energy

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Continue preparations for the internal energy market and alignment of legislation with
the  electricity  and  gas  directives;  establish  an  independent  transmission  system
operator (electricity); eliminate remaining price distortions and bring levels of market
opening in line with the acquis.

Strengthen  the  administrative  capacity  of  the  independent  regulator  of  the  energy
sector.

(cid:2)  Make  progress  in  building  up  levels  of  oil  stocks,  including  necessary  investments,

towards the level of 90 days, and develop adequate administrative structures.

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Improve  energy  efficiency,  promote  the  use  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.

Telecommunications and Information Technologies

(cid:2) 

Complete  transposition  and  implementation  of  the  acquis  including  local  loop
unbundling;  ensure  effective  functioning  of  the  liberalised  market  through  effective
interconnection regulation and availability of carrier selection facilities.

Culture and audio-visual policy

(cid:2) 

Strengthen administrative capacity and coordination of relevant authorities in order to
ensure implementation of the acquis.

Regional policy and co-ordination of structural instruments

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Ensure effective inter-ministerial co-ordination and appropriate partnership with a view
to both programming and implementation; prepare a Single Programming Document as
required by the Structural Funds regulations, including an ex-ante evaluation.

that 

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

Set  up  monitoring  and  evaluation  systems;  align  financial  management  and  control
procedures with the specific requirements of the Structural Funds regulations.

11

(cid:2) 

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

Environment

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

(cid:2) 

Complete  transposition  of  the  acquis,  with  particular  emphasis  on  water  quality  and
waste management.

Continue  implementation  of  the  acquis,  in  particular  as  regards  landfill  of  waste
(establish  waste  management  plans  and  find  sustainable  solutions  to  the  handling  of
wastes from extraction, incineration and refining of oil shale), discharge of dangerous
substances in the aquatic environment (establish pollution reduction programmes) and
nitrate pollution from agricultural sources; strengthen efforts to meet microbiological
parameters for water intended for human consumption.

Continue  strengthening  administrative  capacity,  in  particular  at  regional  and  local
level.

Continue  to  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

(cid:2) 

Complete  legislative  alignment  and  strengthen  market  surveillance  and  enforcement
authorities.

Co-operation in the field of justice and home affairs

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Ensure implementation of the Schengen Action Plan.

Improve coordination among law enforcement bodies and the judiciary; continue the
fight against organised crime; strengthen capacities to deal with money laundering.

Continue preparation for future participation in the Schengen Information System by
developing various national databases and registers.

Take the necessary steps to ensure implementation of the Community instruments in
the area of judicial cooperation in civil matters.

Continue the fight against drugs by developing and implementing the national drugs
strategy and strengthening the administrative  bodies  involved in  its  implementation;
prepare  for  full  participation  in  the  work  of  European  Monitoring  Centre  for  Drugs
and Drug Addiction.

Align  legislation  on  visas,  legal  migration  and  asylum;  implement  border  and
migration legislation to prevent illegal immigration; properly implement the Refugees
Act.

Pursue border demarcation  with  Russia; strengthen border management and  control,
including sea surveillance.

12

– 

Complete 
legislative  alignment  with 
Communities’ Financial Interests and its Protocols.

the  Convention  on 

the  Protection  of

Customs union

– 

– 

– 

Ensure  effective  implementation  of  tariffs  and  tariff-related  measures;  further  align
legislation concerning cultural goods  and precursors; continue the fight against fraud
and corruption; continue to implement the customs ethics policy.

Reinforce  administrative  and  operational  capacity  including  border  control;  develop
capacity  in  the  field  of  revenue  collection  and  on  all  customs  procedures  related  to
tariffs; improve co-ordination between the relevant bodies as regards enforcement and
revenue collection of duties; improve the capacity of customs laboratories.

the 

implementation  of 

Continue 
the  Estonian  customs
administration;  develop  IT  systems  so  as  to  allow  for  the  exchange  of  computerised
data between the EC and Estonia.

the  IT  strategy  of 

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

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Ensure  the  implementation  of  the  new  legislation  on  Public  Internal  Financial
Control;  continue  to  develop  internal  audit/control  units  in  all  spending  centres;
strengthen  managerial  accountability  and  public  financial  control  functions  through
the provision of adequate staff, training and equipment.

Complete  the  legislative  framework  for  external  audit;  formalise  the  working
relationship between the Supreme Audit Office and the Parliament.

Start  co-operating  effectively  with  OLAF  through  the  designated  central  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 Estonia's ability to implement the financial
control acquis.

5. 

PROGRAMMING

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

13

in  community  programmes 

26.6.1999,  p.  73),  which  gives  priority  to  measures  similar  to  the  cohesion  fund  in  the  pre-
accession  period.    Under  these  national  allocations,  Estonia  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 Estonia 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 Estonia 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.

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