CELEX: 51998PC0053(07)
Language: en
Date: 1998-02-04
Title: Proposal for a Council Decision on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the accession partnership with Poland

*-^mmn&
               COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                             Brussels, 04.02.1998
                                             COM(1998) 53 final
                              PROPOSALS FOR
                           COUNCIL DECISIONS
        ON THE PRINCIPLES, PRIORITIES, INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVES
                      AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED
                   IN THE ACCESSION PARTENERSHIPS
                        (Presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                             EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
 In Agenda 2000 the Commission proposed to bring together the different forms of
 pre-accession support provided by the Union in a single framework, the Accession
 Partnerships. Within this framework the Commission proposed to work with the
 applicants on the basis of a clearly defined programme to prepare for membership,
 involving commitments by the applicants to particular priorities and to a calendar for
 carrying them out.        At its meeting on 12-13 December 1997, the Luxembourg
 European Council endorsed the Accession Partnership as a new instrument which
 would be the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession strategy.
The Council has adopted Regulation [ ] on assistance to the applicant countries in
central and eastern Europe in the framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in
particular on the establishment of Accession Partnerships.
That Regulation states in Article 2 that "following a proposal by the Commission, the
Council shall decide by qualified majority on the principles, priorities, intermediate
objectives and conditions contained in the individual Accession Partnerships, as they
will be submitted to each applicant country, as well as on subsequent significant
adjustments applicable to them".
In the Luxembourg European Council Conclusions, the Council undertook to decide
on these by 15 March.
                      t
The current proposal contains individual Decisions to be adopted setting out the
principles, priorities, intermediate objective and conditions for each country.
In view of the timescale fixed by the Luxembourg European Council for the adoption
of the framework Regulation and the absence at this stage of a Decision on that
proposal, the Commission considers it opportune to submit now this draft proposal
informally. Naturally this proposal cannot be adopted by the Council until adoption of
the framework regulation in conformity with usual procedures.
                                                                                        1
 ---pagebreak---                                           Council Decision
                                               on
             the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions
                  contained in the Accession Partnership with Bulgaria
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community;
       r
Having regard to Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
strategy;
Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
to each individual Accession Partnership;
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria;
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement;
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Bulgaria
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further
work;
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for Bulgaria.will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of
Regulation [     ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Europe Agreement.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                          Done at..
                                                                          For the Council
 ---pagebreak---                                           Bulgaria
                                          ANNEX
 1.      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 Opinion on Bulgaria's
 application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to
 help Bulgaria implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that
 assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of
 policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their
 preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme
 for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Bulgaria, the Joint Assessment of
 Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market
 road maps.
 2.      Priorities
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                 the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Bulgaria will have to address all issues
identified in the Opinion.
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted the serious difficulties which Bulgaria
will face in coping with competitive pressures and market forces within the Union in
the medium term, Bulgaria needs to make considerable further efforts in order to meet
the economic conditions for membership. Despite the progress that has been made,
Bulgaria needs to transpose and take on the essential elements of the acquis
particularly as regards the internal market.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Bulgaria.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
 ---pagebreak--- complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
Bulgaria will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the
necessary staff and financial resources.
3.1      Short-term (1998)
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and
   joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; pursuit of the
   programme launched by the Government, including privatisation of state
    enterprises and banks and restructuring measures in industry, financial sector and
    agriculture and measures to encourage increased foreign direct investment.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: adoption of the
    draft civil service law and progress in public administration reform as well as
    institutional strengthening in the areas of internal financial control capacity,
    environment, nuclear safety and customs policy, reinforcement of phytosanitary
    and veterinary administrations, particularly as regards facilities at external borders,
    begin to set up structures needed for regional and structural policy.
• Internai Market: including in the areas of intellectual and industrial property
    rights (strengthening of enforcement of protection), financial services, taxation, the
    establishment of a first state aid inventory, the adoption of the necessary legislative
    framework for state aid monitoring and the adoption of a new competition law.
• Justice and Home Affairs: concrete steps to combat corruption and organised
    crime and improve border management.
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of
    implementation of detailed approximation programmes and implementation
    strategies related to individual acts.           Planning and commencement of
    implementation of these programmes and strategies.
• Energy: in particular establishing a comprehensive, long term, energy strategy and
    respect of nuclear safety standards and realistic plant closure commitments as
    entered into in the Nuclear Safety Account Agreement.
3.2       Medium-term
• Political criteria: further efforts to integrate the Roma and protect individual
    liberties.
• Economic reform: complete the privatisation process. Strengthen market economy
    institutions.
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
    priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
    Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of
    economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
    convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Bulgaria is expected to
                                                                                            t,
 ---pagebreak--- pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Bulgaria is not expected
to adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: completion of
reform at all levels, including training for civil servants; improved operation of the
judicial system; further development of the National Audit Office and internal
financial control structures; establishment of anti-trust and state aid monitoring
bodies; improvements in accounting, auditing and statistics and nuclear regulatory
authority; reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient
and properly trained personnel), and the reinforcement of food control
administrations.
Internal Market: including alignment of competition policy, state aids, customs,
taxation, public procurement legislation, upgrading of standardisation, conformity
assessment structures and establishment of a market surveillance system and
harmonisation of technical legislation on industrial standards. Reinforcement of
competition authorities, further alignment of competition law and the credible
enforcement of competition rules, promotion of enterprise development, including
 SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection
and the internal energy market.
Justice and home affairs: development of effective border management and
frontier control systems. implementation of migration policy and asylum
procedures as well as the fight against organised crime and corruption, notably in
view of the Schengen acquis.
Agriculture: including the land restitution process and establishment of a
functioning land market, alignment with the agricultural acquis (including
veterinary and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls).
Development of the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the
 fundamental management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the
agricultural markets and implement structural and rural development measures,
adoption and implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements,
upgrading of certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic
facilities, restructuring of the agri-food sector.
 Energy: implementation of a comprehensive policy including respect of
 Bulgaria's commitments on the phased closure of certain units of Kozloduy nuclear
power plant, decommissioning and nuclear waste management plan.
 Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on maritime, air
 and road freight transport (safety rules) and to provide necessary investment for
transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European networks.
 Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market
 structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation
 in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety
 legislation and development of enforcement structures, in particular early adoption
 of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal
 opportunities between women and men; further development of active,
 autonomous social dialogue; development of adequate social protection, undertake
 steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms
                                                                                       ?
 ---pagebreak---    Environment: development of monitoring and implementation control structures
   and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of approximation
   programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis should be given
   to the water sector including its institutional requirements.
   Regional policy and cohesion: introduction of legal basis and development of
   administrative structures and budgetary procedures. Strengthen financial
   instruments and control mechanisms in order to participate in EU structural
   programmes.
4.      Programming
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 212 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. In addition, Bulgaria is eligible for support from
the "catch-up"' facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the
applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects.
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.      Conditionally
Community assistance will be conditional on Bulgaria respect of its commitments
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria. 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 [       ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in
each Financing Memorandum.
6.      Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
 ---pagebreak---                                            Council Decision
                                               on
             the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions
             contained in the Accession Partnership with the Czech Republic
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community;
Having regard to Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
strategy;
Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
to each individual Accession Partnership;
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria;
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement;
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on the Czech
Republic's preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for
further work;
                                                                                            <?
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for the Czech Republic will contain, in accordance with
Article 2 of Regulation [       ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and
conditions set out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Europe Agreement.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                           Done at..
                                                                           For the Council
 ---pagebreak---                                      Czech Republic
                                         ANNEX
 1.      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 Opinion on Czech
Republic's application for membership of the European Union, the financial means
available to help the Czech Republic implement these priorities and the conditions
which will apply to that assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a
framework for a number of policy instruments which will be used to help the
candidate countries in their preparations for membership. These will include inter
alia the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Czech
Republic, the Joint Assessment of Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against
organised crime and the internal market road maps.
2.       Priorities
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law. human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                 the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Czech Republic will have to address all
issues identified in the Opinion.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council*s discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Czech Republic.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
Czech Republic will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of
the Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for
achieving these priorities, intermediate objectives and. where possible and relevant,
indicate the necessary staff and financial resources.
                                                                                         -///
 ---pagebreak--- 3.1      Short-term (1998)
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and
   joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; implementation of
   policies to maintain both internal and external balance; improvement of the
    framework for corporate governance, in particular by accelerating the restructuring
   of banks, by implementing the laws regulating the financial sector (banks and
    investment companies), and by enforcing the supervision by the new Securities and
   Exchange Commission.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: improving capacity
    in banking supervision securities, and insurance sectors, internal financial control,
   environment, agriculture, reinforcement of phytosanitary and veterinary
   administrations particularly as regards facilities at external borders, begin to set up
    structures needed for regional and structural policy.
• Internal Market: including in the areas of intellectual property rights (legislation
   and enforcement), and certification and standardisation (further alignment of
    legislative measures), amendment of anti-trust law. further development of the
    legislative framework for state aid control and increased transparency through
    submission of additional state aid inventory.
• Justice and Home Affairs: development of effective border management.
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishmen of
    implementation of detailed approximation programmes and implementation
    strategies related to individual acts.          Planning and commencement of
    implementation of these programmes and strategies.
3.2      Medium-term
• Political criteria: further work on the integration of the Roma. Strengthening of
    laws which guarantee press freedom.
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
   priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
    Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of
    economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
   convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); the Czech Republic is
   expected to pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance
   with the Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal
   convergence compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; the Czech
    Republic is not expected to adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: continue public
    administration modernisation policy; improve operation of the judicial system,
    customs, establishment of independent bodies for supervision of data protection
    and for consumer protection; reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions
    (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), completion of alignment of
    financial control capacity, the reinforcement of food control administration.
• Internal Market: including alignment of public procurement legislation,
    accounting legislation, data protection, financial services, indirect taxation, audio-
                                                                                           /??
 ---pagebreak---    visual, consumer protection, technical legislation industrial products, further
   development of standardisation and conformity assessment bodies and
   establishment and operation of a market surveillance system, strengthening of
   competition authorities, efficient enforcement of competition law. completion of
   alignment of competition law, promotion of enterprise development, including
   SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection
   and the internal energy market.
   Justice and home affairs: development of effective border management and
   implementation of migration policy and reforms of asylum procedures as well as
   the fight against drugs, organised crime and corruption, more effective operation of
   the judiciary and law enforcement, notably in view of the Schengen acquis.
   Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary
   and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls). Development of
   the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP. in particular the fundamental
   management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural
   markets and implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and
   implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of
   certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities,
   restructuring of the agri-food sector.
   Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport
   (market access, safety rules and taxation) and rail transport, and to provide
   necessary investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-
   European networks.
   Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market
   structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation
   in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety
   legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption
   of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal
   opportunities between women and men; further development of active,
   autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection, undertake
   steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms.
   Environment: the development of monitoring and implementation control
   structures and capacities, continuous planning of approximation programmes
   related to individual legal acts. Particular emphasis should be given to air, water
   and the waste sector.
   Regional policy and cohesion: establishment of a legal, administrative and
   budgetary framework for an integrated regional policy in order to participate in EU
   structural programmes.
4.       Programming
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 224 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the
applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects.
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and
 ---pagebreak--- a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.      Conditionality
Community assistance will be conditional on Czech Republic respect of its
commitments under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment
of the Copenhagen criteria. 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 [      ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in
each Financing Memorandum.
6.      Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
                                                                                        •ih
 ---pagebreak---                                           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 Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
strategy;
Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
to each individual Accession Partnership;
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria;
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement;
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Estonia's
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further
work;
                                                                                            /I1)
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for Estonia will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of
Regulation [     ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Europe Agreement.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                          Done at..
                                                                          For the Council
                                                                                           7fr
 ---pagebreak---                                          Estonia
                                         ANNEX
1.       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 Opinion on Estonia's
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to
help Estonia implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Estonia, the Joint Assessment of
Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market
road maps.
2.       Priorities
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                 the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Estonia will have to address all issues
identified in the Opinion.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Estonia.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
Estonia will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the
necessary staff and financial resources.
                                                                                         tf
 ---pagebreak--- 3.1      Short-term (1998)
• Political criteria: take measures to facilitate naturalisation procedures and to better
    integrate non-citizens including stateless children. Enhance Estonian language
    training for non-Estonian-speakers.
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and
   joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; in particular with
    a view to sustain the high growth rates of recent years, while reducing inflation and
    increasing the level of national savings; acceleration of land reform with a view to
    increase private ownership and introduction of key legislation linked to pension
    reform.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular as
    regards regulatory and monitoring bodies and the development of a comprehensive
   national training strategy for civil servants and developing a strategy and timetable
    for the consolidation of the various supervisory agencies in the financial sector,
    strengthen internal financial control, reinforcement of phytosanitary and veterinary
    administrations, particularly as regards facilities at external borders, institutional
    strengthening in the area of environment, begin to set up structures needed for
    regional and structural policy.
• Internal Market: including in the areas of public procurement, intellectual and
    industrial property, financial services, taxation, technical legislation and
    competition (especially the transparency of state aids). Adoption of new
   competition law, covering both anti-trust and state aid, reinforcement of the state
   aid monitoring authority and the establishment of a first aid inventory.
• Justice and home affairs: in particular concrete steps to combat corruption and
    organised crime and continue judicial reform.
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of
    detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to
    individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these
   programmes and strategies.
3.2      Medium-term
• Political criteria: pursue integration of non-citizens by strengthening Estonian
    language training for Russian-speakers in primary and secondary schools as well as
    adult training courses, and by further measures to accelerate the naturalisation
    process.
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
   priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
    Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of
    economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
    convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Estonia is expected to
    pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the
    Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence
    compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Estonia is not expected
    to adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: at central and local
    level to ensure efficient management of the public sector; special attention should
                                                                                           s\ î
 ---pagebreak---    be paid to the budgetary process, internal financial control, statistics, customs,
   environment and        agriculture; improved operation of the judicial system;
   reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and
   properly trained personnel), the reinforcement of food control administration.
•  Internal market: including alignment, in particular in public procurement,
   technical legislation on industrial products, financial services, money laundering,
   intellectual and industrial property and state aids, data protection, strengthening of
   securities regulatory bodies, audio-visual and indirect taxation. Upgrading of
   standardisation and conformity assessment structures and establishment of a
   market surveillance system. Completion of alignment and efficient implementation
   of competition law and the reinforcement of the competition authorities, promotion
   of enterprise development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis in the
   fields of télécoms, consumer protection and the internal-energy market.
•  Justice and home affairs: ratification and application of necessary international
   legal instruments relevant for the acquis, enhanced border management especially
   on the eastern border, implementation of migration policy and asylum procedures,
   enhanced fight against organised crime, notably in view of the Schengen acquis.
•  Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary
   and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), completion of
   the land restitution process. Development of the capacity to implement and enforce
   the CAP, in particular the fundamental management mechanisms and
   administrative structures to monitor the agricultural markets and implement
   structural and rural development measures, adoption and implementation of the
   veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of certain food processing
   establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, restructuring of the agri-food
   sector.
•  Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport
   (market access, safety rules) and maritime transport (safety) and rail transport, and
   to provide necessary investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of
   trans-European networks.
•  Employment and Social Affairs: development of appropriate labour market
   structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation
   in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety
   legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption
   of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal
   opportunities between women and men; further development of active,
   autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection, undertake
   steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms.
•  Environment: including development of monitoring and implementation control
   structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of
   approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis
   should be given to the water and waste sector, including radioactive waste.
•  Regional policy and cohesion: introduce the legal administrative and budgetary
   framework for a national policy to address regional disparities through and
   integrated approach, in order to participate in EU structural programmes.
4.       Programming
                                                                                          H
 ---pagebreak--- The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 90 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the
applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects.
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.      Conditionally
Community assistance will be conditional on Estonia respect of its commitments
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria. 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 [      ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in
each Financing Memorandum.
6. Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
                                                                                        °).
 ---pagebreak---                                            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 Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
strategy;
Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
to each individual Accession Partnership;
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria;
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement;
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Hungary's
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further
work;
                                                                                            7 /
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for Hungary will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of
Regulation [     ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Europe Agreement.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                          Done at..
                                                                          For the Council
                                                                                           VL
 ---pagebreak---                                         Hungary
                                         ANNEX
1.       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 Opinion on Hungary's
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to
help Hungary implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Hungary, the Joint Assessment of
Economic Policy Priorities and the Pact against organised crime and the internal
market road maps.
2.       Priorities
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Hungary will have to address all issues
identified in the Opinion.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Hungary.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
Hungary will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the
necessary staff and financial resources.
                                                                                         v>>
 ---pagebreak--- 3.1       Short-term (1998)
• Economic reform: review and update the country's medium-term economic policy
    priorities within the framework of the Europe agreement; further consolidate the
    conditions for strong investment growth through the sustained implementation of
    prudent macroeconomic policies and the advancement of structural reforms
    (particularly with regard to the public sector and the health care system).
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular in the
    areas of veterinary and phytosanitary controls (particularly as regards facilities at
    the external borders) environment, customs policy internal financial control and
    regional development.
• Internal Market: including certification and standardisation (further alignment of
    legislative measures), state aids (adoption of legislative framework, definition of
    role and powers of monitoring authority, enforcement) and increased transparency
    through improvement of aid inventory. Enforcement of intellectual property rights
    and further alignment of company law. Complete alignment of public procurement
    legislation to cover fully utilities sector.
• Justice and Home Affairs: implementation of appropriate refugee legislation
    consistent with 1951 Geneva Convention, development of effective border
    management.
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment and
    commencement of implementation of detailed approximation programmes and
    implementation strategies related to individual acts. Planning and commencement
    of implementation of these programmes and strategies.
3.2       Medium-term
• Political criteria: further efforts to improve the integration of the Roma.
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
   priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
   Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of
   economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
   convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Hungary is expected to
   pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the
   Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence
   compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Hungary is not expected
   to adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: development of
   anti fraud unit and state audit office, state aid monitoring bodies; improved
   operation of the judicial system; reinforcement of justice and home affairs
    institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), the reinforcement
   of food control administration.
• Internal Market: including further development of standardisation and
   conformity assessment bodies and establishment and operation of a market
   surveillance system, alignment of technical legislation on industrial products,
    further alignment of competition law, in particular for state aid, reinforcement of
   state aid monitoring authority, efficient enforcement of competition law, alignment
                                                                                          24
 ---pagebreak---    of capital liberalisation, financial services and consumer protection, promotion of
   enterprise development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields
   of télécoms, consumer protection and the internal energy market.
•  Justice and home affairs: including implementation of migration policy and
   asylum procedures as well as the fight against organised crime and corruption, and
   clarification of admission provisions for immigrants, notably in view of the
   Schengen acquis.
•  Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary
   and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls). Development of
   the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental
   management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural
   markets and implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and
   implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of
   certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities,
   restructuring of the agri-food sector.
•  Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport
   (technical controls), and to provide necessary investment for transport
   infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European networks.
•  Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market
   structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation
   in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety
   legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption
   of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal
   opportunities between women and men; further development of active,
   autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection, undertake
   steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms..
•  Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation
   control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of
   approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis
   should be given to the urban waste water and waste management and the integrated
   industrial pollution control and risk management.
•  Regional policy and cohesion: further strengthen budgetary procedures,
   financial instruments, monitoring and control mechanisms in order to participate in
   EU structural programmes.
4.       Programming
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 282 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the
applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects.
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.       Conditionality
                                                                                       is
 ---pagebreak--- Community assistance will be conditional on Hungary respect of its commitments
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria. 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 [     ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in
each Financing Memorandum.
6. Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
                                                                                       1Q
 ---pagebreak---                                            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 Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
strategy;
Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
to each individual Accession Partnership;
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria;
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement;
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Latvia's
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further
work;
                                                                                            1
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for Latvia will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of
Regulation [     ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Europe Agreement.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                          Done at..
                                                                          For the Council
                                                                                           6
 ---pagebreak---                                           Latvia
                                         ANNEX
1.       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 Opinion on Latvia's
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to
help Latvia implement these priorities and the conditions which -will apply to that
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Latvia, the Joint Assessment of
Economic Policy Priorities and the Pact against organised crime and the internal
market road maps.
2.       Priorities
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                 the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Latvia will have to address all issues
identified in the Opinion.
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted the serious difficulties which Latvia
faces in coping with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the
medium term, Latvia needs to make further efforts in order to meet the economic
conditions for membership. Despite the progress that has been made, particular
attention should be paid to the internal market. In addition, particular attention should
be given to measure to accelerate integration of non-citizens.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Latvia.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
 ---pagebreak--- complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
Latvia will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the
necessary staff and financial resources.
3.1      Short-term (1998)
• Political criteria: take measure to facilitate naturalisation procedures to better
    integrate non-citizens including stateless children and enhance Latvian language
    training for non-Latvian speakers.
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and
   joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; acceleration of
    market-based enterprise restructuring, in particular through the completion of the
    privatisation process; continued strengthening f the banking sector; moderisation of
    the agriculture sector and establishment of a land and property register.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: further structural
    reform of public administration is needed and in particular in customs and tax
    administration, financial control capacity, reinforcement of the agriculture ministry
    and the establishment of a training strategy for the judiciary, reinforcement of the
    veterinary and phytosanitary administrations, particularly as regards facilities at
    external borders, institutional strengthening in the area of environment, begin to set
    up structures needed for regional and structural policy.
• Internal Market: including in the areas of intellectual and industrial property
    rights, public procurement, financial services, competition, state aids and indirect
   taxation, adoption of a law on state aid and increased transparency through
    improvement of the aid inventory and reinforcement of the new anti-trust authority.
• Justice and home affairs: in particular concrete steps to combat corruption and
    organised crime and to continue judicial reform.
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of
   detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to
    individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these
    programmes and strategies.
3.2         Medium-term
• Political criteria: Accelerated integration of non-citizens by facilitating
   naturalisation procedures for stateless children. Revision of the naturalisation
   mechanism and further measures to accelerate the process.
• Economic reforms: consolidation of the privatisation process; reinforcement of
    market-driven restructuring in the enterprise, finance and banking sectors,
   development of regulatory framework for utilities and financial services, and
    strengthening of competition policy, establishment of a land and property register.
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
   priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
                                                                                           3p
 ---pagebreak--- Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of
economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Latvia is expected to
pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the
Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Latvia is not expected to
adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: enforcement of
EC's internal market legislation and establishment of institutions able to
implement the Community's regional development programmes and agricultural
policy (including statistical capacities) including anti-fraud services, strengthening
of the budgetary process and macro-economic forecasting capacity; improved
operation of the judicial system; reinforcement justice and home affairs
institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), reinforcement of
food administration.
Internal Market: including alignment of legislation in the fields of product
legislation, customs, audio-visual policies, statistics, financial services and
implementation of competition law, upgrading of standardisation and conformity
assessment structures, establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment
of horizontal technical legislation on industrial products, further alignment of
competition legislation in particular in the field of state aid, reinforcement of the
anti-trust and state aid authorities, promotion of enterprise development, including
SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection
and the internal energy market.
Justice and home affairs: including development of effective border management
in particular on the eastern border, implementation of migration policy and asylum
and refugee legislation, continuation of fight against organised crime and
corruption notably in view of the Schengen acquis.
Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), consolidation of
land structure and development of a rural policy. Development of the capacity to
implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental management
mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural markets and
implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities,
restructuring of the agri-food sector.
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road freight
transport (technical rules and taxation), shipping (safety) and rail transport, and to
provide necessary investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of
trans-European networks.
Employment and social affairs: development of labour market policies and joint
review of these policies as preparation for participation in EU co-ordination;
alignment of labour and occupational health and safety legislation and
development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption of the
framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal
opportunities between women and men; further development of active,
                                                                                       ?/
 ---pagebreak---     autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection; undertake
    steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms.
    Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation
    control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of
    approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis
    should be given to drinking water, wastewater and the waste sector.
    Regional policy and cohesion: introduce the legal administrative and budgetary
    framework for a national policy to address regional disparities through and
    integrated approach, in order to participate in EU structural programmes
4.       Programming
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 112 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Pilars budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999, in addition, Latvia is eligible for support from the
catch-up facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare Management
Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the applicant
countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. Financial
assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and a
structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.       Conditionally
Community assistance will be conditional on Latvia respect of its commitments under
the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the Copenhagen
criteria. 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 [            ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in each
Financing Memorandum.
6. Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
                                                                                        3>1-
 ---pagebreak---                                           Council Decision
                                               on
             the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions
                  contained in the Accession Partnership with Lithuania
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community;
Having regard to Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
strategy;
Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
to each individual Accession Partnership;
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria;
WTiereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
monitored in the framework of the Europe Agreement;
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Lithuania
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further
work;
                                                                                            3}
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for Lithuania will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of
Regulation [     ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Europe Agreement.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                          Done at..
                                                                          For the Council
                                                                                           ih
 ---pagebreak---                                         Lithuania
                                         ANNEX
 1.      Objectives
 The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the
priority areas for further work identified in thé Commission's Opinion on Lithuania's
 application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to
help Lithuania implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that
 assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Lithuania, the Joint Assessment of
Economic Policy Priorities the Pact against organised crime and the internal market
road maps.
2.       Priorities
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                 the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Lithuania will have to address all issues
identified in the Opinion.
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted the serious difficulties which
Lithuania faces in coping with competitive pressure and market forces within the
Union in the medium term, Lithuania needs to make further efforts in order to meet
the economic conditions for membership. Despite the progress that has been made,
particular attention should be paid to the internal market and the enforcement of
financial discipline for enterprises.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Lithuania.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
                                                                                         tf
 ---pagebreak--- complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
Lithuania will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the
necessary staff and financial resources.
3.1      Short-term (1998)
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and
   joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; acceleration of
    large scale privatisation and progress towards the restructuring of the banking,
    energy and agri-food sectors; enforcement of financial discipline for enterprises.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular major
    efforts on public administration reform, border control, customs and nuclear
   regulatory authority as well as preparation of training strategy for civil servants and
   the judiciary, veterinary and phytosanitary administrations, particularly as regards
    facilities at the external borders, institutional strengthening in the area of
    environment, begin to set up structures needed for regional and structural policy.
• Internal Market: including in the areas of phytosanitary and veterinary,
    intellectual and industrial property, public procurement, .financial services,
   upgrading of independent standardisation and conformity assessment structures
   and competition (establishment of transparent state aids inventory). Adoption of a
   new competition law.
• Justice and home affairs: in particular concrete steps to combat corruption and
   organised crime, and improve border management and conditions in facilities for
   refugee reception.
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment and
   commencement of implementation of detailed approximation programmes and
   implementation strategies related to individual acts. Planning and commencement
   of implementation of these programmes and strategies.
• Energy: in particular establishing a comprehensive, long term, energy strategy and
   decommissioning plan for the nuclear power plant Ignalina according to
   commitments entered into in the Nuclear Safety Account Agreement.
3.2       Medium-term
• Economic reforms: complete privatisation process and restructuring of the
   banking, energy and agri-food sectors, ensure functioning of land property register
   and align legal framework (bankruptcy and competition legislation, simplification
   of business regulations including licensing).
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
   priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
    Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of
   economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
   convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Lithuania is expected
   to pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the
                                                                                           3^
 ---pagebreak--- Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence
compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Lithuania is not
expected to adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: development of
anti fraud unit and state audit office and of budget and financial control
mechanisms; improved operation of the judicial system; reinforcement of justice
and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel),
the reinforcement of food control administration.
Internal Market: including alignment of capital liberalisation, public procurement
legislation, reinforcement of competition authorities, efficient enforcement of
competition law, further alignment of competition law, in particular state aid
control; upgrading of standardisation and conformity assessment structures,
establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment of horizontal
technical legislation on industrial products, indirect taxation and statistics,
promotion of enterprise development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis
in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection and the internal energy market.
Justice and home affairs: finalisation of border demarcation, development of
effective border management, implementation of migration policy and asylum
procedures notably in view of the Schengen acquis.
Agriculture: including of alignment with the agricultural acquis (including
veterinary and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls),
completion of land registration and establishment of a functioning land market.
Development of the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the
fundamental management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the
agricultural markets and implement structural and rural development measures,
adoption and implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements,
upgrading of certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic
facilities, restructuring of the agri-food sector.
Energy: implementation of a comprehensive energy strategy based on efficiency
and diversification, including respect of nuclear safety standards and realistic
nuclear power plant closure commitments. (NSA)
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on maritime
(safety) and road and rail transport, and to provide necessary investment for
transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European networks.
Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation
in EU co-ordination of employment policies, alignment of labour and occupational
health and safety legislation in particular early adoption of the framework directive
on health and safety at work, further development of an active social dialogue;
further development of social protection; enforcement of equal opportunities
between women and men, undertake steps to bring public health standards into line
with EU norms.
Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation
control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis
should be given to drinking water and the waste sector as well as nuclear safety.
                                                                                      vt
 ---pagebreak---    Regional policy and cohesion: introduce the legal administrative and budgetary
   framework for a national policy to address regional disparities through and
   integrated approach, in order to participate in EU structural programmes.
4.      Programming
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 145 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. In addition, Lithuania is eligible for support from
the "catch-up" facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by
the applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects.
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.      Conditionally
Community assistance will be conditional on Lithuania respect of its commitments
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria. 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 [       ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in
each Financing Memorandum.
6.      Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
                                                                                         f
 ---pagebreak---                                           Council Decision
                                               on
             the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions
                    contained in the Accession Partnership with Poland
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community;
Having regard to Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
strategy;
Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
to each individual Accession Partnership;
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria;
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement;
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Poland's
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further
work;
                                                                                            3f
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for Poland will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of
Regulation [     ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Europe Agreement.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                          Done at..
                                                                          For the Council
                                                                                           l^o
 ---pagebreak---                                           Poland
                                         ANNEX
 1.      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 Opinion on Poland's
 application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to
 help Poland implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that
 assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Poland, the Joint Assessment of
Economic Policy Priorities the Pact against organised crime and the internal market
road maps.
2.       Priorities
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                 the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Poland will have to address all issues
identified in the Opinion.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Poland.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
Poland will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the
necessary staff and financial resources.
                                                                                         M
 ---pagebreak--- 3.1      Short-term (1998)
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and
   joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; action to address
    the external deficit; acceleration of the privatisation of state enterprises and the
    sound development of the financial sector.
• Industrial restructuring: adoption by 30 June and start of implementation of a
   new steel sector restructuring programme.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular
    improvements in the areas of customs, state aid controls, justice and home affairs
   ministries and services, financial control, veterinary and phytosanitary controls,
    (particularly as regards facilities at the external borders), environment, taxation and
   regional policy.
• Internal Market: including in the areas of intellectual and industrial property,
    state aids (strengthening of monitoring authority, finalisation of inventory), (public
   procurement) and liberalisation of capital movements, the adoption of a law on
    state aid.
• Justice and home affairs: develop more effective border management and control
    systems in particular of the borders with Belarus and the Ukraine and visa regimes.
• Agriculture: establish a coherent structural and rural development policy;
   adoption of implementing regulations and implementation and enforcement of
   veterinary and phytosanitary requirements particularly with regard to the inspection
   and control arrangements for protecting EU external borders. In particular,
   upgrading of certain food processing establishments (milk and meat sectors) and
   certain testing and diagnostic facilities.
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of
   detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to
   individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these
   programmes and strategies.
3.2       Medium-term
• Political criteria: Further attention to ensuring press freedom and equal access to
   public services.
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
   priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
    Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of
   economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
   convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Poland is expected to
   pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the
   Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence
    compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Poland is not expected to
    adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: development of
    anti fraud unit and state audit office, strengthening of financial control capacity;
    improved operation of the judicial system; reinforcement of justice and home
    affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel),
                                                                                            L{L
 ---pagebreak--- strengthening of parliamentary lawmaking procedures, improvement of tax
gathering capacity, the reinforcement of food control administration.
Internal Market: including completion of alignment of public procurement
legislation and harmonisation of legislation on conformity assessment of products,
financial services, further improvements in the field of competition (e.g. merger
control), efficient enforcement of competition law, audio-visual, property
ownership and external frontier control, upgrading of standardisation and
conformity assessment structures, establishment of a market surveillance system
and alignment of horizontal technical legislation on industrial products,
reinforcement of the anti-trust and state aid authorities, promotion of enterprise
development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms,
consumer protection and the internal energy market.
Justice and home affairs: including development of effective border management
and implementation of migration policy and the new asylum system as well as the
fight against organised crime and corruption, implementation of reforms of
legislation on aliens, notably in view of the Schengen acquis.
Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), implementation
of structural and rural development policy. Development of the capacity to
implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental management
mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural markets and
implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities,
restructuring of the agri-food sector.
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport
(market access, safety rules and taxation) and rail, and to provide necessary
investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European
networks.
Employment and Social Affairs: development of appropriate labour market
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation
in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety
legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption
of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal
opportunities between women and men; further development of active,
autonomous social dialogue; further development of social protection, undertake
steps to bring public health standards into line with EU norms.
Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation
control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of
approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis
should be given to drinking water, waste water, the waste sector as well as to large
combustion plants.
Regional policy and cohesion: completion of legal basis, development of
administrative structures and budgetary procedures, financial instruments,
monitoring and control mechanisms in order to participate in EU structural
programmes.
                                                                                     M
 ---pagebreak--- 4.      Programming
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 526 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare
Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by
the applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects.
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.      Conditionality
Community assistance will be conditional on Poland respect of its commitments
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria. 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 [      ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in
each Financing Memorandum.
6.      Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
                                                                                        ^4
 ---pagebreak---                                             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 Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
 framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
 Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
 Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
 Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
 Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
 strategy;
• Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
 priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
 to each individual Accession Partnership;
 Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
 contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
 Copenhagen criteria;
 Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
 monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement;
 Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Romania's
 preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further
 work;
                                                                                             hÇ
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for Romania will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of
Regulation [     ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Europe Agreement.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                          Done at..
                                                                          For the Council
                                                                                           ^
 ---pagebreak---                                          Romania
                                         ANNEX
1.       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 Opinion on Romania's
application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to
help Romania implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that
assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Romania, the Joint Assessment of
Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market
road maps.
2.       Priorities
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                 the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Romania will have to address all issues
identified in the Opinion.
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted the serious difficulties which Romania
faces in coping with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the
medium term, Romania needs to make considerable further efforts in order to meet the
economic conditions for membership. Despite the progress that has been made,
Romania needs to transpose and take on the essential elements of the acquis
particularly as regards the internal market.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Romania.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
                                                                                         ^ >
 ---pagebreak--- complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
Romania will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the
necessary staff and financial resources.
3.1     Short-term (1998)
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and
   joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; joint assessment
   of economic policy priorities in the framework of the Europe Agreement; make
   satisfactory progress on the Government's economic reform programme, including
   the privatisation of two banks, the transformation into commercial companies of
   most régies autonomes, the efficient implementation of the foreign Investment
   regime, and restructuring/ privatisation of a number of large state-owned industrial
   and agricultural companies (notably by reducing their losses and financial arrears);
   continue the implementation of the agreements with the international financial
   institutions.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: adoption of draft
   law on the civil service and progress in public administration reform, phytosanitary
   and veterinary controls, particularly as regards facilities at the external borders, the
   financial sector (strengthening of supervisory bodies of banking, financial services
   and capital markets), customs; strengthening of financial control and auditing
   mechanisms and competition, anti-trust and state aid monitoring bodies,
   environment and strengthening of the nuclear regulatory authority, begin to set up
   structures needed for regional and structural policy.
• Internal Market: including the restructuring of the banking sector and the capital
   markets, the completion of company law reform, including measures for the
   promotion of enterprise development and SME's, foreign direct investment,
   harmonisation and improved application of indirect taxation. Establishment of
   standardisation and conformity assessment structures.
• Justice and Home Affairs: concrete steps to combat corruption and organised
   crime and improved border management.
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of
   detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to
   individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these
   programmes and strategies.
3.2      Medium-term
• Political criteria: continuation of child protection reform, further efforts to
   integrate the Roma, protection of individual liberties and improvement of the
    functioning of the courts.
• Economic reform: Particular attention should be devoted to creating the basis for
   a sustained increase of productivity and to the further restructuring/privatisation of
   the state-owned enterprises, including banks.
                                                                                            M
 ---pagebreak---  Economie policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
 priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
 Copenhagen criteria for membership of the union and the acquis in the area of
 economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
 convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Romania is expected to
 pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the
 Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence
 compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Romania is not expected
 to adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
 Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular the
 implementation of a comprehensive public administration reform programme;
 major efforts to improve public administration, including competition, customs
 and taxation authorities, strengthening of internal financial control; improved
 operation of the judicial system; reinforcement of justice and home affairs
 institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel), the reinforcement
of food control administration.
Internal Market: including major efforts to approximate legislation and set up
 implementation structures, harmonisation of public procurement, enforcement of
 intellectual property rights, insurance, competition policy, in particular efficient
enforcement of competition law, adoption of a law on state aid and a first state aid
 inventory, reinforcement of standardisation of conformity assessment structures,
establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment of technical
legislation on industrial products, promotion of enterprise development, including
SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection
and the internal energy market.
Justice and home affairs: including pursuit of reform of institutions and the
judiciary; improvement of border management systems, capacity to handle asylum
and migration questions, fight against organised crime and corruption, notably in
view of the Schengen acquis.
Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), Development of
the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental
management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural
markets and implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities,
restructuring of the agri-food sector.
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on maritime and
road freight sectors (safety rules), and to provide necessary investment for transport
infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European networks.
Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market
structures and joint review employment policies as preparation for participation in
EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety
legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption
of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal
opportunities between women and men; enforcement of equal opportunities
between women and men; further development of active, autonomous social
                                                                                       W
 ---pagebreak---    dialogue; development of adequate social protection, undertake steps to bring
   public health standards into line with EU norms.
• Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation
   control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of
   approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis
   should be given to air and the water sector.
• Regional policy and cohesion: complete establishment of legal basis,
   development of administrative structures and budgetary procedures. Strengthening
   financial instruments and control mechanisms in order to participate in EU
   structural programmes.
4.      Programming
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 284 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. In addition, Romania is eligible for support from
the catch-up facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare Management
Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the applicant
countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. Financial
assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and a
structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.      Conditionally
Community assistance will be conditional on Romania respect of its commitments
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria. 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 [       ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in
each Financing Memorandum.
6.      Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
                                                                                         S c^
 ---pagebreak---                                            Council Decision
                                               on
             the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions
                  contained in the Accession Partnership with Slovakia
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community;
Having regard to Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
strategy;
Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
to each individual Accession Partnership;
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria;
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
monitored in particular in the framework of the Europe Agreement;
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Slovakia's
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further
work;
                                                                                            b/
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for Slovakia will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of
Regulation [     ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Europe Agreement.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                          Done at..
                                                                          For the Council
                                                                                           ^
 ---pagebreak---                                          Slovakia
                                          ANNEX
 1.      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 Opinion on Slovakia's
 application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to
 help Slovakia implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that
 assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of
 policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their
 preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme
 for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Slovakia, the Joint Assessment of
 Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market
road maps.
2.       Priorities
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                 the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The Accession Partnerships will indicate that Slovakia will have to address all issues
identified in the Opinion.
In view of the fact that the Opinion highlighted a number of problems which Slovakia
would face in meeting the Copenhagen criteria, a particular effort is needed to
consolidate the stability and functioning of its democratic institutions and the extent to
which they are rooted in political life.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Slovakia.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
                                                                                           ^
 ---pagebreak--- Slovakia will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the
necessary staff and financial resources.
3.1       Short-term (1998)
• Political criteria: free and fair Presidential, national and local elections in 1998;
    ensuring effective opposition participation in parliamentary oversight committees
    and supervisory boards; the adoption of legislative provisions on minority language
    use and related implementing measures.
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and
   joint assessment within the framework of the Europe agreement; implementation
    of policies aimed at tackling internal and external imbalances and sustaining
    macroeconomic stability; progress on structural reforms, and on market-driven
    enterprise, finance and banking restructuring, and to continue the process of
    conversion of energy intensive heavy industries.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: including the
    adoption of a civil service law and development of public administration reform
    strategy with emphasis on the strengthening of administration dealing with EU
    accession, institutional strengthening in the area of environment, veterinary and
    phytosanitary administrations, particularly as regards facilities at the external
    borders, begin to set up structures needed for regional and structural policy..
• Internal Market: including continued legislative alignment in the fields of
    standards and certification, state aids (progress towards adoption of a law),
    intellectual property (alignment of legislation), public procurement and agriculture
    (veterinary and phytosanitary fields), establishment of standardisation and
    conformity assessment structures.
• Environment, continue transposition of framework legislation, establishment of
    detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to
    individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these
   programmes and strategies.
3.2      Medium-term
• Political criteria: further steps to ensure respect for the Constitution and rights of
   the opposition, to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, and; to foster and
   strengthen the functioning of the institutions of democracy, NGOs, an independent
   media and the policies and institutions protecting the rights of minorities.
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
   priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
   Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of
   economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
   convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Slovakia is expected to
   pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the
   Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence
   compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Slovakia is not expected
   to adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
                                                                                         &
 ---pagebreak--- Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: the state audit
office, financial control and internal audit functions, customs, banking and
financial market supervisory bodies, regional development institutional structures
and budgetary mechanisms; improved operation of the judicial system;
reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and
properly trained personnel), the reinforcement of food control administration.
Internal Market: including alignment of legislation and effective implementation
and enforcement in the fields of standards and conformity assessment, competition
(anti-trust and state aids monitoring and transparency) indirect taxation, intellectual
property (enforcement), financial services, data protection and audio-visual,
reinforcement of standardisation and conformity assessment structures,
establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment of technical
legislation on industrial products, promotion of enterprise development, including
SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields of télécoms, consumer protection
and the internal energy market.
Justice and Home Affairs: further development and strengthening of JHA
institutions (with a view in particular to ensuring the accountability of the police,
and the independence of the judiciary), to further develop effective border
management; to fight organised crime and corruption, and to align visa policy with
that of the EU and to complete alignment to international conventions, improve
capacity to handle asylum and migration questions, notably in view of the
Schengen acquis.
Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural acquis (including veterinary
and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls). Development of
the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in particular the fundamental
management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural
markets and implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and
implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of
certain food processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities,
restructuring of the agri-food sector.
Energy: implementing a comprehensive energy strategy which foresees the
alignment to and implementation of EC energy legislation as well as the
strengthening of the nuclear safety authority the completion of Mochovce nuclear
power station according to international safety standards, and implementation of a
realistic programme for the closure of the Bohunice plant.
Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport
(market access, safety rules and taxation) and rail, and to provide necessary
investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European
networks.
Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market
structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation
in EU co-ordination of employment policies, alignment of labour and occupational
health and safety legislation, in particular early adoption of the framework directive
on health and safety at work, further development of an active social dialogue;
further development of adequate social protection; enforcement of equal
opportunities between women and men, undertake steps to bring public health
standards into line with EU norms.
                                                                                        r
 ---pagebreak---    Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation
   control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of
   approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis
   should be given to air, water and the waste sector as well as the integrated
   industrial pollution control and risk management.
   Regional policy and cohesion: establishment of a legal, administrative and
   budgetary framework for an integrated regional policy in order to participate in EU
   structural programmes.
4.      Programming
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 95 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999 in addition, Slovakia is eligible for support from
the catch-up facility. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare Management
Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by the applicant
countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. Financial
assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and a
structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.      Conditionally
Community assistance will be conditional on Slovakia respect of its commitments
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment Of the
Copenhagen criteria. .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 [        ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in
each Financing Memorandum.
6.      Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
                                                                                          çc
 ---pagebreak---                                          . Council Decision
                                               on
             the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions
                  contained in the Accession Partnership with Slovenia
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community;
Having regard to Regulation [             ] on assistance to the applicant countries in the
framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of
Accession Partnerships and in particular to Article 2;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the European Council of Luxembourg has stated that the Accession
Partnership is a new instrument, the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession
strategy;
Whereas Regulation [         ] sets out that the Council shall decide on the principles,
priorities, intermediate objectives, significant adjustments and conditions applicable
to each individual Accession Partnership;
Whereas Community assistance is conditional upon the respect of the commitments
contained in the Europe Agreements and upon progress towards fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria;
Whereas it is appropriate that the implementation of the Accession Partnership be
monitored in particular in the framework of the Cooperation Agreement and the
Europe Agreement upon its entry into force;
Whereas the Commission's Opinion presented an objective analysis on Slovenia's
preparations for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further
work;
                                                                                            Sï
 ---pagebreak--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                         Article 1
The Accession Partnership for Slovenia will contain, in accordance with Article 2 of
Regulation [     ], the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions set
out in the annex which forms an integral part of this Decision.
                                         Article 2
Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of
the Cooperation Agreement and the Europe Agreement upon its entry into force.
                                         Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 15 March 1998.
                                                                          Done at..
                                                                          For the Council
                                                                                           <s
 ---pagebreak---                                          Slovenia
                                         ANNEX
 1.      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 Opinion on Slovenia's
 application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to
help Slovenia implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that
 assistance. The Accession Partnership will provide a framework for a number of
policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their
preparations for membership. These will include inter alia the National Programme
for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Slovenia, the Joint Assessment of
Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against organised crime and the internal market
road maps.
2.       Criteria
The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to
meet the Copenhagen criteria and can be grouped under three broad headings:
                 democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
                 minorities
                 the economy
                 meeting the obligations of membership
The-Accession Partnerships will indicate that Slovenia will have to address all issues
identified in the Opinion.
3.       Priorities and Intermediate Objectives
Drawing on the analysis of the Commission's Opinion and the Council's discussion of
this, the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives have
been identified for Slovenia.
The priorities have been divided into two groups. The first should be completed or
taken forward in 1998 in order to be included in the Commission's report to the
European Council at the end of 1998. The second are expected to take several years to
complete. Whilst work is already likely to start on some of these in 1998, for others
this depends on steps taken in 1998.
Slovenia will be invited to draw up a National programme for the Adoption of the
Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving
these priorities, intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the
necessary staff and financial resources.
                                                                                         ÇT
 ---pagebreak--- 3.1       Short-term (1998)
• Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and
   joint assessment within the framework of the Interim/ Cooperation agreement;
    sustainable reduction of government deficit; action on market-driven restructuring
    in the enterprise, finance and banking sectors and preparation of pension reform.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular
    introduction of civil service act, improvements in the areas of the judiciary, of land
    registration, phytosanitary and veterinary administration, particularly as regards
    facilities at the external borders, financial control and audit functions, institutional
    strengthening in the area of environment, being to set up structures needed for
    regional and structural policy.
• Internal Market: including in the areas of indirect taxation, adoption of VAT law
    and preparation for implementation in 1999. of standardisation and certification
    (conformity assessment), technical regulations, and of company legislation and
    liberalisation of capital movements, establishment of a state aid monitoring
    authority, a first aid inventory and the creation of a legal framework for state aid
   control, progress towards adoption of an anti trust law.
• Property law: further clarification of the situation pertaining to property
   legislation.
• Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, finalising the
   detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to
    individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these
   programmes and strategies.
3.2     Medium-term
• Political criteria: pursue efforts to improve the working of the judicial system and
   speed up property restitution.
• Economic policy: regular review of the joint assessment of economic policy
   priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the
   Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of
   economic and monetary policy (co-ordination of economic policies, submission of
   convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); Slovenia is expected to
   pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the
   Union's objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence
   compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro; Slovenia is not expected
   to adopt the euro immediately upon accession.
• Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: as regards public
   procurement, supervision of the insurance and security market, the Slovene
   Competition Office, completion of competition law, development and
   implementation of agricultural and regional policies, customs administration and
   enforcement of the customs code; improved operation of the judicial system;
   reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and
   properly trained personnel), the reinforcement of food control administration.
• Internal Market: including the alignment of legislation on public procurement,
   financial services, state aid (in particular alignment of monitoring rules and
   exclusive and special rights), upgrading of standardisation and conformity
   assessment structures, establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment
                                                                                             G&
 ---pagebreak---    of horizontal technical legislation on industrial products, increased efforts to
   liberalise the capital market and to facilitate foreign investments, further alignment
   of consumer protection, reinforcement of the competition office and the state aid
   monitoring authority, efficient enforcement of competition law, promotion of
   enterprise development, including SME's, alignment with the acquis in the fields
   of télécoms, consumer protection and the internal energy market.
   Justice and home affairs: completion of alignment to international conventions,
   particularly in criminal field, fight against organised crime and corruption,
   implementation of migration policy and asylum procedures, notably in view of the
    Schengen acquis.
   Nuclear safety: nuclear policy and investment plans to be adjusted in line with the
   results of the seismic risk assessment to be carried out in the surroundings of the
   Krsko NPP.
   Agriculture: establishment of a functioning land registry, strengthening of
   structural and rural development policy, including alignment with the agricultural
   acquis (including veterinary and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border
   controls). Development of the capacity to implement and enforce the CAP, in
   particular the fundamental management mechanisms and administrative structures
   to monitor the agricultural markets and implement structural and rural development
   measures, adoption and implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary
   requirements, upgrading of certain food processing establishments and testing and
   diagnostic facilities, restructuring of the agri-food sector.
   Transport: further efforts on alignment to acquis in particular on road transport
   (market access, safety rules and taxation) and rail, and to provide necessary
   investment for transport infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European
   networks.
   Employment and Social Affairs: development of appropriate labour market
   structures and joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation
   in EU co-ordination; alignment of labour and occupational health and safety
   legislation and development of enforcement structures in particular early adoption
   of the framework directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal
   opportunities between women and men; further development of active,
   autonomous social dialogue; further development of adequate social protection.
   Environment: including the development of monitoring and implementation
   control structures and capacities, continuous planning and implementation of
   approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis
   should be given to the waste water sector as well as the integrated industrial
   pollution control and risk management.
   Regional policy and cohesion: introduce the legal administrative and budgetary
   framework for a national policy to address regional disparities through and
   integrated approach, in order to participate in EU structural programmes.
4.      Programming
The Phare allocation for the period 1995-1997 has totalled 72 mecu. Subject to the
approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm
the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare
                                                                                          £f
 ---pagebreak--- Management Committee as provided for in Regulation 3906/89. Joint financing by
the applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects.
Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and
a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the cohesion
fund.
5.      Conditionally
Community assistance will be conditional on Slovenia respect of its commitments
under the Europe Agreement as well as continued progress in fulfilment of the
Copenhagen criteria. 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 [      ]. Specific project related conditions will be agreed in
each Financing Memorandum.
6.      Monitoring
The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework
of the Europe Agreement. The Accession Partnership may be amended as necessary
and will be reviewed in 1999.
                                                                                        67-
 ---pagebreak---                                                                    ISSN 0254-1475
                                                             COM(98) 53 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                 01  06   11
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-068-EN-C
                                                              ISBN 92-78-30899-4
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
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