PURPOSE : to set out the implementation of the pre-accession strategy for Malta and Cyprus.
COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Regulation 555/2000/EC on the implementation of operations in the framework of the pre-accession strategy for the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Malta.
CONTENT : The Regulation states that the Union's pre-accesion strategy for Cyprus and Malta shall be based in particular on:
-the establishment of Accession Partnerships with Cyprus and Malta.
-support for priority operations to prepare for accession, as defined within the accession partnerships with Cyprus and Malta on the basis of analyses of their economic situations, taking account of the Copenhagen criteria.
-participation in certain Community programmes and agencies.
Acting on a proposal from the Commission the Council shall decide by qualified majority on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the individual Accession Partnerships to be submitted by Cyprus and Malta, as well as on subsequent significant adjustments to them. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the Regulation shall be EUR 95 million for the period expiring on 31 December 2004. The annual appropriations will be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective.
Cooperation projects and operations will be in the form of grants and may be financed inthe following indicative areas:
-technical assisstance, training or other services, supplies and works, audits and evaluations.
-any operations to contribute to the reconciliation of the two Cypriot communities. Community financing may cover investment, with the exception of the purchase of buildings,and recurring costs including administrative, maintenance and operating costs, taking into account that projects must aim to have recurring costs taken over by beneficiaries. If the commitments contained in the Association Agreements are not respected and/or progress towards the fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria is insufficient, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate steps with egard to any pre-accession assistance granted to Cyprus or Malta. The Commission will regularly assess operations financed by the Community to establish whether the objectives have been achieved and to provide guidelines for improving the effectivenesss of future operations. Assessment reports shall be sent to any Member States requesting them and to the European Parliament. The Commission will submit to Parliament and Council an annual overall assessment of operations financed by the Community under this Regulation, together with suggestions regarding the future of this Regulation and, where neccessary, proposals for amendment.
ENTRY INTO FORCE : 19.03.2000.�