PURPOSE : to open up the Leonardo da Vinci II, Socrates II and Youth programmes to Malta.
CONTENT : in the case of training, education and youth programmes, the participation of Malta was already foreseen in the decisions establishing the first phase of the Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates programmes, and in the decision establishing the Youth for Europe programme. This participation did not take place, due to the decision of the Maltese Government formed in the wake of the October 1996 elections to put Malta's application for EU membership on ice. The Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates and Youth for Europe programmes expired on 31 December 1999.
The second phase of Leonardo da Vinci, the second phase of Socrates, and a new Youth programme, are succeeding the previous programmes. Now Malta has rejoined the pre-accession strategy, and the decisions establishing these new programmes provide that the programmes shall be open to the participation of Malta.
As the participation of Malta in Community programmes is not provided in its Association Agreement, the conditions and modalities of its participation are to be defined in an agreement with the Community.
Malta has confirmed its willingness to participate in the second phase of Leonardo da Vinci, and the second phase of Socrates as from 2000, and in the Youth programme from 2001, and to pay its financial contribution partly from its national budget, and partly from the pre-accession funds. Due to the late availability of the pre-accession funds, Malta will pay its contribution to Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci in 2000 entirely from its national budget. For the following years, it will partly use the pre-accession funds.
Because of the transnational nature of these programmes, it is in the interests of all Parties that the agreement enter into force by the Autumn, so that projects involving Malta which have already been submitted can be taken into account in the selection process.
The early adoption of the Agreement would allow Malta to participate in the second phases of these programmes and also be fully integrated in Community network and other activites in the fields of vocational training, education and youth.
Accordingly, the Council is invited to adopted this proposal for a Decision as soon as possible and to notify the Maltese authorities that the procedures necessary for the entry into force of the Agreement have been completed on behalf of the European Community.�