OBJECTIVE: to establish, pursuant to the European Council in Luxembourg, a single framework
within which all forms of Community assistance to applicant countries are mobilized, as the key
feature of pre-accession strategy.
COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation (EC)622/98 on assistance to the applicant states
in the framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of Accession
Partnerships.
SUBSTANCE: This regulation forms the basic framework for each of the Accession Partnerships
of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and is the key feature of the pre-accession strategy.
These partnerships, established individually with each applicant, covers the priorities on which
preparation for accession must concentrate and the financial resources to implement these priorities
(see COS0684). The regulation has no financial impact, as Community assistance is provided for
in the specific programmes and regulations (principally PHARE and the Europe agreements). The
Council, on a proposal by the Commission, shall decide by qualified majority on the principles,
priorities and intermediate objectives of the Accession Partnerships and on subsequent significant
adjustments. The grant of pre-accession assistance will be subject to respect for democratic
principles, the rule of law, human rights and minority rights. Where an element that is essential for
continuing to grant pre-accession assistance is lacking or if the commitments contained in the
Europe Agreement or progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria are insufficient, the
Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate
steps with regard to such assistance.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 23.03.1998
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