title: 2004/586/EC: Council Decision of 19 July 2004 outlining the general approach for the reallocation of resources under Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 on Community support for preaccession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the preaccession period

text:
               4.8.2004

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 257/6

      COUNCIL DECISION

   of 19 July 2004
   outlining the general approach for the reallocation of resources under Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 on Community support for preaccession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the preaccession period
   (2004/586/EC)
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
   Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 of 21 June 1999 on Community support for preaccession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the preaccession period (1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 15 thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               The Copenhagen European Council of 12 and 13 December 2002 endorsed the results of the negotiations, which have since then resulted in the accession to the Community of eight countries which at that time benefited from the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999. Following their accession to the European Union on 1 May 2004, those countries lost the benefit of the aid provided by that Regulation. Consequently, in the period from 2004 to 2006 only Bulgaria and Romania will continue to benefit from commitments under that Regulation.

               (2)

               By endorsing the roadmaps for Bulgaria and Romania, as proposed by the Commission, the Copenhagen European Council agreed to fix the ratio for the division (30 % and 70 % respectively) of the aid under the Phare programme set up pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89 of 18 December 1989 on economic aid to the Republic of Hungary and the Polish People’s Republic (2), the special accession programme for agriculture and rural development (Sapard) set up under Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 and the Instrument for Structural Policies for Preaccession (ISPA), set up pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1267/1999 (3).

               (3)

               That ratio takes account of the need and capacity for absorbing assistance referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 as well as the criteria for the financial allocation to each applicant country as stipulated in Article 7(3) of that Regulation.

               (4)

               The Council, in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999, is to adopt the general approach for reallocation of the available financial resources for the Sapard instrument between the remaining beneficiary countries, namely Romania and Bulgaria,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Sole Article
   For the period 2004 to 2006, the division between Romania and Bulgaria of resources available by virtue of the commitments entered into pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 shall be established at a rate of 70 % for Romania and 30 % for Bulgaria.

      Done at Brussels, 19 July 2004.

            For the Council

            The President

         C. VEERMAN

      (1)  OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 87. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 769/2004 (OJ L 123, 27.4.2004, p. 1).

      (2)  OJ L 375, 23.12.1989, p. 11. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 769/2004.

      (3)  OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 73. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 769/2004.


title: 2004/648/EC: Council Decision of 13 September 2004 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with Croatia

text:
               22.9.2004

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 297/19

      COUNCIL DECISION

   of 13 September 2004
   on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with Croatia
   (2004/648/EC)
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
   Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 of 22 March 2004 on the establishment of European Partnerships in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association process (1) and in particular to Article 2 thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               The Thessaloniki European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 endorsed the ‘Thessaloniki Agenda for the western Balkans: moving towards European integration’ where the drawing-up of European Partnerships is mentioned as one of the means to intensify the Stabilisation and Association process.

               (2)

               Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 sets out that the Council is to decide, by a qualified majority and following a proposal from the Commission, on the principles, priorities and conditions to be contained in the European Partnerships, as well as any subsequent adjustments. It also states that the follow up of the implementation of the European Partnerships will be ensured through the mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association process, notably the Annual Reports.

               (3)

               The Commission’s opinion on Croatia’s application for membership presents an analysis of Croatia’s preparations for further integration with the European Union and identifies a number of priority areas for further work.

               (4)

               In order to prepare for further integration with the European Union, Croatia should develop a plan with a timetable and details to address the priorities of the European Partnership,

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   In accordance with Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 533/2004, the principles, priorities and conditions in the European Partnership with Croatia are set out in the Annex hereto, which forms an integral part of this Decision.
   Article 2
   The implementation of the European Partnership shall be examined through the framework of the mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association process.
   Article 3
   This Decision shall take effect on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

      Done at Brussels, 13 September 2004.

            For the Council

            The President

         B. R. BOT

      (1)  OJ L 86, 24.3.2004, p. 1.

      ANNEX
      1.   INTRODUCTION
      The Thessaloniki Agenda for the western Balkans identifies ways and means of intensifying the Stabilisation and Association process, inter alia, through the introduction of European Partnerships.
      Based on the Commission’s Opinion on Croatia’s application for membership, the purpose of the European Partnership with Croatia is to identify priorities for action in order to support efforts to move closer to the European Union within a coherent framework. The priorities are adapted to Croatia's specific needs and stage of preparation and will be updated as necessary. The European Partnership also provides guidance for financial assistance to Croatia.
      It is expected that Croatia will adopt a plan including a timetable and details in terms of how it intends to address the European Partnership priorities. The plan should also indicate ways to pursue the Thessaloniki agenda, the priorities on fighting organised crime and corruption and the measures on integrated border management presented at the JHA ministerial meeting held in Brussels on 28 November 2003 in the framework of the EU-western Balkans Forum.
      2.   PRINCIPLES
      The Stabilisation and Association process remains the framework for the European course of the western Balkan countries, all the way to their future accession.
      The main priorities identified for Croatia relate to its capacity to meet the criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council of 1993 and the conditions set for the Stabilisation and Association process, notably the conditions defined by the Council in its conclusions of 29 April 1997 and 21 and 22 June 1999, the content of the final declaration of the Zagreb Summit of 24 November 2000 and the Thessaloniki agenda.
      3.   PRIORITIES
      The European Partnership indicates the main priority areas for Croatia’s preparations for further integration with the European Union, based on the analysis in the Commission's Opinion on Croatia’s application for membership. The priorities listed in this European Partnership have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to expect that Croatia can complete them or take them substantially forward over the next few years. A distinction is made between short-term priorities, which are expected to be accomplished within one to two years, and medium-term priorities, which are expected to be accomplished within three to four years.
      It should be recalled that where legislative approximation is concerned, incorporation of the EU acquis into legislation is not in itself sufficient; it will also be necessary to prepare for its full implementation.
      3.1.   SHORT-TERM PRIORITIES
      Political criteria
      Democracy and rule of law
      Strengthen the judicial system
      Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for judicial reform in consultation with interested bodies, including the adoption of necessary new legislation and the establishment of a career management system which also includes an open, fair and transparent system for recruitment, evaluation and mobility. Enhance professionalism in the judiciary by ensuring adequate State funding for the training institutions for judges and other judicial officials, allowing it to develop high-quality training for judges, prosecutors and administrative staff. Provide for adequate initial and vocational training schemes. Address the problem of backlog in courts. Take measures to ensure proper and full execution of court rulings.
      Improve the fight against corruption
      Take steps to ensure that the legal framework for tackling corruption is implemented and enforced. In particular strengthen the administrative and operational capacity of the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK). Further develop a national strategy for preventing and combating corruption, and provide for the required coordination among the relevant government departments and bodies as regards the implementation of action. Introduce codes of conduct/ethics for officials and elected representatives. Take concrete actions to raise awareness of corruption as a serious criminal offence.
      Improve the functioning of the public administration
      Take initial steps to ensure the use of transparent procedures for recruitment and promotion and to improve human resource management in all bodies of the public administration in order to ensure accountability, openness and transparency of the public service.
      Human rights and protection of minorities
      Improve respect for minority rights
      Ensure implementation of the Constitutional Law on National Minorities. In particular ensure proportional representation of minorities in local and regional self government units, in the State administration and judicial bodies, and in bodies of the public administration as regulated by the Law. Provide the necessary means, including adequate funding, to ensure proper functioning of elected Minority Councils. Implement the new strategy for the protection and integration of Roma.
      Speed up refugee return
      Complete the processing of requests for housing reconstruction already submitted, by April 2004; reconstruct all houses for which there is a positive decision by April 2005; ensure an adequate public awareness campaign for potential beneficiaries, following the re-opening of the deadline for submission of requests for reconstruction from 1 April to 30 September 2004. Complete the repossession of houses by June 2004. Implement legislation for compensation of lost tenancy/occupancy rights inside and outside the areas of special State concern. Secure adequate coordination and cooperation between all relevant authorities on central and local level. Create social and economic conditions to improve the climate for returnees and the acceptance of returnees by receiving communities. Enhance regional cooperation for accelerating the process of refugee return.
      Enhance the freedom of expression and ensure democratic functioning of the media
      Review the media legislation in line with the recommendations formulated in February 2004 by the joint expertise mission of the Council of Europe, the Commission and the OSCE. In particular, review the Electronic Media Act in order to establish a transparent, predictable and effective regulatory framework (including progressive alignment with the EU acquis through the full implementation of the already ratified Convention of the Council of Europe on Transfrontier Television); ensure political and financial independence of the Council for Electronic Media; ensure that Croatian Radio and Television and its Programme Council work independently and remain stable while the Croatian Radio and Television Act is reviewed; ensure that the review of the Media Act and legislation concerning defamation reflects European standards as defined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.
      Improve cooperation with the Ombudsman taking fully into consideration the findings expressed in his recommendations and annual report.
      Regional cooperation
      Ensure full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
      Enhance regional cooperation
      Work to find definitive solutions to pending bilateral issues, in particular border issues with Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina without taking unilateral initiatives. Resolve all issues arising from the unilateral declaration of the protected ‘Ecological and fishing zone’ in the Adriatic. Ensure implementation of all regional free trade agreements. Conclude and implement a set of agreements with neighbouring countries in the fields of fight against organised crime, border management and readmission. Start implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of the South East Europe Core Regional Transport Network and in particular take measures to set up the cooperation mechanisms, i.e. the Steering Committee and the South East Europe Transport Observatory (SEETO). Make progress in meeting commitments under the 2002 and 2003 Memoranda of the Athens process on the Regional Energy Market in South East Europe.
      Ensure proper implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in the field of regional cooperation
      Conclude negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the bilateral convention on regional cooperation
      Economic criteria

         Sustain prudent, stability-oriented macro-economic policies, including the development of market-based monetary instruments to enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy.

      Accelerate enterprise restructuring and privatisation
      Remove uncertainties through the swift adoption of pending legislation. Accelerate enterprise restructuring and privatisation of socially owned enterprises. Develop and adopt strategies for the restructuring and privatisation or liquidation of large public enterprises, particularly in manufacturing, agriculture, transport, tourism and public utilities. Adopt and start implementing a restructuring programme in the steel sector in line with EU requirements.
      Reduce barriers to market entry and exit
      Simplify the rules for market entry and market exit of enterprises. In particular, speed up registration procedures and improve the implementation of bankruptcy rules.
      Accelerate land reform, and in particular registration and privatisation of agricultural land, through the establishment of a modern and efficient cadastre and land registry to eliminate the current obstacles to the development of land and housing markets.
      Adopt a medium-term fiscal framework reflecting continued fiscal adjustment and consolidation.
      Continue structural reforms in public finance, particularly in the area of expenditure management. Establish a transparent and efficient debt management capacity.
      Ability to assume the obligations of membership
      Internal market and trade
      Free movement of goods
      Restructure the existing institutional framework in order to complete the necessary separation between the regulatory, accreditation, standardisation and product certification functions. Continue work on the transposition of old approach and new approach directives.
      Abolish remaining measures having equivalent effect to quantitative restrictions on imports from the EU.
      Establish the necessary administrative structures to ensure a comprehensive approach to enhance food safety throughout the entire food chain.
      Ensure that an effective and transparent public procurement regime becomes fully operational and adopt the necessary implementing regulations.
      Freedom to provide services
      Strengthen the regulatory and administrative framework for the supervision of financial services and in particular of the insurance market, investment services and securities markets.
      Establish an independent supervisory authority in the area of personal data protection.
      Free movement of capital
      Improve anti-money laundering legislation and complete the establishment of an effective anti-money laundering system.
      Company law
      Continue legislative alignment in order to guarantee a level of protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights similar to that existing in the EU and strengthen administrative capacity in order to provide effective means of enforcing such rights.
      Competition
      Continue alignment with the EU acquis, enforce anti-trust and State aid legislation and adopt relevant implementing regulations. Strengthen the administrative capacity and the independence of the Agency for the Protection of Market Competition, both in the fields of State aid and anti-trust. Improve transparency in the field of State aid, inter alia, by providing to the EU a regular annual report, and establish a comprehensive inventory of State aid schemes.
      Taxation
      Start reviewing the present tax legislation and the administrative procedures in order to ensure effective enforcement of tax legislation.
      Strengthen the capacity of the tax and customs administrations, particularly regarding collection and control functions; create a functioning and adequately staffed excise duty service; simplify procedures to effectively prosecute tax fraud.
      Start developing the necessary IT systems so as to allow for the exchange of electronic data with the EU and its Member States.
      Customs union
      Strengthen the administrative and operational capacity of customs services, in particular with regard to the control of preferential rules of origin, and continue alignment with the EU Customs Code.
      Further enhance administrative cooperation in the customs sector in accordance with the Interim Agreement.
      External relations
      Implement properly the protocol on the adaptation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement/Interim Agreement to take account of EU enlargement.
      Sectoral policies
      Agriculture
      Start setting up a proper land parcel identification system and animal identification system in line with the acquis. Reinforce the collection and processing of agricultural statistics in line with EU standards and methodology.
      Develop a strategy to establish effective and financially sound paying bodies for the management and control of agricultural funds, in line with EU requirements and international auditing standards.
      Reinforce the administrative structures needed to establish a rural development strategy and policy instruments for the design, implementation, management, monitoring, control and evaluation of rural development programmes.
      Continue alignment with the EU acquis in the veterinary and phytosanitary sector, upgrade inspection arrangements, modernise meat and dairy plants in order to meet EU hygiene and public health standards. Align the import regime for live animals and animal products with international sanitary and phytosanitary obligations and the EU acquis.
      Fisheries
      Start establishing adequate administrative and inspection structures for the fisheries policy. Following Croatia's unilateral decision of October 2003 to expand its jurisdiction in the Adriatic, evaluate with the Commission and interested neighbouring countries, in particular Slovenia and Italy, the consequences for fishing activities in the area, with a view to elaborating appropriate solutions, within the framework of the conclusions of the Venice Conference on the Sustainable development of fisheries in the Mediterranean, to ensure the continuity of Community fishing activities.
      Transport
      Continue legislative alignment and strengthen administrative capacity in the aviation sector.
      Statistics
      Strengthen the administrative capacity of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics and improve coordination with other producers of official statistics in Croatia. Submit to the Commission a new proposal for statistical regions, in line with EU requirements.
      Telecommunications and information technologies
      Strengthen the capacity of the national regulatory authorities in the fields of telecommunications and postal services and ensure their independence.
      Environment
      Develop horizontal legislation, including on environmental impact assessment and public participation.
      Strengthen the administrative capacity at national and regional level to ensure planning, including preparation of financial strategies.
      Strengthen the capacity of national and regional inspection services and enable them to effectively enforce environmental legislation.
      Adopt and start implementing a waste management plan.
      Financial control
      Develop a policy for the establishment of a Public Internal Financial Control system. Establish or reinforce public internal control functions through provision of adequate staff, training and equipment, including functionally independent internal audit units.
      Establish effective procedures for the detection, treatment and financial, administrative and judicial follow-up of irregularities affecting the Communities' financial interests.
      Cooperation in justice and home affairs
      Border management
      Strengthen border management reinforcing in particular the surveillance of the sea borders; adopt and implement an integrated border management strategy; increase investments in technical equipment and infrastructure; strengthen specialised training for border officers.
      In coordination with all relevant agencies, implement the measures which were adopted by the Government and presented at the meeting of JHA ministers in the framework of the EU-western Balkans Forum on 28 November 2003.
      Organised crime, drugs, corruption and terrorism
      Implement the action-oriented measures which were adopted by the Government and presented at the meeting of JHA ministers in the framework of the EU-western Balkans Forum on 28 November 2003.
      Improve coordination between law enforcement bodies and the judiciary, particularly in connection with economic crime, organised crime, fraud, money laundering and corruption; reinforce the fight against drug trafficking and strengthen drug prevention and drug demand reduction; strengthen the administrative capacity of USKOK.
      Continue to prepare for the conclusion of a cooperation agreement with Europol.
      Increase international cooperation and full implementation of the relevant international conventions relating to terrorism; improve cooperation and exchange of information between police and intelligence services within the State and with other States; reinforce the prevention of financing of and preparation of acts of terrorism.
      Migration and asylum
      Implement the new asylum legislation, including the establishment of a temporary reception centre.
      3.2.   MEDIUM-TERM PRIORITIES
      Political criteria
      Democracy and rule of law
      Further strengthen the judicial system.
      Continue implementation of judiciary reform and take measures further to reduce the backlog of cases in all courts; rationalise the organisation of courts including the development of modern information technology systems and an adequate level of administrative staff; ensure the regular and effective enforcement of court decisions; ensure access to justice and legal aid and make available the corresponding budgetary resources; enhance training in EU legislation.
      Further enhance the fight against corruption and organised crime
      Foster further progress in the field of the fight against corruption and implement related legislation. In particular, establish specialist units for combating corruption within the appropriate services and provide them with adequate training and resources. Ensure that the standards set by international instruments will be met, by putting in place the appropriate legislative and administrative measures. Facilitate the placement of liaison officers, seconded by EU member States in the relevant state bodies involved in the fight against organised crime. Provide six-monthly reports to the EU on tangible results achieved in the judicial pursuit of organised crime related activities under the terms of the United Nations Convention on trans-national organised crime, known as the Palermo Convention.
      Further improve the functioning of the public administration
      Continue the process of institution building directly relevant to the acquis and introduce reforms to improve the effectiveness of the public administration generally. Complete the denationalisation process.
      Human rights and the protection of minorities
      Ensure continued respect for minority rights
      Continue improving the situation of the Roma through strengthened implementation of the relevant strategy, including the provision of the necessary financial support at national and local levels, anti-discrimination measures aimed at fostering employment opportunities, increasing access to education and improving housing conditions.
      Complete the process of refugee return through proper and timely implementation of the relevant legislation. Ensure economic and social reintegration of returnees through regional development programmes in affected areas.
      Regional cooperation
      Further enhance regional cooperation
      With regard to the Athens process on the Regional Energy Market in south-east Europe, prepare for the establishment of an integrated regional energy market.
      Economic Criteria
      Further improve conditions for private enterprises
      Make substantial progress in the privatisation process and continue efforts to improve the conditions for the creation and development of private enterprises. Make substantial progress in the area of large enterprise restructuring.
      Complete land reform with particular emphasis on the registration and privatisation of agricultural land.
      Continue labour market reform
      Continue efforts to improve labour market responsiveness and increase labour force participation.
      Continue implementation of a sustainable medium-term fiscal framework through a continuous reduction of overall public spending as a share of GDP. Prioritise public spending to free resources for EU acquis-related expenditure, including reform of the health care and pension system. Continue to reduce subsidies to large loss-making enterprises. On this basis, further reduce the general government deficit and the public sector debt burden.
      Ability to assume the obligations of membership
      Internal market and trade
      Free movement of goods
      Make substantial progress in the transposition of old and new approach directives and in the adoption of EU standards.
      Continue alignment of Croatian foodstuff legislation and strengthen the necessary implementing structures.
      Implement a public procurement regime disposing of all relevant administrative structures and make substantial progress in the work towards complete alignment with the EU acquis.
      Free movement of persons
      Continue alignment with the EU acquis on mutual recognition of professional qualifications and diplomas, including education and training provisions, further develop the required administrative structures.
      Abolish any discriminatory measures towards EU migrant workers and EU citizens; reinforce administrative structures for coordination of social security schemes.
      Freedom to provide services
      Abolish the remaining barriers to establishment and provision of cross-border services by natural or legal persons from the EU.
      Continue alignment of data protection legislation; strengthen and ensure the independence of the supervisory authority.
      Free movement of capital
      Work towards removing remaining restrictions on capital movements; continue alignment of legislation on payment systems and ensure effective implementation.
      Strengthen the administrative capacity of the financial intelligence unit and improve its cooperation with other institutions involved in the fight against money laundering.
      Company law
      Complete alignment in the field of intellectual and industrial property rights and strengthen enforcement in the fight against piracy and counterfeiting.
      Competition
      Reinforce the anti-trust and State aid authority and build up a credible enforcement record. Substantially improve transparency in the field of State aid. Develop training on competition law and policy at all levels of the administration and the judiciary.
      Taxation
      Continue work towards completing alignment with the tax acquis as regards VAT and excise duties, with particular attention to including the free zones in the territorial application of VAT and to abolishing the existing VAT zero rates and the sales tax.
      Commit to the principles of the Code of Conduct for business taxation and ensure that new tax measures are in conformity with these principles.
      Continue strengthening the tax administration, including the IT sector, and ensure its proper functioning in order to reach EU standards and IT systems interconnectivity. Develop and implement a Code of Ethics.
      Customs union
      Strengthen and consolidate the administrative and operational capacity of customs services. Expand training of all staff and increase the use of information technologies, the design and use of which should be compatible with EU systems in order to secure interconnectivity. Develop and implement a Code of Ethics for the customs service. Strengthen auditing and the use of risk assessment and selectivity.
      Pursue alignment in the areas of free zones, transit, fees, tariff ceilings and the Generalised System of Preferences.
      Sectoral policies
      Agriculture
      Strengthen the administrative structures needed to implement market and rural development policies; establish a vineyard register in line with EU standards. Continue preparations for the establishment of a fully-functioning administration and control system and a paying agency in line with EU requirements.
      Continue and substantially improve alignment with the EU acquis in the veterinary and phytosanitary sectors, including a system for animal identification, animal waste treatment, modernisation of meat and dairy plants, animal disease control programmes and plant protection; significantly upgrade inspection structures.
      Fisheries
      Continue the establishment of adequate administrative structures and equipment to ensure effective implementation of the fisheries policy, including management of resources, inspection and control of fishing activities, market policy, structural programmes, a fishing vessel register and a management plan for the fleet capacity in accordance with available fish resources.
      Transport
      Continue alignment with the EU acquis and develop adequate administrative capacity in the areas of road transport (social, technical and fiscal provisions), rail transport (in particular interoperability provisions and the independent allocation of capacity) and maritime transport (in particular in the area of maritime safety). Reach full alignment with the EU acquis in the field of aviation, in the framework of an agreement on Croatian participation in the European common aviation market.
      Economic and monetary union
      Continue alignment of the legislation governing the central bank. Improve monetary policies to expand the use and effectiveness of market-oriented monetary instruments.
      Social policy and employment
      Continue alignment with EU legislation in the fields of occupational health and safety, labour law, equal treatment for women and men and anti-discrimination; strengthen related administrative structures and those required for the coordination of social security.
      Develop and implement a comprehensive employment strategy involving all relevant actors with a view to later participation in the European Employment Strategy, matched by appropriate capacity building for analysis, implementation and assessment.
      Further develop the capacity of the social partners, notably in bipartite social dialogue, to develop and implement the EU acquis.
      Continue alignment of public health legislation and increase investment in health care.
      Energy
      Continue alignment with the EU acquis on the internal energy market (electricity and gas), improve energy efficiency, promote renewable energy sources, build up oil stocks to ensure adequate security of supply, ensure nuclear safety and radiation protection; strengthen administrative capacity in all these areas.
      Small and medium-sized enterprises
      Continue implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises. Further simplify company registration procedures.
      Science and research
      Strengthen research and technological development capacity in order to ensure successful participation in the Community Framework Programmes.
      Education and training
      Step up efforts to create a modern vocational education and training system.
      Telecommunications and information technologies
      Adopt the necessary primary and secondary legislation to complete the regulatory framework and introduce competition in all fields. Adopt a coherent strategy for the promotion of a knowledge-based economy.
      Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments
      Ensure a clear distribution of responsibilities and effective inter-ministerial coordination in order to develop a comprehensive and coherent strategy in the field of regional development. Set up partnership structures ensuring close cooperation between relevant stakeholders at national and regional level.
      Ensure that the designated managing and paying authorities will progressively build up their capacity; design and implement regional development plans; enhance financial management and control procedures; set up proper monitoring and evaluation systems.
      Environment
      Ensure the integration of environmental protection requirements into the definition and implementation of other sectoral policies with a view to promoting sustainable development; implement horizontal legislation.
      Continue work on the transposition of the EU acquis, with particular emphasis on waste management, water quality, air quality, nature protection and integrated pollution prevention and control. Develop an environmental investment strategy based on estimations of the costs of alignment. Increase investments in environmental infrastructure, with particular emphasis on waste water collection and treatment, drinking water supply and waste management.
      Consumer and Health Protection
      Continue alignment with the EU acquis on safety-related measures and strengthen the administrative capacity needed for effective market surveillance.
      Financial control
      Develop a coherent legislative framework and efficient mechanisms for monitoring, controlling and auditing public income and expenditure.
      Develop effective mechanisms for the communication of irregularities affecting the Communities’ financial interests to the Commission and establish the necessary coordination methods.
      Cooperation in justice and home affairs
      Border management
      Strengthen border control, develop national databases and registers and ensure coordination between the relevant services.
      Organised crime and corruption
      Improve the equipment and infrastructure of the police, including the establishment of a computer-based investigation system; strengthen cooperation between the police and other law enforcement agencies; reinforce the fight against drug trafficking, organised crime, economic crime (including money-laundering and counterfeiting of currencies), fraud and corruption; improve alignment of the related national legislation with the acquis in these sectors.
      4.   PROGRAMMING
      Community assistance under the Stabilisation and Association process to the western Balkan countries will be provided by the relevant financial instruments, and in particular by Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 (1) of 5 December 2000 on assistance for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; accordingly, this Decision will have no financial implications. In addition Croatia will have access to funding from multi-country and horizontal programmes. The Commission is working with the European Investment Bank and the International Financial Institutions, in particular the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank, with a view to facilitate the co-financing of projects relating to the Stabilisation and Association process.
      5.   CONDITIONALITY
      Community assistance under the Stabilisation and Association process to the western Balkan countries is conditional on further progress in satisfying the Copenhagen political criteria. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead the Council to take appropriate measures on the basis of Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000.
      Community assistance shall also be subject to the conditions defined by the Council in its conclusions of 29 April 1997, in particular as regards the recipient’s undertaking to carry out democratic, economic and institutional reforms, taking into account the priorities set out in this European Partnership.
      6.   MONITORING
      The follow up of the European Partnership is ensured through the mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association process and notably the Annual Reports on the Stabilisation and Association process.

         (1)  OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2415/2001 (OJ L 327, 12.12.2001, p. 3).


title: 2004/652/EC, Euratom: Council Decision of 13 September 2004 appointing a new member of the Commission of the European Communities

text:
               23.9.2004

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 298/24

      COUNCIL DECISION

   of 13 September 2004
   appointing a new member of the Commission of the European Communities
   (2004/652/EC, Euratom)
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 215 thereof,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 128 thereof,
   Whereas:

         HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   Mr Louis MICHEL is hereby appointed a member of the Commission for the period from 13 September 2004 to 31 October 2004.
   Article 2
   This Decision shall take effect on 13 September 2004.
   Article 3
   This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

      Done at Brussels, 13 September 2004.

            For the Council

            The President

         B. R. BOT


title: 2012/28/CFSP: Political and Security Committee Decision EUPOL COPPS/1/2011 of 20 December 2011 extending the mandate of the Head of the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS)

text:
               13.1.2012

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 9/15

         POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION EUPOL COPPS/1/2011
   of 20 December 2011
   extending the mandate of the Head of the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS)
   (2012/28/CFSP)
   THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,
   Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 38 thereof,
   Having regard to Council Decision 2010/784/CFSP of 17 December 2010 on the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) (1), and in particular Article 10(1) thereof,
   Whereas:

               (1)

               Pursuant to Decision 2010/784/CFSP, the Political and Security Committee (PCS) is authorised, in accordance with the third paragraph of Article 38 of the Treaty, to take the relevant decisions for the purpose of exercising the political control and strategic direction of EUPOL COPPS, including in particular the decision to appoint a Head of Mission.

               (2)

               On 15 December 2009, upon a proposal by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affaires and Security Policy (HR), the PSC appointed by Decision EUPOL COPPS/2/2009 (2) Mr Henrik MALMQUIST as Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS.

               (3)

               The HR has proposed that the mandate of Mr MALMQUIST as Head of EUPOL COPPS be extended from 1 January 2012 until 30 June 2012,

         HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
   Article 1
   The mandate of Mr Henrik MALMQUIST as Head of the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) is hereby extended from 1 January 2012 until 30 June 2012.
   Article 2
   This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
   It shall apply until 30 June 2012.

      Done at Brussels, 20 December 2011.

            For the Political and Security Committee

            The Chairperson

         O. SKOOG

      (1)  OJ L 335, 18.12.2010, p. 60.

      (2)  OJ L 330, 16.12.2009, p. 78.


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31998D0554

98/554/EC: Commission Decision of 3 September 1998 accepting undertakings in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of flat pallets of wood originating in the Republic of Poland (notified under document number C(1998) 2553)

Official Journal L 266 , 01/10/1998 P. 0082 - 0083

COMMISSION DECISION of 3 September 1998 accepting undertakings in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of flat pallets of wood originating in the Republic of Poland (notified under document number C(1998) 2553) (98/554/EC)THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 905/98 (2), and in particular Article 8(1) thereof,Having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1023/97 (3), as amended by Regulations (EC) No 1632/97 (4) and 1633/97 (5), and in particular Article 2 thereof,After consulting the Advisory Committee,Whereas:A. PREVIOUS PROCEDURE (1) The Commission, by Regulation (EC) No 1023/97 (hereinafter referred to as 'the provisional Regulation`), imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on certain imports of flat pallets of wood falling within CN code ex 4415 20 20 originating in the Republic of Poland and accepted undertakings offered from certain exporting producers. These undertakings concerned only one pallet type, i.e. the EUR pallet.(2) Since sampling was used in the investigation, requests for reviews under Article 11(4) could not be accepted. However, in order to ensure equal treatment between new exporters and the cooperating companies not included in the sample during the original investigation, by Regulation (EC) No 1632/97, the provisional Regulation was amended. Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1632/97 stipulated that new Polish exporting producers could have undertakings accepted with regard to exports of EUR pallets, provided they satisfied the criteria set out therein.(3) By Regulation (EC) No 2334/97 (6), the Council imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on certain imports of flat pallets of wood originating in the Republic of Poland.B. NEW EXPORTERS' REQUEST (4) Following the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 2334/97, 10 further new Polish exporting producers have requested that Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1023/97 be applied to them and they have offered undertakings with regard to the EUR pallet. They have also provided sufficient evidence pursuant to Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1023/97 showing that they are genuine new exporting producers. In application of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1023/97, the undertakings offered by these 10 Polish exporting producers with regard to the EUR pallet should therefore be accepted,HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:Article 1 The undertakings offered with regard to the EUR-pallet by:- Euro-Handels Sp.zo.o, Szczecin,- PPH 'Paletex` Sibinski Jaroslaw, Klonowa,- Firma 'KIKO` S.C., Poznan,- 'Enkel` Waldemar Wnuk, Pulawy,- Sliwka Lucyna, Klodzko,- Firma Borkowski S.C. Export-Import, Grabow n. Prosna,- Produkcja-Skup Elementow I Palet, Stanislaw Gorecki, Czajkow,- 'Bilusa` Sp.zo.o, Klodawa,- P.P.U.H PAL-POL S.C., Prabuty,- Firma 'A.C.S.` S.C., Kamien,in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning import of flat pallets of wood originating in Poland and falling within CN code ex 4415 20 20 10 are hereby accepted.Article 2 This acceptance shall take effect on the day following publication of this Decision in the Official Journal of the European Communities.Done at Brussels, 3 September 1998.For the CommissionLeon BRITTANVice-President(1) OJ L 56, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1.(2) OJ L 128, 30. 4. 1998, p. 18.(3) OJ L 150, 7. 6. 1997, p. 4.(4) OJ L 225, 15. 8. 1997, p. 11.(5) OJ L 225, 15. 8. 1997, p. 13.(6) OJ L 324, 27. 11. 1997, p. 1.


Avis juridique important

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31980D0014

80/14/EEC: Council Decision of 18 December 1979 on the provisional application to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (formerly Saint Vincent) of the arrangements provided for in Decision 76/568/EEC on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Economic Community

Official Journal L 007 , 11/01/1980 P. 0028

****( 1 ) OJ NO L 176 , 1 . 7 . 1976 , P . 8 .  ( 2 ) OJ NO L 72 , 23 . 3 . 1979 , P . 33 .    COUNCIL DECISION   OF 18 DECEMBER 1979   ON THE PROVISIONAL APPLICATION TO SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ( FORMERLY SAINT VINCENT ) OF THE ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDED FOR IN DECISION 76/568/EEC ON THE ASSOCIATION OF THE OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WITH THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY  ( 80/14/EEC )   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN   COMMUNITIES ,   HAVING REGARD TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ,   HAVING REGARD TO COUNCIL DECISION 76/568/EEC OF 29 JUNE 1976 ON THE ASSOCIATION OF THE OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WITH THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY ( 1 ), AS LAST AMENDED BY DECISION 79/310/EEC ( 2 ), AND IN PARTICULAR THE SECOND SUBPARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 55 ( 2 ) THEREOF ,   WHEREAS , PURSUANT TO THE SECOND SUBPARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 55  ( 2 ) OF DECISION 76/568/EEC , THE ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDED FOR THEREIN MAY CONTINUE TO APPLY PROVISIONALLY , UNDER CONDITIONS LAID DOWN BY THE COUNCIL , TO COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WHICH BECOME INDEPENDENT ;   WHEREAS SAINT VINCENT , WHICH APPEARS IN ANNEX I RELATING TO THE LIST OF THE COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES REFERRED TO BY THAT DECISION , ACHIEVED INDEPENDENCE ON 27 OCTOBER 1979 AS SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ;   WHEREAS IT SHOULD BE DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO APPLY PROVISIONALLY THE ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDED FOR IN THE ABOVEMENTIONED DECISION TO THAT STATE AND TO LAY DOWN THE CONDITIONS FOR SUCH APPLICATION , WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO SUBSEQUENT RECOURSE TO THE FIRST SUBPARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 55  ( 2 ) AND TO ARTICLE 56 THEREOF ,   WHEREAS THE ACP-EEC CONVENTION OF LOME IS OPEN , IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURE LAID DOWN IN ARTICLE 89 THEREOF , TO THE ACCESSION OF A COUNTRY OR TERRITORY TO WHICH PART FOUR OF THE TREATY APPLIES AND WHICH HAS BECOME INDEPENDENT ; WHEREAS SUCH ACCESSION CAN TAKE PLACE ONLY FOLLOWING A REQUEST BY THE STATE CONCERNED AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE ACP-EEC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ;   WHEREAS SAINT VINCENT HAS SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR ACCESSION TO THE ACP-EEC CONVENTION OF LOME AS SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ;   WHEREAS THE PERIOD OF PROVISIONAL APPLICATION OF DECISION 76/568/EEC TO THAT STATE SHOULD NOT CONTINUE BEYOND THE EXPIRY OF THAT DECISION ;   WHEREAS , IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY BREAK IN CONTINUITY IN THE FINANCING DECISIONS IN FAVOUR OF SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES BETWEEN ITS ACCESSION TO THE ACP-EEC CONVENTION OF LOME AND THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE DECISION ADJUSTING THE AMOUNTS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND WHICH THE COUNCIL IS TO TAKE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 1 ( 4 ) OF THE INTERNAL AGREEMENT ON THE FINANCING AND ADMINISTRATION OF COMMUNITY AID SIGNED ON 11 JULY 1975 , SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO CONTINUE TO BENEFIT , UNTIL THE DATE OF THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THAT DECISION , FROM THE PROVISIONS OF DECISION 76/568/EEC RELATING TO FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION ,   HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :   ARTICLE 1   THE ARRANGEMENTS LAID DOWN BY DECISION 76/568/EEC SHALL REMAIN PROVISIONALLY APPLICABLE TO SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES UNTIL THE LATTER ACCEDES TO THE ACP-EEC CONVENTION OF LOME BUT IN ANY EVENT NOT BEYOND THE EXPIRY OF THAT DECISION .   HOWEVER , SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES SHALL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE SAID DECISION RELATING TO FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION UNTIL THE DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE DECISION ADJUSTING THE AMOUNTS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND WHICH THE COUNCIL IS TO TAKE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 1 ( 4 ) OF THE INTERNAL AGREEMENT ON THE FINANCING AND ADMINISTRATION OF COMMUNITY AID SIGNED ON 11 JULY 1975 .   ARTICLE 2   QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF DECISION 76/568/EEC TO SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES SHALL BE DEALT WITH AS NECESSARY BY DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OF THAT STATE AND OF THE COMMUNITY .   ARTICLE 3   THIS DECISION SHALL ENTER INTO FORCE ON THE THIRD DAY FOLLOWING ITS PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES .   DONE AT BRUSSELS , 18 DECEMBER 1979 .   FOR THE COUNCIL   THE PRESIDENT   B . LENIHAN


title: Decision No 1297/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on a Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS) (Text with EEA relevance)

text:
               19.12.2008

               EN

               Official Journal of the European Union

               L 340/76

      DECISION No 1297/2008/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

   of 16 December 2008
   on a Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS)
   (Text with EEA relevance)
   THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 285 thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
   Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (1),
   Whereas:

               (1)

               The Commission made a commitment in its Communications of 16 March 2005 on Better Regulation for Growth and Jobs in the European Union and of 24 January 2007 on an Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union to ensure a better policy on regulation and to cut unnecessary red tape and over-regulation.

               (2)

               On 14 November 2006, the Commission published a Communication on reduction of the response burden, simplification and priority-setting in the field of Community statistics, which sets out a strategic approach to continuing the reduction of the statistical burden on enterprises.

               (3)

               During the last 15 years, a large number of statistical regulations aiming to describe activities of enterprises and containing data provision obligations for enterprises have emerged to meet the statistical information needs of the Community. An overhaul is needed to ensure, inter alia, the consistency of the scope of, and the concepts and definitions in, those statistical regulations. Insofar as possible, simplification and priority-setting should be a feature of all those regulations.

               (4)

               Enterprise and trade statistics are faced with a major challenge in the coming years. To underpin Community policy initiatives, they have to be capable of reflecting phenomena in the changing Community economy such as globalisation, emerging trends in entrepreneurship, the information society, trade in services, innovation, shifting trade patterns, and competitiveness in the light of the renewed Lisbon strategy.

               (5)

               A key element driving the need for enterprise and trade statistics is the renewed Lisbon strategy, the objectives of which are to foster the competitiveness of the European economy and achieve high and sustainable growth.

               (6)

               The deepening of European integration in a number of economic areas, including the European Monetary Union and the European customs system, creates new statistical needs related to the role of the euro in international transactions and leads to the necessity of adjusting the statistical system. Enterprise and trade statistics should meet those needs appropriately and provide, in a timely manner, high-quality statistical information on the structural changes in the European economy and its business sector.

               (7)

               Enterprise and trade statistics comprise several areas to which improvements should be made, such as structural business statistics, short-term statistics, Prodcom statistics, statistics on information and communication technology, and statistics on trade in goods between Member States (Intrastat).

               (8)

               The authorities responsible for enterprise and trade statistics should re-engineer the methods for the production of statistics so that the burden on enterprises can be reduced and all available sources and new technologies can be used in a fully effective way.

               (9)

               The need for new types of indicators may arise as a result of efforts to modernise the statistical production system. New types of indicators providing the information required could be obtained by linking together existing types of business statistics without the need to increase the reporting burden on enterprises. New sources and electronic access are likely to make data collection less burdensome and, at the same time, provide more information. The potential of business statistics should be exploited in a more efficient way and the quality of statistical information should increase.

               (10)

               National statistical institutes should be closely involved in the modernisation of the statistical production system in order to avoid cost duplication and red tape.

               (11)

               The simplification of the Intrastat system is part of the efforts to reduce statistical requirements and minimise the burden on enterprises. The recent decision to reduce the coverage ratio will contribute to that goal in the short term. In the longer term, other means of simplification should be investigated, including the single-flow system. The possible implementation of those means of simplification in the long term depends on feasibility studies and other actions to be carried out in accordance with this Decision. The quality of the statistics as well as the significant costs involved in any transition should, however, be taken into account.

               (12)

               An ex-ante evaluation has been performed in accordance with the principle of sound financial management, in order to focus the programme established by this Decision on the need for effectiveness in achieving the objectives and in order to incorporate budgetary constraints from the design phase of the programme onwards.

               (13)

               This Decision establishes, for the entire duration of the programme, a financial envelope which constitutes the prime reference, within the meaning of point 37 of the Inter-institutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (2), for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure.

               (14)

               Since the objective of this Decision, namely to establish a programme for the modernisation of European enterprise and trade statistics, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States because uncoordinated modernisation would lead to duplication of efforts, repetition of mistakes and higher costs, and can therefore, by reason of the scale of the statistics involved, be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.

               (15)

               The Statistical Programme Committee, established by Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom (3), has been consulted in accordance with Article 3 of that Decision.

               (16)

               Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 of 17 February 1997 on Community Statistics (4) provides a reference framework for the provisions of this Decision.

               (17)

               The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (5),

         HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
   Article 1
   Establishment of the Programme
   1.   This Decision establishes a programme for the modernisation of European enterprise and trade statistics (hereinafter referred to as the ‘MEETS Programme’).
   2.   The MEETS Programme shall start on 1 January 2009 and shall end on 31 December 2013.
   Article 2
   Scope and general objectives
   1.   The measures provided for by the MEETS Programme relate to the production and dissemination of enterprise and trade statistics within the Community.
   2.   The general objectives of the MEETS Programme are as follows:

               (a)

               to review priorities and develop target sets of indicators for new areas (objective 1);

               (b)

               to achieve a streamlined framework for business-related statistics (objective 2);

               (c)

               to support the implementation of a more efficient way of producing enterprise and trade statistics (objective 3); and

               (d)

               to modernise the data collection system on trade in goods between Member States (hereinafter referred to as Intrastat) (objective 4).

         Article 3
   Actions
   To achieve the objectives referred to in Article 2(2), a set of actions shall be implemented, as follows:

               (a)

               to review priorities and develop target sets of indicators for new areas (objective 1):
               Action 1.1: identifying areas of lesser importance;
               Action 1.2: developing new areas;

               (b)

               to achieve a streamlined framework for business-related statistics (objective 2):
               Action 2.1: integrating concepts and methods within the legal framework;
               Action 2.2: developing statistics on enterprise groups;
               Action 2.3: conducting Community surveys to minimise the burden on enterprises;

               (c)

               to support the implementation of a more efficient way of producing enterprise and trade statistics (objective 3):
               Action 3.1: making better use of data that already exist in the statistical system including the possibility of estimates;
               Action 3.2: making better use of data that already exist in the economy;
               Action 3.3: developing tools for the more efficient extraction, transmission and treatment of data;

               (d)

               to modernise Intrastat (objective 4):
               Action 4.1: harmonising methods to improve quality under a simplified Intrastat;
               Action 4.2: making better use of administrative data;
               Action 4.3: improving and facilitating data exchange within Intrastat.

         The actions referred to in this Article are specified in the Annex and shall be further detailed in the annual work programmes provided for in Article 4.
   Article 4
   Annual work programmes
   Annual work programmes, with the priorities for the actions under each objective referred to in Article 2(2) and the budgetary allocations under this Decision, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 5(2).
   Article 5
   Committee
   1.   The Commission shall be assisted by the Statistical Programme Committee.
   2.   Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
   The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.
   Article 6
   Evaluation
   1.   The Commission shall, in cooperation with the Member States, regularly evaluate the activities carried out under the MEETS Programme in order to assess whether the objectives referred to in Article 2(2) have been attained and to provide guidelines for improving the effectiveness of future actions.
   2.   By 31 December 2010, and thereafter on an annual basis until 2013, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the implementation of the MEETS Programme.
   By 31 July 2014, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a final report on the implementation of the MEETS Programme. That report shall assess, in the light of the expenditure incurred by the Community, the benefits of the actions accruing to the Community, the Member States and providers and users of statistical information, to identify areas for potential improvement.
   Article 7
   Financing
   1.   The financial envelope for the implementation of the MEETS Programme for the period 2009-2013 is set at EUR 42 500 000.
   2.   The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework.
   Article 8
   Entry into force
   This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

      Done at Strasbourg, 16 December 2008.

            For the European Parliament

            The President

         H.-G. PÖTTERING

            For the Council

            The President

         B. LE MAIRE

      (1)  Opinion of the European Parliament of 9 July 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 18 November 2008.

      (2)  OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.

      (3)  OJ L 181, 28.6.1989, p. 47.

      (4)  OJ L 52, 22.2.1997, p. 1.

      (5)  OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

      ANNEX
      BREAKDOWN OF THE ACTIONS LISTED IN ARTICLE 3

                  Objective 1

                  :

                  To review priorities and develop target sets of indicators for new areas
                  Action 1.1: Identifying areas of lesser importance

                              —

                              In a changing world, statistical needs will be reviewed periodically, not only as new statistical needs emerge, but as other needs become less important and even obsolete. Regular reviews of priorities will therefore be conducted in close cooperation with Member States in order to identify areas and characteristics which have lost priority and consequently can be deleted from the legal requirements. Such reviews will aim to simplify statistical requirements and reduce the response burden. The Commission may arrange for external studies to be conducted in this regard.

                        Action 1.2: Developing new areas

                              —

                              In a changing economic environment, it is important to define priority areas for statistics, such as trade in services, globalisation and entrepreneurship, and to agree at Community level on a target set of indicators for each of the priority areas. Such indicators need to be harmonised with international statistics as far as possible.

                              —

                              The statistics have to be compiled in an efficient way and need to be comparable. European statistics will therefore be modernised in strict accordance with the principle of coherence and comparability of data for the periods concerned. Work will therefore be carried out within the European Statistical System to achieve harmonised definitions of newly identified characteristics and indicators.

                              —

                              After agreeing target sets of indicators and harmonised definitions thereof, further work will be needed in order to develop and test ways of producing statistics in the priority areas.

                              —

                              In order to contribute to the development of new areas and the target sets of indicators, the Commission will launch studies, organise seminars and provide financial support to develop methods and ways to collect new statistics.

                  Objective 2

                  :

                  To achieve a streamlined framework for business-related statistics
                  Action 2.1: Integrating concepts and methods within the legal framework

                              —

                              European statistics are compiled in accordance with Community legislation, which has developed over the years. An overhaul of that legislation is needed in order to ensure consistency. The Commission may therefore arrange for external studies to be conducted, aimed at reviewing the existing legal acts in order to provide a harmonised legal framework for the different areas of enterprise and trade statistics.

                              —

                              There are cross-cutting issues in statistics. For example, several statistical areas report on employment and may describe the same phenomenon from different perspectives. The Commission will therefore arrange for external studies to be conducted aimed at achieving harmonisation of the methodologies used across the relevant statistical areas. Financial support will be provided for Member States' projects in this regard.

                              —

                              It is important to guarantee consistency between areas of enterprise and trade statistics. Consistency may refer to the relationship between trade in goods statistics and balance of payments statistics, but also to that between structural business statistics and trade statistics. The Commission will arrange for external studies to be conducted and financial support will be provided for Member States' projects in this regard.

                        Action 2.2: Developing statistics on enterprise groups

                              —

                              The Commission has launched an initiative to establish a Community register of multinational enterprise groups. Such a register is a crucial basis for the production of harmonised statistics relating to the globalisation of the economy. The activities under this action will focus on completion of the register. The Commission will arrange for external studies to be conducted in this regard.

                              —

                              Creating such a register is not sufficient, so financial support will be provided to support actions in the Member States to develop more efficient data collection methods for enterprise groups and illustrate their importance for international trade.

                              —

                              As regards exploiting the Community register of multinational enterprise groups, European statistics will have to take a new perspective, so it will become important to set up specific Community surveys on enterprise groups. The Commission will arrange for external studies to be conducted and financial support will be provided for Member States' projects in this regard.

                        Action 2.3: Conducting Community surveys to minimise the burden on enterprises

                              —

                              To highlight new and emerging needs of Community statistics, specific Community surveys may be conducted on an ad-hoc basis. Such surveys will be set up by means of external studies, arranged by the Commission, and financial support to Member States.

                              —

                              In order to exploit the potential savings of Community sampling schemes in regular statistics, the Commission will arrange for external studies to be conducted to identify areas where Community aggregates would be sufficient and to develop new methods for data collection in those areas. Financial support will also be provided to enable Member States to adjust their data collection systems. There is no standard Community sampling scheme, however, and therefore sampling schemes will be adapted to the circumstances.

                  Objective 3

                  :

                  To support the implementation of a more efficient way of producing enterprise and trade statistics
                  Action 3.1: Making better use of data that already exist in the statistical system, including the possibility of estimates

                              —

                              The ultimate aim of this action is to create fully integrated data sets for enterprise and trade statistics at micro level: a ‘data warehouse’ approach to statistics. To achieve that aim, Member States will be financially supported in order to link data or micro-data sets from different areas of enterprise and trade statistics, such as trade and business registers, and to link structural business statistics to research and development statistics and information society statistics.

                              —

                              Methodological studies will be carried out on new work processes to improve the use made of ongoing data collections, e.g. with a view to assessing the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on business outcome by linking data from different sources.

                              —

                              The more efficient way of data collection aims at reducing the burden on enterprises. It must be ensured that statistical offices make the most efficient use of collected information. Financial support will therefore be provided for methodological studies to be conducted for the optimal allocation of sample sizes and their combined use with other sources and related estimation methods. Such financial support may also be provided for quality studies in cases where some enterprises (e.g. small and medium-sized enterprises) are excluded from statistical surveys, and for the development of appropriate, harmonised estimation methods.

                        Action 3.2: Making better use of data that already exist in the economy

                              —

                              Statistical information is sometimes collected twice: first for administrative purposes, such as taxes, and then for statistical purposes, in surveys. Such a double burden will be avoided to the largest extent possible. The MEETS programme will therefore provide financial support to projects on the use of administrative data for statistical purposes, including company accounts, by helping Member States to change over from statistical surveys to the use of administrative data while ensuring high data quality.

                              —

                              Within enterprises it makes sense to promote the integration of accounting systems and statistical reporting, so that data can be delivered for statistics in a simplified manner. The Commission will arrange for external studies to be conducted and financial support will be provided to Members States' projects in this regard.

                        Action 3.3: Developing tools for the more efficient extraction, transmission and treatment of data

                              —

                              New ICT offers opportunities for simplified reporting. This may be achieved by using company accounts and other financial reports drawn up according to international accounting standards, and appropriate technical standards for such reports, including eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). Measures will be taken to give financial support for actions that facilitate data transfer from enterprises to the national statistical authorities.

                              —

                              A more efficient use of ICT tools will be supported to facilitate the exchange of information between the Commission and Member States. In addition there needs to be further development of tools for validation, error detection, correction, analysis and editorial work. Financial support will be provided for Member States' projects in this regard.

                              —

                              Taking into consideration the ongoing developments in the simplification of customs formalities on export and import, financial support will be provided for actions aimed at facilitating the exchange, processing and dissemination of high-quality and detailed trade statistics.

                  Objective 4

                  :

                  To modernise Intrastat
                  Action 4.1: Harmonising methods to improve quality under a simplified Intrastat

                              —

                              Financial support will be provided for actions in Member States aimed at developing tools and methods for improving data quality and the data collection system.

                              —

                              Financial support will be provided for actions in Member States that are aimed at reducing asymmetries by avoiding misclassifications and harmonising the estimation and collection and processing systems, the rules for the handling of confidential data, the thresholds and the methods for adjustment.

                        Action 4.2: Making better use of administrative data

                              —

                              The re-use of administrative data being reported by enterprises for other purposes (in particular Value Added Tax reports and accounting) will be encouraged. Financial support will be provided for actions in this regard, including for the development of ICT tools and procedures.

                        Action 4.3: Improving and facilitating data exchange within Intrastat

                              —

                              The further development of tools and methods for data exchange within a centralised system is vital. Tools for validation, error detection, correction, analysis and editorial work in the field of intra-Community trade statistics need to be developed. Financial support will be provided for actions that focus on the legal and technical aspects of data exchange between Member States.


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31977D0729

77/729/ECSC: Council Decision of 21 November 1977 adjusting the portion of administrative expenditure of the European Coal and Steel Community to be covered by levies on the production of coal and steel

Official Journal L 306 , 30/11/1977 P. 0028 - 0028 Finnish special edition: Chapter 1 Volume 1 P. 0135  Greek special edition: Chapter 01 Volume 2 P. 0063  Swedish special edition: Chapter 1 Volume 1 P. 0135  Spanish special edition: Chapter 01 Volume 2 P. 0074  Portuguese special edition Chapter 01 Volume 2 P. 0074

COUNCIL DECISION  of 21 November 1977  adjusting the portion of administrative expenditure of the European Coal and Steel Community to be covered by levies on the production of coal and steel  (77/729/ECSC)  THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,  Having regard to the Treaty establishing a single Council and a single Commission of the European Communities, and in particular Article 20 thereof,  Having regard to the report submitted by the Commission,  Whereas one portion of the administrative expenditure of the European Coal and Steel Community is at present covered by the levies provided for in Article 49 of the Treaty establishing that Community ; whereas this portion has been fixed at 18 million units of account by Article 20 of the Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities;  Whereas under the terms of this Article the Council is obliged to examine, on the basis of a report submitted annually by the Commission, whether the figure in question should be adjusted to the changes in the budget of the Communities;  Whereas, following an assessment of the changes in expenditure arising from the application, in the present economic situation, of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, there is justification for reducing the portion of the administrative expenditure of that Community which is covered by levies on the production of coal and steel,  HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:    Article 1 The portion of the administrative expenditure of the European Coal and Steel Community to be covered by the levies provided for in Article 49 of the Treaty establishing that Community shall be fixed at five million European units of account.   Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the fifth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.     Done at Brussels, 21 November 1977.  For the Council  The President  H. SIMONET


Important legal notice

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32002D0321(01)

Council Decision of 1 March 2002 appointing members and alternate members of the Advisory Committee on Education and Training in the Field of Architecture

Official Journal C 072 , 21/03/2002 P. 0001 - 0002

Council Decisionof 1 March 2002appointing members and alternate members of the Advisory Committee on Education and Training in the Field of Architecture(2002/C 72/01)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to Council Decision 85/385/EEC of 10 June 1985 setting up an Advisory Committee on Education and Training in the Field of Architecture(1), and in particular Articles 3 and 4 thereof,Having regard to the Act of Accession of 1994, and in particular Article 165(1) thereof,Whereas, according to Article 3 of the above Decision, the Committee consists of three experts from each Member State and on alternate for each of those experts; whereas, according to Article 4 of the same Decision, the term of office of these experts and alternates is three years;Whereas by its Decision of 26 February 1996(2) the Council appointed the members and alternate members of the Committee for the period 26 February 1996 to 25 February 1999;Whereas the Governments of 13 Member States have each submitted a list of candidates with a view to the appointment, replacement or renewal of the term of office of members and alternate members,HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:Sole ArticleThe following are hereby appointed members and alternate members of the Advisory Committee on Education and Training in the Field of Architecture for the period 1 March 2002 to 22 October 2004.A. Experts from the practising profession>TABLE>B. Experts from universities or equivalent teaching institutions in the field of architecture>TABLE>C. Experts from the competent authorities of the Member States>TABLE>Done at Brussels on 1 March 2002.For the CouncilThe PresidentR. de Miguel(1) OJ L 233, 21.8.1985, p. 26.(2) OJ C 74, 14.3.1996, p. 1.