Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2000)506 - EC position within the Association Council on the participation of Estonia in the financial instrument of the EC for the environment (LIFE)

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dossier COM(2000)506 - EC position within the Association Council on the participation of Estonia in the financial instrument of the EC for the ...
source COM(2000)506 EN
date 06-09-2000
The Helsinki European Council of December 1999 confirmed the enlargement process launched at its meeting of December 1997 in Luxembourg. The enhanced Pre-Accession Strategy defined in 1997 has been reiterated, which includes the participation of the 13 candidate States in Community programmes as an important part of this strategy.

With regard to the ten candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs), participation in Community programmes is provided in their respective Europe Agreements. Pursuant to the Europe Agreements, the conditions and modalities of these countries' participation are defined by the respective Association Councils.

In the case of the environment, Estonia asked to participate in the third phase of LIFE.

The third phase of LIFE (2000-2004) will shortly replace the second phase (1996-1999).

The Regulation establishing the LIFE third phase provides that LIFE should be open to the participation of the CEECs (art 6) from 2000; however, because of the delay incurred in adoption by the Parliament and the Council, such participation will only be feasible from 2001.

Estonia has already confirmed its willingness to participate in the new LIFE third phase from 2001, as an important element in the country pre-accession process, and to pay its financial contribution partly from its national budget, and partly from its annual Phare allocation.

The main issues addressed in the proposed Decision of the Association Councils are the following:

* projects and actions submitted by participants from Estonia shall be subject to the same conditions, rules and procedures pertaining to LIFE as are applied to Member States, regarding, in particular, the submission, assessment, and selection of applications, the responsibilities of the national authorities in the implementation and the activities related to the monitoring of the financed projects;

* Estonia will pay each year a contribution, as established in the relevant Association Council decision. This contribution will not be reimbursed to Estonia if, at the end of the year, the results fall short of the contribution paid;

* As provided in the conclusions of the meeting of the European Council in Luxembourg, Estonian experts will be invited to attend the LIFE Committees as observers, for the points which concern them;

* the decision will apply for the duration of the LIFE Third phase and will enter into force the day of its adoption.

The early adoption of the Association Council decision would allow Estonia to be actively involved in this internal Community instrument, as part of a reinforced pre-accession strategy. It is, therefore, of considerable political importance.

Accordingly, the Council is invited to adopt the annexed proposal for a Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council concerned.