title: Information from the Commission - Slovenia: Accession Partnership

eurovoc_concepts:
EU aid
EU programme
Slovenia
accession to the European Union
cooperation policy
financial aid

text: 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/93 SLOVENIA: ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP (98/C 202/10) 1. INTRODUCTION recommended the Commission In the opinion which it submitted to the Council in July 1997, in accordance with the provisions of Article O of the Treaty, that negotiations for accession should be opened with Slovenia. This recommendation derives from the analysis contained in the opinion in which the Commission is of the view that Slovenia (i) presents stable institutions, guarantees the rule of law, human rights and the protection of minorities, (ii) can be regarded as a functioning market economy able to cope with the competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the medium term, and (ii) should be capable in the medium term of applying the acquis provided it continues its efforts on its transposition and intensifies its work on its implementation. Untill the entry into force of the Europe Agreement, the Interim and Cooperation Agreements will be the basis for the European Union’s relations with Slovenia. However the pre-accession strategy will be reinforced to enable assistance to be directed towards the specific needs of each applicant so as to provide support for overcoming particular problems identified in the opinion. As the Commission indicated in Agenda 2000: ‘The reinforced pre-accession strategy has two main objectives. First, to bring together the different forms of support provided by the Union the Accession Partnerships, and to work together with the applicants, within this framework, on the basis of a clearly defined involving programme commitments by the applicants to particular priorities and to a calendar for carrying them out. Second, to familiarise the applicants with Union policies and procedures through the possibility of their participation in Community programmes. ’ for membership, in a single to prepare framework, its meeting in December 1997 At in Luxembourg the European Council decided the Accession that Partnerships would be the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession strategy, mobilising all forms of assistance to the applicant countries within a single framework. This Accession Partnership has been decided by the Commission, after consulting Slovenia and on the basis of the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions which have been decided by the Council. 2. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the priority areas for further work identified in the Commission’s opinion on Slovenia’s application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to help Slovenia implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that assistance. This Accession Partnership provides a framework for a number of policy instruments which will in their be used to help the candidate countries preparations for membership. These will include, inter alia, the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Slovenia, the Joint Assessment of Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against Organised Crime and the internal market road maps. Each of these instruments is different in nature and will be prepared and implemented according to specific procedures. They will not be an integral part of this Partnership but the priorities they contain will be compatible with it. 3. PRINCIPLES The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to assume the obligations of meeting that membership requires: the Copenhagen criteria which state — that the candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities, — the existence of a functioning market economy, as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union, — the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union. At its meeting in Madrid, the European Council stressed the need for the candidate countries to adjust their administrative structures to ensure the harmonious operation of Community policies after accession and at Luxembourg it stressed that incorporation of the acquis into legislation is necessary, but not in itself sufficient; it is necessary to ensure that it is actually applied. 4. PRIORITIES AND INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVES and the Council’s The Commission’s opinions examination of these have highlighted the extent of the efforts which still have to be made in certain areas by the candidate countries to prepare for accession and took the view that none of these countries fully satisfies all of the Copenhagen criteria at the present time. This situation will require the definition of intermediate stages in terms of priorities, each to be accompanied by precise objectives C 202/94 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 to be set in collaboration with the countries concerned, the achievement of which will condition the degree of assistance granted and the progress of the negotiations under way with some countries and the opening of new the others. The priorities and negotiations with into two intermediate objectives have been divided groups — short and medium term. Those listed under the short term have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to expect that Slovenia can complete or take them substantially forward by the end of 1998. In view of the short time span, and taking into account the administrative capacity required to achieve them, the number of priorities selected for the short term has been limited. The priorities listed under the medium term are expected to take more than one year to complete although work may and should also begin on them during 1998. Slovenia will be invited to draw up a National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving these priorities and intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the necessary staff and financial resources. The Accession Partnership indicates that Slovenia will have to address all issues identified in the opinion. The annex provides a these. summary Incorporation of the acquis into legislation is not in itself sufficient; it will also be necessary to ensure that it is actually applied to the same standards as those which apply within the Union. In all of the areas listed below there is a need for credible and effective implementation and enforcement of the acquis. checklist of Drawing on the analysis of the Commission’s opinion and the Council’s examination of this, the following short and medium-term priorities and intermediate objectives have been identified for Slovenia. 4. 1. Short term (1998) — Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and joint assessment within the framework of the Interim/Cooperation Agreement; action on market-driven restructuring in the enterprise, finance and banking sectors and preparation of pension reform. — Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular introduction of a civil service act, improvements in the areas of the judiciary, of land registration, phytosanitary and veterinary administration, particularly as regards facilities at the external borders, control and audit financial functions, institutional strengthening in the area of environment, beginning to set up structures needed for regional and structural policy. — Internal market: including alignment in the areas of indirect taxation, intellectual and industrial property, in 1999, (conformity assessment), law and preparation standardisation for adoption of VAT and implementation technical certification regulations, and of legislation and liberalisation of capital movements (in particular currency legislation), establishment of a State aid monitoring authority, a first State aid inventory and the creation of a legal framework for State aid control, progress towards adoption on an anti-trust law. company — Property law: further clarification of the situation pertaining to property legislation with particular regard to the right to purchase property for European Union citizens. — Environment: continue transposition of framework legislation, the detailed approximation programmes and implementation strategies related to individual acts. Planning and commencement of implementation of these programmes and strategies. finalising 4. 2. Medium term — Political criteria: pursue efforts to speed up property restitution. — Economic policy: the regular review of joint assessment of economic policy priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of economic and monetary policy (coordination of economic policies, submission of convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); while Slovenia is not expected to adopt the euro immediately on accession, it is expected to pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the Union’s objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro. — Reinforcement of the institutional and administrative capacity: as regards public procurement (in particular transparency), supervision of insurance and security market, the Slovene Competition Office, completion of competition law, development and implementation of agricultural and regional policies, audio-visual policies, customs administration and enforcement of the customs code; improved operation of the judicial system; training for the judiciary in Community law and its application, reinforcement of justice and home affairs (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel, in particular police, border guards, ministries and courts), strengthening of the nuclear safety authority, reform of customs and to ensure readiness to apply the acquis and the reinforcement of food control administration. tax administrations institutions 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/95 — Internal market: including the alignment of legislation on public procurement, financial services, State aid (in particular alignment of monitoring rules and exclusive and special rights), upgrading of standardisation and conformity assessment structures, establishment of a market surveillance system and alignment of horizontal technical legislation on industrial products, increased efforts to liberalise the capital market and to facilitate foreign investments, further alignment of consumer protection, the competition office and the State aid monitoring authority, efficient enforcement of competition law, promotion of enterprise development, including SMEs, alignment with the acquis in the fields of telecommunications, consumer protection and the internal energy market. reinforcement of — Justice and home affairs: completion of alignment to in criminal international conventions, particularly field, fight against organised crime (in particular money laundering, drugs and trafficking in human beings) and corruption, implementation of migration policy and asylum procedures, and to align visa policy with that of the European Union and to complete alignment to international conventions, notably in view of the Schengen acquis. — Nuclear safety: nuclear policy and investment plans to be adjusted in line with the results of the seismic risk assessment to be carried out in the surroundings of the Krsko NPP. acquis veterinary (including strengthening of — Agriculture: establishment of a functioning structural and land registry, rural development policy, including alignment with the agricultural and phytosanitary matters, in particular external border controls), attention to environmental aspects of agriculture and biodiversity. Development of the capacity to implement and enforce the common agricultural policy, in particular the fundamental management mechanisms administrative structures to monitor the agricultural markets and implement structural and rural development measures, adoption and implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of certain food-processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, restructuring of the agri-food sector. and — Fisheries: development of capacity to implement and enforce the common fisheries policy. — Transport: further efforts on alignment with acquis in particular in road transport (market access, safety rules and taxation) and rail, and to provide necessary investment infrastructure, notably extension of trans-European networks. transport for labour market structures and — Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate joint review of employment policies as preparation for participation coordination; in European Union alignment of labour and occupational health and safety legislation and development of enforcement structures, the framework Directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal opportunities between women and men; further development of active, autonomous social social dialogue; protection. in particular early adoption of further development of — Environment: the planning including capacities, development of monitoring and implementation control structures and and continuous implementation of approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis should be given to the waste water sector and air pollution as well as integrated industrial pollution control and risk management. Environmental protection requirements and the need for sustainable development must be integrated into the definition and implementation of national sectoral policies. — Regional policy and cohesion: introduce the legal, for a administrative and budgetary national policy to address regional disparities through an integrated approach, in order to participate in European Union after membership. structural programmes framework 5. MAIN INSTRUMENTS FOR COMMUNITY TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 5. 1. Programming of financial resources The Phare allocation for the period 1995 to 1997 has totalled ECU 72 million. Subject to the approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare Management Committee as provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89. Joint financing by the applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. The Commission will work with Slovenia, the EIB and international financing in particular the EBRD and World Bank, with a view to facilitating the co-financing of projects to pre-accession priorities. Financial assistance from the year 2000 onwards will comprise aid for agriculture and a structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the Cohesion Fund. In addition Slovenia will have access to funding from multi-country programmes directly related to the acquis. institutions, relating C 202/96 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 The Phare programme is the main financial instrument of the reinforced pre-accession strategy. Phare’s prime objective is to help prepare Central and East European countries for accession by focusing the assistance it provides on the adoption of the Community acquis and in particular on the priorities identified in this Accession Partnership and in the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis. Each year the Commission will sign a financing memorandum with Slovenia in which Slovenia will undertake to meet a number of the priorities the identified Commission will undertake to contribute financially to their realisation. Programming of Community financial assistance will take into account the priorities and timetable of the NPAA. this Accession Partnership and in In addition, the subsequent allocation of financial assistance will be closely tied to the respect by the Slovenian Government of the commitments made in the NPAA. Certain pre-accession activities can be reinforced now (e. g. support for institution building) but others, such as the financing of major investment projects designed to meet the requirements of the acquis in areas such as environment and nuclear safety will have to be programmed over a period of five to six years. From 1998 Phare assistance will be channelled through the following types of actions: — Institution building (around 30 %), which involves the strengthening of democratic institutions, rule of law, public administration and all entities responsible for public services in order to establish the necessary institutional and administrative structures and train the people required to apply the acquis. Institution building support will be implemented, inter alia, through, training actions, technical assistance and twinning of in Slovenia with relevant bodies in the Member States. Initially this twinning will focus on priority areas such as finance, agriculture, environment, justice and home affairs. institutions and administrations in covering — Investment support (around 70 %), in order to make the necessary investments possible for the adaptation of Slovenian infrastructure to the Community acquis. This support will concentrate on: (i) structural actions, agricultural restructuring, regional development and investment in human and intellectual capital, which could include Phare contributions to participation in the research and technological development framework programme; (ii) compliance with Community norms, in particular as regards environment, agriculture, industry, occupational safety and health, transport and telecommunications; (iii) co-financing of large particular scale infrastructure (1) and (iv) small and medium- sized enterprises development (2). 5. 2. Role of international financial institutions Cooperation between Slovenia and the international financial institutions will receive a new impetus and a new focus through the Accession Partnership. The grant resources made available under the Accession Partnership will serve as seed money and a catalyst for larger amounts of development finance from the IFIs. This process will be developed by the Commission in liaison with the candidate countries, the EIB and the IFIs, in particular the EBRD and the World Bank with a view to facilitating the co-financing of projects relating to pre-accession priorities. Under a new lending mandate covering the period 1997 to 1999, the EIB can make available ECU 3 520 million in Central and Eastern Europe. The new pre-accession facility approved by the EIB’s governors in early 1998 increases this amount to ECU 7 billion. EIB loans shall be used in all sectors eligible for EIB financing to facilitate the accession process. 6. CONDITIONALITY steps further Community assistance will be conditional on respect by the Europe its commitments under Slovenia of Agreement, the Copenhagen criteria and progress in implementing this Accession Partnership. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 622/98. satisfying towards 7. IMPLEMENTATION OF PRE-ACCESSION ASSISTANCE inclusion The provision of financial assistance to Slovenia will depend on the maturity of projects proposed by the Slovenian Government for in a financing memorandum. Where projects need to be tendered the Commission will only finance those projects which are ready for tendering at the stage of the signature of the financing memorandum. In addition any previous/existing commitments in the same sector must have been fully contracted or be on track. In order to ensure efficient implementation, projects to be financed must not, in principle, fall below a threshold of ECU 2 to 3 million, in (1) Concerning investment projects in general, Slovenia will be required to fulfil the principle of complementarity by means of contributing a minimum amount of 25 % to jointly financed projects. (2) A horizontal facility for SMEs will be available to remedy the shortage of investment capital available to small enterprises. 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/97 particular in the case of infrastructure projects. If these principles lead to a situation where Slovenia cannot absorb its full indicative allocation, the allocation will be reduced accordingly. The difference between the indicative and final allocation will be transferred to the horizontal SME and/or the large scale infrastructure facility. No subsequent compensation of this amount will be made. The Government of Slovenia is invited to put in place an implementation structure which ensures coherence and complementarity between all types of European Union financial assistance and national resources. A national coordinator will be responsible for ensuring a close link the the general accession process and between programming of the Community financial assistance. investment promotion and The Government of Slovenia will establish (preferably in the Ministry of Finance) during 1998 a national fund for institution building functioning under the responsibility of a National Authorising Officer (NAO). As the central entity through which Phare and other forms of Community financial assistance will be channelled, the national fund will be responsible for the management of these funds under decentralised increase transparency and reduce dispersion of funds. It will have overall responsibility for management of funds including respect of provisions of the financing memorandum and be accountable to the Commission for the use of the funds. It will also ensure and supervise the flow of national and other co-financing resources as set out in the financing memorandum. The detailed functions and responsibilities of the national fund will be set out in the individual financing memoranda. implementation in order to the Government of Slovenia, In cooperation with the Commission will pursue a policy of further decentralisation of the implementation of the financial assistance where certain pre-conditions are met, and to the extent permitted by the European Communities’ Financial Regulation, in particular Article 105(3). This will be done with the intention to establish, within limits and in a gradual manner, a relationship between the Commission and Slovenia where responsibility is shared along the lines of the relationship existing with the Member States for implementing the Structural Funds. In this context, the possibility of applying national procurement procedures in the tendering and contracting of Phare projects may be explored by the Commission, if so requested by the Government of Slovenia, in particular in the field of investment. The Commission’s decision on this matter will be taken following, inter alia, its Financial Regulation, examination of the Slovenian national procurement law for respect of and compatibility with the basic provisions of the European Community’s public procurement rules and equal participation in tenders and the provisions of Article 118. Any decision on the use of national procurement rules will be taken by the Commission on a case-by-case basis and will be confirmed individual financing memoranda. including in the individual jointly with in the Commission the The monitoring of programme implementation shall be carried out through procedures established financing memoranda. In order to ensure effective monitoring of Phare assistance implementation programme, each Phare programme will incorporate quantified physical and financial objectives which will be specified in the financing memorandum. In order to gauge their effectiveness all operations financed under the Phare programme will be subject to ex-post evaluation to appraise their impact with respect to their objectives. under the of 8. MONITORING The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of the Europe Agreement. This will commence in 1998 before the Commission presents its first regular report to the Council reviewing the progress made by Slovenia including implementation of the Accession Partnership. The relevant sections of the Accession Partnership will be discussed in the appropriate subcommittee. The Association Committee will discuss overall developments, progress and problems in meeting its priorities and intermediate objectives as well as more specific issues referred to it from the subcommittees. The Association Committee will report to the Association Council on the implementation of the Accession Partnership. The Phare Management Committee will ensure that financing decisions are compatible with the Accession Partnerships. The Accession Partnership will be amended as necessary in accordance with Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 622/98. The Commission will propose a review of this partnership before the end of 1999 and at regular intervals include consideration of the need to further specify intermediate objectives in the light of the progress made by Slovenia in meeting the objectives set out in this partnership. thereafter. These reviews will C 202/98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 ANNEX Slovenia will have to address all issues identified in the opinion. The purpose of this Annex is to provide a summary checklist of these issues. These are formulated as recommendations for action. They are listed in the order in which they appear in the opinion without any ranking in terms of importance or urgency. The priority areas for action by each candidate are set out as priorities and intermediate objectives in the Accession Partnership itself. 1. Political criteria Efforts should be made to enhance the judicial system, to intensify the fight against corruption, speed up the process of restoring property or providing adequate compensation to former owners of property expropriated by the Communist regime. Steps must be taken to resolve the problem of stateless people living in Slovenia. 2. Economic criteria Slovenia should ensure the continuity and reinforcement of progress in liberalisation, and privatisation, to bring about long-term convergence with the European Union. In this context, the Slovene authorities should give particular attention to: the completion of public sector reform, notably by introducing VAT on 1 January 1999, reforming the pension system, and establishing a market based regulatory and governance system for State-owned enterprises; reduction of real interest rates and labour costs, the further liberalisation of prices and, subsequently, the adjustment of inflation to European Union levels in the medium term; accelerating enterprise restructuring and modernisation of privatised and State-owned companies, in particular through accelerated liberalisation of the capital market and increased attraction of foreign investment, and improvement of corporate governance. Continued attention is also required as regards banking system reform and the liberalisation and reinforcement of the financial system. High levels of investment will be required in such fields as the environment, energy and transport. 3. Ability to assume the obligations of membership 3. 1. Internal market without frontiers The four freedoms G e n e r a l f r a m e w o r k — in general efforts must be made to accelerate law reform in the field of public procurement, for instance as regards the utilities sector, the remedies system and the White Paper Stage II measures. In the field of intellectual and industrial property, approximation of legislation should continue especially in the field of audio-visual productions and the pharmaceutical sector. As regards company law full compatibility with the second Directive must be ensured. New legislation on accounting and auditing must be fully enforced and accountants and auditors should be properly trained. Implementation and enforcement of legislation on the protection of personal data must be strengthened. F r e e m o v e m e n t o f g o o d s — adoption of the European Community new approach system needs to be accelerated. Independent standardisation and conformity assessment infrastructures will also have to be established, with a clear separation between regulatory, standardisation and product certification functions. European Community legislation on motor vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals needs to be fully aligned, and new approach legislation adopted. A market surveillance mechanism will have to be set up and harmonisation of sectoral legislation completed. F r e e m o v e m e n t o f c a p i t a l — monetary restrictions adopted by the Bank of Slovenia must be removed and liberalisation of capital movements should be assured. Policies on foreign direct investment should be reviewed in order to be compatible with more liberal movements and to promote higher foreign direct investment. 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/99 F r e e m o v e m e n t o f s e r v i c e s — full free establishment in the area of banking, securities and insurance, in particular with regard to branches of foreign institutions must be introduced. Privatisation in the insurance sector should be speeded up and the sector should be opened up to European Union operators and foreign investment. Supervisory function should be strengthened. F r e e m o v e m e n t o f p e r s o n s — mutual recognition of diplomas should be adjusted. From a technical point of view, further adoption of regulations will be necessary. Further efforts must be made to ensure the necessary legislative and enforcement measures as regards the coordination of social security schemes. Competition The 1993 Law on the Protection of Competition must be amended to make it compatible with European Community competition rules. In the field of State aid, a comprehensive inventory of all existing aid must be established and continuously updated in accordance with Community practice. A national legal framework on State aid, covering the monitoring and admissibility of State aid, must be created. A monitoring authority should be set up which has the power to review all existing aid measures for their compatibility with the Europe Agreement and to monitor all new aid on a systematic basis. Certain exclusive rights and State monopolies which are not compatible with the Community acquis must be progressively adjusted and/or abolished. 3. 2. Innovation Research and technological development Considerable efforts remain to be undertaken to revitalise technological development in the industrial sector and to exploit the potential of national research for economic development. Education, training and youth Continued progress in re-orienting the education and training system towards a human resources development policy which is suitable for a small open market economy aiming at international competitiveness. Budgetary resources for education should be re-oriented in line with these new priorities. Links with research and development should be reinforced. Telecommunications Additional efforts in policy and regulation are needed to comply with European Union Directives and to promote competition. At the same time, the acquis now requires governments to ensure that a modern telephone service is available everywhere at an affordable price. Meeting this obligation will require significant investment in the system. Audiovisual The existing legislation must be amended, in particular with regard to the questions of freedom of reception, promotion of European works, advertising rules and the protection of minors. 3. 3. Economic and fiscal affairs Economic and monetary union Monetary policy should be adjusted to be able to curb excessive speculative capital in flows without resorting to capital controls. On-going reform efforts in terms of monetary policy should be continued. The restructuring of the financial sector should be completed and Central Bank legislation should be made compatible with European Community rules. Taxation VAT legislation in accordance with European Union requirements should be introduced. The excise duty system must be reformed to avoid discrimination against certain imported commodities in favour of domestically produced products and the scope and rates of duties must be approximated towards the Community legislation. In the field of excise duties particular attention should be given to the setting up of a warehousing system for the movement of goods under duty suspension arrangements. Tax structures and the level of excise rates need to be aligned on the Community model. C 202/100 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 Statistics Efforts must be made in the field of official statistics, in particular with regard to financial accounts, agricultural statistics and foreign trade statistics. 3. 4. Sectoral policies Industry To enhance competitiveness, further efforts should be made to pursue policies aimed at promoting open and competitive markets and taking on the instruments which make up European Community industrial policy, relating both to the operation of markets (product specification and market access, trade policy, State aids and competition policy) and measures related to industry’s capacity to adapt to change (stable macroeconomic environment, technology, training, etc. ). Agriculture Substantial efforts must be made to ensure the alignment of Slovenian legislation with European Union requirements. With regard to veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, special attention must be paid to implementation and enforcement of veterinary and plant health requirements and upgrading of establishments to meet European Community standards particularly with regard to the inspection and control arrangements for protecting the European Union external border. Administrative structures must be strengthened to ensure the implementation and enforcement of the policy instruments of the common agricultural policy in particular to ensure a functioning land registration. The agri-food sector must be further restructured to ensure its competitive capacity. Structural and rural development policy should be strengthened. Fisheries The fisheries administration must be strengthened to ensure the effective implementation of the common fisheries policy, in particular as regards the conservation and the management of resources, the implementation of a monitoring and control system, the management of the common organisation of the market in the fishery and aquaculture sector, the implementation of a structural policy in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, the keeping of a fishing vessel register, the collection of statistical data as well as the implementation of European Union fishery policy on environmental protection. Energy Current efforts for alignment must be maintained, in particular with regard to the adjustment of monopolies, including import and export issues, access to networks, energy pricing, State intervention in the solid fuels sector, development of energy efficiency and fuel quality standards. Special attention must be paid to emergency preparedness including the building up of mandatory oil stocks. Slovenia should adhere to and/or fully implement international nuclear agreements. Long-term solutions for nuclear waste from Krsko Plant need to be found. The independence of the safety authority should be supported. Transport Additional efforts must be made to ensure the necessary legislation and effective implementation in road haulage (in particular on market access and taxation) and for rail transport. Transparency of financial procedures in the rail sector must be provided. Steps must be taken to ensure the future extension of the trans-European networks. At a national level there is a need to develop specific strategies for transport infrastructure development and financing. Achieving an acceptable level of transport safety and optimal use of transport system are two areas which need attention. Small and medium-sized enterprises Slovene SME development policy should be improved especially regarding the coherence and the coordination of various action programmes. 3. 5. Economic and social cohesion Employment and social affairs Legislation must be realigned with European Union requirements in such areas as health and safety, and equal opportunities. Labour law must be adapted to ensure full compliance with the acquis. Some technical adaptations in the field of social security for migrant workers are necessary. Social reform should continue and social dialogue must be developed. 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/101 Regional policy and cohesion A regional development policy addressing regional disparities must be introduced and the administrative and budgetary structures required to manage integrated European Community structural actions after membership must be established. 3. 6. Quality of life and environment Environment Steps must be taken to ensure the full transposition of the environmental acquis as well as substantial progress in effective compliance. The National Environmental Action Programme and environmental accession strategy must be adopted in the short term. Particular efforts must be made to achieve full European Union compatibility of the urban waste water treatment, drinking water, aspects of waste management and air pollution legislation. Investments must be increased. With reference to administrative capacity a considerable effort must be made to develop adequate implementation and enforcement structures. Consumer protection Consumer protection should be strengthened, notably in the case of general product safety and consumer credit. The draft ‘Consumer Protection Act’ should be revised to ensure it is complete and fully compatible with European Community standards on consumer protection. The development of an independent consumer movement, sustained by the public authorities, will be necessary to accompany the introduction of the acquis. 3. 7. Justice and home affairs (JHA) Some gaps need to be filled in Slovenia’s legislation. Special efforts should be made to reform the judiciary and the legal system and to develop human resources in this sector to enable it to operate effectively. Further progress is needed concerning immigration. The fight against organised crime must be intensified including the fight against trafficking in drugs and human beings, arms and stolen cars. Money laundering needs to be addressed. Steps must be taken to ensure ratification of international conventions particularly in the criminal field. 3. 8. External policies Trade and international economic relations Preparations must be made for applying, on accession, the Community’s various cooperation and preferential agreements, multilateral and bilateral commercial policy commitments and its autonomous commercial defence instruments. At the same time, national legislation in the field must be repealed. The lack of export controls on dual-use goods must be addressed to ensure effective control mechanisms by the time of accession. Development Preparations must be made for applying, on accession, the Lomé trade regime to the ACP States and participating, together with the other Member States, in financing the European Development Fund. Customs Customs legislation must be aligned on that of the European Community and the organisation and duties of staff must be aligned on those of a modern customs administration. An effort must be made to develop computerised systems for full participation in the customs union and the internal market. Particular attention must be paid to preparing the customs administrations for the operation of all the customs procedures with economic impact, the system of tariff suspensions and the administration of tariff quotas and ceilings. Strategic planning has to take account of the reinforcement of border posts along the external frontier that Slovenia has with countries other than European Union Member States at the time of accession. 3. 9. Financial questions The necessary financial control and audit function mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure satisfactory implementation of Community policies. C 202/102 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 4. Administrative capacity to apply the acquis To ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of the acquis, major reform efforts must be made to strengthen Slovenia’s administrative structures in virtually all European Union relevant sectors. Special efforts must be made to properly staff and train Ministries and public authorities which must ensure the correct application of Community acquis. The regulatory and monitoring bodies must be strengthened in such fields as competition, telecommunications, taxation, agriculture, transport, social policy, regional policy and cohesion, environment, veterinary and phytosanitary controls, food control, consumer protection, judiciary and customs and financial control. Increased efforts must be made for the upgrading of staff qualifications on European Union-related issues and efficient public management in general. This should include the implementation of the master plan for public administration reform. The judicial system must be strengthened in terms of resources and relevant expertise. A comprehensive upgrading of judges, in particular in European Union matters, must be carried out


title: Communication from the Commission - Estonia: Accession Partnership

eurovoc_concepts:
EU aid
EU programme
Estonia
accession to the European Union
cooperation policy
financial aid

formats: html pdf print

text: 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/23 ESTONIA: ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP (98/C 202/03) 1. INTRODUCTION recommended the Commission In the opinion which it submitted to the Council in July 1997, in accordance with the provisions of Article O of the Treaty, that negotiations for accession should be opened with Estonia. This recommendation derives from the analysis contained in the opinion in which the Commission is of the view that Estonia (i) presents stable institutions, guarantees the rule of law, human rights and the protection of minorities, (ii) can be regarded as a functioning market economy able to cope with the competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the medium term, and (iii) should be capable in the medium term of applying its the acquis provided transposition its implementation. it continues intensifies its efforts on its work and in The Europe Agreement will remain the basis for the European Union’s relations with Estonia. However the pre-accession strategy will be reinforced to enable assistance to be directed towards the specific needs of each applicant so as to provide support for overcoming particular problems identified in the opinion. As the Commission indicated in Agenda 2000: ‘The reinforced pre-accession strategy has two main objectives. First, to bring together the different forms of support provided by the Union the Accession Partnerships, and to work together with the applicants, within this framework, on the basis of a clearly defined programme involving commitments by the applicants to particular priorities and to a calendar for carrying them out. Second, to familiarise the applicants with Union policies and procedures through the possibility of their participation in Community programmes. ’ for membership, in a single to prepare framework, that At its meeting in Luxembourg in December 1997 the European Council the Accession decided Partnerships would be the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession strategy, mobilising all forms of assistance to the applicant countries within a single framework. This Accession Partnership has been decided by the Commission, after consulting Estonia and on the basis of the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions which have been decided by the Council. 2. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the Accession Partnership is to set out in a single framework the priority areas for further work identified in the Commission’s opinion on Estonia’s application for membership of the European Union, the financial means available to help Estonia implement these priorities and the conditions which will apply to that assistance. This Accession Partnership provides a framework for a number of policy instruments which will be used to help the candidate countries in their preparations for membership. These will include, inter alia, the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis to be adopted by Estonia, the Joint Assessment of Economic Policy Priorities, the Pact against Organised Crime and the internal market road maps. Each of these instruments is different in nature and will be prepared and implemented according to specific procedures. They will not be an integral part of this Partnership but the priorities they contain will be compatible with it. 3. PRINCIPLES The main priority areas identified for each candidate country relate to their ability to assume the obligations of meeting that membership requires: the Copenhagen criteria which state — that the candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities, — the existence of a functioning market economy, as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union, — the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union. At its meeting in Madrid, the European Council stressed the need for the candidate countries to adjust their administrative structures to ensure the harmonious operation of Community policies after accession and at Luxembourg it stressed that incorporation of the acquis into legislation is necessary, but not in itself sufficient; it is necessary to ensure that it is actually applied. 4. PRIORITIES AND INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVES and the Council’s The Commission’s opinions examination of these have highlighted the extent of the efforts which still have to be made in certain areas by the candidate countries to prepare for accession and took the view that none of these countries fully satisfies all of the Copenhagen criteria at the present time. This situation will require the definition of intermediate stages in terms of priorities, each to be accompanied by precise objectives C 202/24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 to be set in collaboration with the countries concerned, the achievement of which will condition the degree of assistance granted and the progress of the negotiations under way with some countries and the opening of new the others. The priorities and negotiations with into two intermediate objectives have been divided groups — short and medium term. Those listed under the short term have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to expect that Estonia can complete or take them substantially forward by the end of 1998. In view of the the short administrative capacity required to achieve them, the number of priorities selected for the short term has been limited. The priorities listed under the medium term are expected to take more than one year to complete although work may and should also begin on them during 1998. into account span, and taking time Estonia will be invited to draw up a National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA) by the end of March which should set out a timetable for achieving these priorities and intermediate objectives and, where possible and relevant, indicate the necessary staff and financial resources. The Accession Partnership indicates that Estonia will have to address all issues identified in the opinion. The these. summary annex provides a Incorporation of the acquis into legislation is not in itself sufficient; it will also be necessary to ensure that it is actually applied to the same standards as those which apply within the Union. In all of the areas listed below there is a need for credible and effective implementation and enforcement of the acquis. checklist of Drawing on the analysis of the Commission’s opinion and the Council’s examination of this, the following short and medium-term priorities and intermediate objectives have been identified for Estonia. 4. 1. Short term (1998) — Political criteria: take measures to facilitate the integrate including Stateless children. Enhance non-Estonian naturalisation process and non-citizens Estonian speakers. to better language training for — Economic reform: establishment of medium-term economic policy priorities and joint assessment within the framework of the Europe Agreement; in particular with a view to sustaining the high growth rates of recent years, while reducing inflation and increasing the level of national savings; acceleration of land reform with a view to increasing private ownership and introduction of key legislation linked to pension reform. the development of a monitoring bodies and comprehensive national training strategy for civil servants and developing a strategy and timetable for the consolidation of the various supervisory agencies in the financial sector, strengthen internal financial control, reinforcement of phytosanitary and veterinary administrations, particularly as regards facilities at external borders, institutional strengthening in the area of environment, begin to set up structures needed for regional and structural policy. — Internal market: including further alignment in the intellectual and areas of public procurement, industrial property, taxation, financial technical legislation and competition (especially the transparency of State aids). Adoption of the new competition law, covering both anti-trust and State aid, reinforcement of the State aid monitoring authority and the establishment of a first State aid inventory. services, — Justice and home affairs: in particular further efforts to implement measures to combat corruption and organised crime and continue judicial reform. — Environment: continue transposition of framework and horizontal legislation, establishment of detailed implementation approximation programmes and strategies related to individual acts. Planning and commencement these programmes and strategies. implementation of of 4. 2. Medium term — Political criteria: pursue integration of non-citizens by strengthening Estonian language training for Russian speakers in primary and secondary schools as well as adult training courses, and by further measures to accelerate the naturalisation process. — Economic policy: the regular review of joint assessment of economic policy priorities, within the Europe Agreement framework, focusing on satisfying the Copenhagen criteria for membership of the Union and the acquis in the area of economic and monetary policy (coordination of economic policies, submission of convergence programmes, avoidance of excessive deficits); while Estonia is not expected to adopt the euro immediately on accession, it is expected to pursue policies which aim to achieve real convergence in accordance with the Union’s objectives of economic and social cohesion, and nominal convergence compatible with the ultimate goal of adoption of the euro. — Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: in particular as regards regulatory and — Reinforcement of institutional and administrative capacity: at central and local level to ensure efficient management of the public sector; special attention 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/25 control, environment should be paid to the budgetary process, internal financial and statistics, agriculture; improved operation of the judicial system, training for the judiciary in Community law and its application; reinforcement of justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel, in particular police, border guards, ministries and courts), reform of customs and tax administrations to ensure readiness to apply the acquis and food control the reinforcement of administration. — Internal market: including alignment, in particular in public procurement, financial services (banking and insurance rules), intellectual and industrial property and State aids, data protection, strengthening of securities regulatory bodies, audiovisual and indirect of taxation. Upgrading and standardisation structures, alignment of conformity assessment technical industrial products and establishment of a market surveillance system. effective Completion implementation of the reinforcement of competition authorities, promotion of enterprise development, including SMEs, alignment with the acquis in the fields of telecommunications, consumer protection and the internal energy market. alignment competition legislation on and law and of — Justice and home affairs: ratification and application of necessary international legal instruments relevant for the acquis, enhanced border management especially on the eastern border, implementation of migration policy and asylum procedures, enhanced fight against organised crime (in particular money laundering, drugs and trafficking in human beings), and to align visa policy with that of the European Union and to complete alignment to international conventions, notably in view of the Schengen acquis. — Agriculture: including alignment with the agricultural (including veterinary and phytosanitary acquis matters, in particular external border controls), attention to environmental aspects of agriculture and biodiversity, completion of the land restitution and land registration process. Development of the capacity to implement and enforce the common agricultural policy, in particular the fundamental management mechanisms and administrative structures to monitor the agricultural markets and implement structural and and rural implementation of the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, upgrading of certain food-processing establishments and testing and diagnostic facilities, restructuring of the agri-food sector. development measures, adoption — Fisheries: development of capacity to implement and enforce the common fisheries policy. — Transport: further efforts on alignment with acquis in particular in road transport (market access, safety rules) and maritime transport (safety) and rail transport, and to provide necessary investment for transport extension of trans-European networks. infrastructure, notably as policies preparation employment — Employment and social affairs: development of appropriate labour market structures and joint review of for participation coordination; in European Union alignment of labour and occupational health and safety legislation and development of enforcement structures, the framework Directive on health and safety at work; enforcement of equal opportunities between women and men; further development of active, autonomous social dialogue; social protection, undertake steps to bring public health standards into line with European Union norms. in particular early adoption of further development of and planning implementation — Environment: including development of monitoring and implementation control structures and capacities, continuous of approximation programmes related to individual legal acts. A particular emphasis should be given to the water and waste sectors and air pollution, including protection radioactive waste. requirements sustainable development must be integrated into the definition and implementation of national and sectoral policies. Environmental for need and the — Regional policy and cohesion: further develop the legal, administrative and budgetary framework for a national policy to address regional disparities through an integrated approach, in order to participate in European Union after membership. structural programmes 5. MAIN INSTRUMENTS FOR COMMUNITY TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 5. 1. Programming of financial resources The Phare allocation for the period 1995 to 1997 has totalled ECU 90 million. Subject to the approval of the Phare budget for the remaining period, the Commission will confirm the allocations for 1998 and 1999. Financial proposals will be submitted to the Phare Management Committee as provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89. Joint financing by the applicant countries will be systematically required for all investment projects. The Commission will work with Estonia, the EIB and international financing in particular the EBRD and World Bank, with a view to facilitating the co-financing of projects to pre-accession priorities. Financial assistance from the year 2000 for agriculture and a onwards will comprise aid institutions, relating C 202/26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 structural instrument which will give priority to measures similar to the Cohesion Fund. In addition Estonia will have access to funding from multi-country programmes directly related to the acquis. The Phare programme is the main financial instrument of the reinforced pre-accession strategy. Phare’s prime objective is to help prepare Central and East European countries for accession by focusing the assistance it provides on the adoption of the Community acquis and in particular on the priorities identified in this Accession Partnership and in the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis. Each year the Commission will sign a financing memorandum with Estonia in which Estonia will undertake to meet a number of the priorities identified the Commission will undertake to contribute financially to their realisation. Programming of Community financial assistance will take into account the priorities and timetable of the NPAA. this Accession Partnership and in In addition, the subsequent allocation of financial assistance will be closely tied to the respect by the Estonian Government of the commitments made in the NPAA. Certain pre-accession activities can be reinforced now (e. g. support for institution building) but others, such as the financing of major investment projects designed to meet the requirements of the acquis in areas such as environment and nuclear safety will have to be programmed over a period of five to six years. in particular as regards environment, agriculture, industry, occupational safety and health, transport and telecommunications; (iii) co-financing of large and scale medium-sized enterprises development (2). infrastructure (1) small and (iv) 5. 2. Role of international financial institutions Cooperation between Estonia and the international financial institutions will receive a new impetus and a new focus through the Accession Partnership. The grant resources made available under the Accession Partnership will serve as seed money and a catalyst for larger amounts of development finance from the IFIs. This process will be developed by the Commission in liaison with the candidate countries, the EIB and the IFIs, in particular the EBRD and the World Bank with a view to facilitating the co-financing of projects relating to pre-accession priorities. Under a new lending mandate covering the period 1997 to 1999, the EIB can make available ECU 3 520 million in Central and Eastern Europe. The new pre-accession facility approved by the EIB’s governors in early 1998 increases this amount to ECU 7 billion. EIB loans shall be used in all sectors eligible for EIB financing to facilitate the accession process. From 1998 Phare assistance will be channelled through the following types of actions: 6. CONDITIONALITY — Institution building (around 30 %), which involves the strengthening of democratic institutions, rule of law, public administration and all entities responsible for public services in order to establish the necessary institutional and administrative structures and train the people required to apply the acquis. Institution building support will be implemented, inter alia, through, training actions, technical assistance and twinning of in Estonia with relevant bodies in the Member States. Initially this twinning will focus on priority areas such as finance, agriculture, environment, justice and home affairs. institutions and administrations — Investment support (around 70 %), in order to make the necessary investments possible for the adaptation of Estonian infrastructure to the Community acquis. This support will concentrate on: (i) structural actions, agricultural restructuring, regional development and investment in human and intellectual capital, which could include Phare contributions to participation in the research and framework programme; (ii) compliance with Community norms, technological development particular covering in Community assistance will be conditional on respect by Estonia of its commitments under the Europe Agreement, further steps towards satisfying the Copenhagen criteria and progress in implementing this Accession Partnership. Failure to respect these general conditions could lead to a decision by the Council on the suspension of financial assistance on the basis of Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 622/98. 7. IMPLEMENTATION OF PRE-ACCESSION ASSISTANCE The provision of financial assistance to Estonia will depend on the maturity of projects proposed by the (1) Concerning investment projects in general, Estonia will be required to fulfil the principle of complementarity by means of contributing a minimum amount of 25 % to jointly financed projects. (2) A horizontal facility for SMEs will be available to remedy the shortage of investment capital available to small enterprises. 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/27 inclusion in a financing Estonian Government for memorandum. Where projects need to be tendered the Commission will only finance those projects which are ready for tendering at the stage of the signature of the financing memorandum. In addition any previous/existing commitments in the same sector must have been fully contracted or be on track. In order to ensure efficient implementation, projects to be financed must not, in principle, fall below a threshold of ECU 2 to 3 million, in particular in the case of infrastructure projects. If these principles lead to a situation where Estonia cannot absorb its full indicative allocation, the allocation will be reduced accordingly. The difference between the indicative and final allocation will be transferred to the horizontal SME and/or the large scale infrastructure facility. No subsequent compensation of this amount will be made. The Government of Estonia is invited to put in place an implementation structure which ensures coherence and complementarity between all types of European Union financial assistance and national resources. A national coordinator will be responsible for ensuring a close link the the general accession process and between programming of the Community financial assistance. and institution promotion The Government of Estonia will establish (preferably in the Ministry of Finance) during 1998 a national fund for investment building functioning under the responsibility of a National Authorising Officer (NAO). As the central entity through which Phare and other forms of Community financial assistance will be channelled, the national fund will be responsible for the management of these funds under decentralised increase transparency and reduce dispersion of funds. It will have overall responsibility for management of funds including respect of provisions of the financing memorandum and be accountable to the Commission for the use of the funds. It will also ensure and supervise the flow of national and other co-financing resources as set out in the financing memorandum. The detailed functions and responsibilities of the national fund will be set out in the individual financing memoranda. implementation in order to the Government of Estonia In cooperation with the Commission will pursue a policy of further decentralisation of the implementation of the financial assistance where certain pre-conditions are met, and to the extent permitted by the European Communities’ Financial Regulation, in particular Article 105(3). This will be done with the intention to establish, within limits and in a gradual manner, a relationship between the Commission and Estonia where responsibility is shared along the lines of the relationship existing with the Member States for implementing the Structural Funds. In this context, the possibility of applying national procurement procedures in the tendering and contracting following, of Phare projects may be explored by the Commission, if so requested by the Government of Estonia, in particular in the field of investment. The Commission’s decision on this matter will be inter alia, taken examination of the Estonian national procurement law for respect of and compatibility with the basic provisions of the European Community’s public procurement rules and equal participation in tenders and the provisions of Article 118. Any decision on the use of national procurement rules will be taken by the Commission on a case-by-case basis and will be confirmed individual financing memoranda. Financial Regulation, including in the its individual jointly with in the Commission the The monitoring of programme implementation shall be carried out through procedures established financing memoranda. In order to ensure effective monitoring of Phare assistance implementation programme, each Phare programme will incorporate quantified physical and financial objectives which will be specified in the financing memorandum. In order to gauge their effectiveness all operations financed under the Phare programme will be subject to ex-post evaluation to appraise their impact with respect to their objectives. under the of 8. MONITORING The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be monitored in the framework of the Europe Agreement. This will commence in 1998 before the Commission presents its first regular report to the Council reviewing the progress made by Estonia including implementation of the Accession Partnership. in the appropriate The relevant sections of the Accession Partnership will be discussed subcommittee. The Association Committee will discuss overall developments, progress and problems in meeting its priorities and intermediate objectives as well as more specific issues referred to it from the subcommittees. The Association Committee will report to the Association Council on the implementation of the Accession Partnership. The Phare Management Committee will ensure that financing decisions are compatible with the Accession Partnerships. The Accession Partnership will be amended as necessary in accordance with Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 622/98. The Commission will propose a review of this partnership before the end of 1999 and at regular intervals include consideration of the need to further specify intermediate objectives in the light of the progress made by Estonia in meeting the objectives set out in this partnership. thereafter. These reviews will C 202/28 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 ANNEX Estonia will have to address all issues identified in the opinion. The purpose of this Annex is to provide a summary checklist of these issues. These are formulated as recommendations for action. They are listed in the order in which they appear in the opinion without any ranking in terms of importance or urgency. The priority areas for action by each candidate are set out as priorities and intermediate objectives in the Accession Partnership itself. 1. Political criteria Efforts should be made to enhance the judicial system, to establish an Ombudsman institution, to improve conditions in prisons and to intensify the fight against corruption. Particular measures must be taken to accelerate the process of naturalisation and to improve the integration of non-citizens into Estonian society. Steps must be taken to make naturalisation of stateless children easier. More resources must be made available for the teaching of Estonian to non-Estonian speakers. 2. Economic criteria The liberalisation process should be completed, in particular by removing remaining price controls and by establishing or strengthening the regulatory bodies who ensure the proper functioning of the market (notably in the energy, telecommunications and transport sectors). Restitution and privatisation of land must be accelerated. Special attention must be paid to preserving macroeconomic stability, mainly by increasing the export base, mobilising national savings, and reducing the inflation rate, and to maintaining the price competitiveness of exports. Sound management of the general government budget (including local budgets and extra-budgetary funds) is also crucial to increase resources for public investment, notably in such fields as the environment, energy and transport. Both the public and the private sectors must devote considerable attention and resources to education and training of the labour force, with a view to satisfying the increasingly complex and diversified needs of the economy. 3. Ability to assume the obligations of membership 3. 1. Internal market without frontiers The four freedoms G e n e r a l f r a m e w o r k — efforts must be made to accelerate law reform in the field of public procurement, for instance as regards the utilities sector, the remedies system and the White Paper Stage II measures. In the field of intellectual and industrial property, legislation, as well as control mechanisms, must be substantially enhanced. As regards company law, full compatibility with the first and 12th Directives must be ensured. Legislation on accounting and auditing must be fully aligned with European Union requirements, while efforts must be made to deal with the shortage of qualified accountants and auditors. Improvement must be made in the protection of personal data, notably the establishment of an independent supervisory authority. F r e e m o v e m e n t o f g o o d s — efforts should be continued to develop the framework legislation which will enable Estonia to take up the basic principles of the European Union system, with a particular emphasis on conformity assessment. In parallel there is an urgent need to speed up the adoption of new approach Directives and to strengthen the standardisation and conformity assessment infrastructures. Harmonisation of technical legislation on pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs and chemicals should be completed, and legislation on motor vehicles should be taken over. A market surveillance mechanism needs to be set up and to become fully operational, once sectoral legislation is fully aligned with EC Directives. F r e e m o v e m e n t o f c a p i t a l — restrictions concerning acquisition of real estate by non-residents must be removed. 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/29 F r e e m o v e m e n t o f s e r v i c e s — banking legislation must be amended to fulfil European Union requirements, including provisions for bank deposit guarantee schemes and money laundering. In the securities field, law reform needs to be intensified, while the securities inspectorate must be strengthened considerably. The existing Insurance Act must be revised to increase minimum capital requirements and complete privatisation, while the insurance supervision system must be enhanced. F r e e m o v e m e n t o f p e r s o n s — as regards mutual recognition of professional qualifications, efforts must be made to ensure the necessary legislative and enforcement measures. Further efforts must be made to ensure the necessary legislative and enforcement measures as regards the coordination of social security schemes. Competition The necessary measures should be taken for the effective implementation of the new Competition Act, covering both anti-trust and State aid. In respect of State aid, considerable efforts are necessary to ensure full transparency, in particular through the establishment and updating of a State aid inventory in accordance with Community practice. It is necessary to review all existing aid measures and modify or abolish those measures which are not compatible with the Europe Agreement (for example, export aid measures). Procedures must be established to ensure the monitoring of new aid on a systematic basis. Certain exclusive rights and State monopolies which are not compatible with the Community acquis must be progressively adjusted and/or abolished. 3. 2. Innovation Education, training and youth Efforts must be made to ensure considerable investment in curriculum reform, teacher training, text books, equipment and buildings. Policies in the field of vocational training should aim to increase the general level of education and to improve the skills of the labour force. Research and technological development Improvements must be made in the level of innovation in the economy as well as in the links between research institutes, industry and small and medium-sized enterprises. Telecommunications Substantial changes to legislation are needed to comply with European Union Directives, in particular to secure the independence of the regulatory authority. At the same time, the acquis now requires governments to ensure that a modern telephone service is available everywhere at an affordable price. Meeting this obligation will require significant investment in the system. Audiovisual The existing legislation must be amended, in particular with regard to the questions of freedom of reception, promotion of European works, advertising rules and the protection of minors. 3. 3. Economic and fiscal affairs Economic and monetary union On-going reform efforts in terms of monetary policy should be continued in particular with a view to reducing inflation. The restructuring of the financial sector should be completed. Taxation Substantial adjustments must be made to bring VAT legislation into line with European Union requirements to ensure a consistent and less general application. Particular efforts need to be made with regard to the scope of VAT exemptions and the VAT refund scheme applicable to foreign taxable persons. In the field of excise duties particular attention should be given to the setting up of a warehousing system for the movement of goods under duty suspension arrangements. Tax structures and the level of excise rates need to be aligned on the Community model. C 202/30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 Statistics Efforts must be made to improve the quality, comprehensiveness and timeliness of official statistics, in particular with regard to business statistics, the establishment of a business register, short-term economic indicators, input/output statistics, and agricultural statistics. 3. 4. Sectoral policies Industry To enhance competitiveness, further efforts should be made to pursue policies aimed at promoting open and competitive markets and taking on the instruments which make up European Community industrial policy, relating both to the operation of markets (product specification and market access, trade policy, State aids and competition policy) and measures related to industry’s capacity to adapt to change (stable macroeconomic environment, technology, training, etc. ). Agriculture Substantial efforts must be made to ensure the alignment of Estonian legislation with European Union requirements. With regard to veterinary and phytosanitary requirements, special attention must be paid to the upgrading of establishments and the inspection and control arrangements for protecting the European Union’s external borders. Administrative structures must be strengthened to ensure the implementation and enforcement of the policy instruments of the common agricultural policy including import arrangements. The agri-food sector must be further restructured to ensure its competitive capacity. Fisheries The fisheries administration must be strengthened to ensure the effective implementation of the common fisheries policy, in particular as regards the conservation and the management of resources, the implementation of a monitoring and control system, the management of the common organisation of the market in the fishery and aquaculture sector, the implementation of a structural policy in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, the keeping of a fishing vessel register, the collection of statistical data as well as the implementation of European Union fishery policy on environmental protection. Energy Current efforts need to be intensified in particular with regard to legislative alignment, adjustment of monopolies, including import and export issues, access to networks, energy pricing and State interventions. Special attention must be paid to the restructuring of the oil-shale sector, energy efficiency, environmental norms, and to emergency preparedness including the building up of mandatory oil stocks. Transport Efforts must be made to ensure the necessary legislation and effective implementation in road haulage (access to the sector, weights and dimensions, safety rules), the maritime sector (safety), and air transport. Financial transparency must be ensured in the rail sector. Steps must be taken to ensure the future extension of the trans-European networks. Inspection bodies, in particular for transport safety, should be strengthened. At a national level there is a need to develop specific strategies for transport infrastructure development and financing. Small and medium-sized enterprises Steps must be taken to further refine and increase the coherence of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) policy, to simplify legislation, and the administrative environment to make it more SME-friendly, to strengthen support infrastructures, to improve the tax environment and to develop SME access to financing. 3. 5. Economic and social cohesion Employment and social affairs Legislation must be realigned with European Union requirements in such areas as occupational health and safety, labour law and equal opportunities. Social reform must be pursued while investments in the public health system need to be significantly enhanced. Active labour market policies must be developed and jointly reviewed as preparation for participation in European Union coordination. An active, autonomous social 29. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 202/31 dialogue and social protection must be developed. The administrative structures must be strengthened to ensure effective implementation of legislation. Regional policy and cohesion A differentiated policy addressing regional disparities must be introduced and the administrative and budgetary structures required to manage integrated European Community structural actions after membership must be established. 3. 6. Quality of life and environment Environment Steps must be taken to ensure the full transposition of the environmental acquis as well as substantial progress in effective compliance. Particular efforts must be made to achieve full European Union compatibility of the waste, water and nature legislation and to ensure the transposition of the framework Directives dealing with air, waste, water and the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive. Investments must be strengthened, in particular as regards large combustion plants, the water sector, industry, urban air pollution, solid and hazardous waste management and management of municipal waste. A considerable effort must be made to develop adequate implementation and enforcement structures. Public awareness with regard to the environment must be stimulated. The nuclear waste situation at the former Soviet Union Paldiski naval submarine base should be followed closely. Consumer protection Legislation must be amended in such areas as protection of economic interests, sales away from business premises, distance selling, package travel, timeshare property, unfair terms of consumer contracts, misleading advertising, price indication, consumer credit and product safety. A strong and independent consumer movement, sustained by public authorities, will need to be developed. 3. 7. Justice and home affairs (JHA) Some important gaps need to be filled in legislation. Improvements are necessary in the levels of education and experience of the legal profession and in the administration dealing with issues related to refugees and asylum seekers. Progress concerning border management and control must be continued. The effective implementation of the Geneva Convention and the 1967 Protocol as well as the Law of Refugees must be ensured. The fight against organised crime must be intensified in such fields as drug trafficking, money laundering, car theft, security services and fraud. Anti-drugs legislation and systems must be further enhanced. Steps must be taken to ensure ratification of the international conventions in the JHA field. Particular attention must be paid to ensuring the necessary resources for institutional development. 3. 8. External policies Trade and international economic relations Preparations must be made for applying, on accession, the Community’s various cooperation and preferential agreements, multilateral and bilateral commercial policy commitments and its autonomous commercial defence instruments. At the same time, national legislation in the field must be repealed. Membership of non-proliferation regimes should be pursued. Development Preparations must be made for applying, on accession, the Lomé trade regime to the ACP States and participating, together with the other Member States, in financing the European Development Fund. Customs Customs legislation must be aligned on that of the European Community. Estonia will have to align its tariff structure to meet the common customs tariff. The organisation and duties of staff must be aligned C 202/32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 6. 98 with those of a modern customs administration. An effort must be made to introduce computerised systems for full participation in the customs union and the internal market. Particular attention must be paid to preparing the customs administrations for the operation of all the customs procedures with economic impact, the system of tariff suspensions and the administration of tariff quotas and ceilings. Strategic planning needs to take account of the reinforcement of border posts along the external frontier that Estonia will have with countries other than European Union Member States at the time of accession. 3. 9. Financial questions The necessary financial management and control mechanisms must be established to ensure satisfactory implementation of Community policies. An anti-fraud unit will need to be developed to protect European Community financial interests. The existing accounting system as well as the customs system should be amended to ensure the efficient administration of the ‘own resources’ system. The reliability of the national accounts must be ensured with a view to the accurate calculation of the GNP resource. 4. Administrative capacity to apply the acquis To ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of the acquis, major reform efforts must be made to strengthen Estonia’s administrative structures in virtually all European Union relevant sectors. Special efforts must be made to strengthen the authorities ensuring the correct application of Community requirements in the Single Market and the customs authorities. The regulatory and monitoring bodies must be strengthened in such fields as competition, securities, insurance, banks, money laundering, public procurement, consumer protection, transport safety, veterinary and phytosanitary controls and food control as well as standards and certification, and the labour inspectorates. Increased efforts must be made for the upgrading of staff qualifications on European Union-related issues and efficient public management in general. This must include the elaboration of a comprehensive national training strategy for civil servants. The judicial system must be strengthened in terms of resources and relevant expertise. A comprehensive upgrading of judges, in particular in European Union matters, must be carried out


title: WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2021/98 by Gary TITLEY to the Council. Persecutions of Christians in Pakistan

eurovoc_concepts:
Christianity
Pakistan
death penalty
democracy
freedom of religious beliefs
penalty
religious discrimination
religious group

text: C 13/136 Euroopan yhteis(cid:246)jen virallinen lehti FI 18. 1. 1999 Komission j(cid:228)senen Yves-Thibault de Silguyn komission puolesta antama vastaus (3. syyskuuta 1998) Rakennerahastojen uudistusta vuosina 2000›2006 koskevien asetusehdotusten tekninen valmistelu on tehty komission yksik(cid:246)idenv(cid:228)lisess(cid:228) ty(cid:246)ryhm(cid:228)ss(cid:228), jonka puheenjohtajuudesta vastasi aluepolitiikan ja koheesion p(cid:228)(cid:228)osasto. Eurostat ei suoranaisesti osallistunut t(cid:228)m(cid:228)n ty(cid:246)ryhm(cid:228)n ty(cid:246)h(cid:246)n, mutta sen kanssa on k(cid:228)yty useaan otteeseen ep(cid:228)virallisia keskusteluja niiden tilastollisten indikaattoreiden sopivuudesta ja saatavuudesta, joita n(cid:228)iss(cid:228) ehdotuksissa on aiottu k(cid:228)ytt(cid:228)(cid:228). Komission ty(cid:246)j(cid:228)rjestyksen mukaisesti Eurostatin mielipidett(cid:228) lopullisista luonnoksista on virallisesti kuultu ennen kuin kollegio on ne hyv(cid:228)ksynyt. (1999/C 13/192) KIRJALLINEN KYSYMYS E-2021/98 esitt(cid:228)j(cid:228)(t): Gary Titley (PSE) neuvostolle (29. kes(cid:228)kuuta 1998) Aihe: Kristittyjen vaino Pakistanissa Punjabin piirioikeus tuomitsi 27. huhtikuuta 1998 pakistanilaisen kristityn Ayub Masihin kuolemaan jumalan- pilkasta. Syyn(cid:228) t(cid:228)h(cid:228)n olivat h(cid:228)nen kommenttinsa Salman Rushdien kirjasta Saatanalliset s(cid:228)keet. Yli sata kristitty(cid:228), joiden joukossa on my(cid:246)s lapsia, odottaa t(cid:228)ll(cid:228) hetkell(cid:228) jumalanpilkasta saadun kuolemantuomionsa t(cid:228)yt(cid:228)nt(cid:246)(cid:246)npanoa. Pakistanissa kristittyj(cid:228) vastaan nostetaan usein syyte jumalanpilkasta ja monesti heikoin perustein. Aikooko neuvosto painostaa uudelleen Pakistanin hallitusta puuttumaan jumalanpilkkalain v(cid:228)(cid:228)rink(cid:228)ytt(cid:246)(cid:246)n, poistamaan kuolemanrangaistuksen ja parantamaan yhteisvaalij(cid:228)rjestelm(cid:228)(cid:228) sellaiseksi, jossa kaikki uskonnolliset ryhm(cid:228)t olisivat paremmin edustettuina? Vastaus (24. syyskuuta 1998) Neuvosto on viime vuosina ollut hyvin huolissaan jumalanpilkkalain olemassaolosta ja mielivaltaisesta soveltamisesta Pakistanissa. Euroopan unioni on toteuttanut lukuisia toimia asian korjaamiseksi ja ottanut j(cid:228)rjestelm(cid:228)llisesti asian esille Pakistanin hallituksen kanssa k(cid:228)ydyiss(cid:228) vakiintuneissa poliittisissa vuoropuhe- luissa. Neuvoston on tunnustettava, ett(cid:228) huolimatta Pakistanin viranomaisten aikaisemmista vakuutteluista, joiden mukaan jumalanpilkkalains(cid:228)(cid:228)d(cid:228)nt(cid:246)(cid:228) muutettaisiin siten, ett(cid:228) sit(cid:228) olisi mahdotonta soveltaa v(cid:228)(cid:228)rin perustein, viimeaikaiset tapahtuvat osoittavat, ett(cid:228) perusongelmat ovat edelleen samat ja ett(cid:228) uskonnollinen suvaitsematto- muus n(cid:228)ytt(cid:228)(cid:228) valitettavasti olevan Pakistanissa pikemminkin lis(cid:228)(cid:228)ntym(cid:228)ss(cid:228). T(cid:228)m(cid:228)n vuoksi EU aikoo pohtia toimivaltaisissa neuvoston elimiss(cid:228) jo l(cid:228)hiaikoina tapoja, joiden avulla ongelma voitaisiin pyrki(cid:228) ratkaisemaan parhaalla mahdollisella tavalla. Euroopan parlamentille ilmoitetaan neuvostossa teht(cid:228)vist(cid:228) p(cid:228)(cid:228)t(cid:246)ksist(cid:228). Soveltu- vissa neuvoston elimiss(cid:228) k(cid:228)sitell(cid:228)(cid:228)n vuoden 1998 syyskuun alussa my(cid:246)s kysymyst(cid:228) kuolemanrangaistuksesta ja yhteisvaalij(cid:228)rjestelm(cid:228)n palauttamisesta. (1999/C 13/193) KIRJALLINEN KYSYMYS E-2022/98 esitt(cid:228)j(cid:228)(t): Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) ja Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) komissiolle (30. kes(cid:228)kuuta 1998) Aihe: Kiinteiden yhdyskuntaj(cid:228)tteiden kuljetuksesta vastaavan laitoksen rakentaminen Queliin (La Rioja › Espanja) Kiinteiden yhdyskuntaj(cid:228)tteiden kuljetuksesta vastaavan laitoksen rakentaminen on her(cid:228)tt(cid:228)nyt huolestuneisuutta ja vastustusta suurimmassa osassa Quelin (La Rioja) v(cid:228)est(cid:246)(cid:228), joka ei hyv(cid:228)ksy laitoksen sijoittamista suunni- teltuun paikkaan. Tiettyj(cid:228) hankkeesta vastaavia on jopa uhkailtu. Laitos on tarkoitus rakentaa korkealle, Hoya


title: Komisjoni määrus (EÜ) nr 1367/98, 29. juuni 1998, millega muudetakse 14. jaanuari 1992. a määrust (EMÜ) nr 94/92 üksikasjalike rakenduseeskirjade kohta, mis käsitlevad nõukogu määruses (EMÜ) nr 2092/91 sätestatud kolmandatest riikidest importimise kordaEMPs kohaldatav tekst.

eurovoc_concepts:
agricultural product
foodstuff
free movement of goods
import
organic farming
third country

text: 48 ET Euroopa Liidu Teataja 15/4. kd 31998R1367 30. 6. 1998 EUROOPA ÜHENDUSTE TEATAJA L 185/11 KOMISJONI MÄÄRUS (EÜ) nr 1367/98, 29. juuni 1998, millega muudetakse 14. jaanuari 1992. a määrust (EMÜ) nr 94/92 üksikasjalike rakenduseeskirjade kohta, mis käsitlevad nõukogu määruses (EMÜ) nr 2092/91 sätestatud kolmandatest riikidest importimise korda (EMPs kohaldatav tekst) EUROOPA ÜHENDUSTE KOMISJON, võttes arvesse Euroopa Ühenduse asutamislepingut, võttes arvesse nõukogu 24. juuni 1991. aasta määrust (EMÜ) nr 2092/91 põllumajandustoodete mahepõllundustootmise ning põllumajandustoodete ja toiduainete puhul sellele viitavate mär- giste kohta, (1) viimati muudetud komisjoni määrusega (EÜ) nr 1488/97, (2) eriti selle artiklit 11, ning arvestades, et: vastavalt määruse (EMÜ) nr 2092/91 artikli 11 lõikele 1 võib kol- mandast riigist imporditud tooteid turustada ainult juhul, kui too- ted pärinevad kõnealuse artikli lõikes 2 sätestatud tingimuste alu- sel koostatud loetelus olevast kolmandast riigist; kõnesolev loetelu esitatakse komisjoni määruse (EMÜ) nr 94/92 (3) (viimati muude- tud määrusega (EÜ) nr 314/97 (4) lisas; vastavalt määrusele (EÜ) nr 314/97 on Ungari ja Šveits kantud määruse (EÜ) nr 2092/91 artikli 11 lõikes 1 nimetatud loetelusse ajavahemikuks, mis lõpeb 30. juunil 1998, et kõnealuse ajavahe- miku jooksul üksikasjalikult uurida teatavaid asjaolusid, mis on seotud määruses (EÜ) nr 2092/91 ettenähtud eeskirjadega võrd- väärsete eeskirjade kehtestamisega kõnealustes riikides; komisjoni poolt kohapeal korraldatud kontrollimine on kinnita- nud määruses (EÜ) nr 2092/91 ettenähtud eeskirjadega võrdväär- sete eeskirjade kehtestamise tõhusust Ungaris; Šveitsis on tegevusluba antud uuele kontrolliasutusele, kes teeb mahepõllundusega seotud kontrollimisi vastavalt Šveitsi seadus- tele; süsteemi toimimiseks tuleb iga kolmanda riigi suhtes kindlaks määrata määruse (EMÜ) nr 2092/91 artikli 11 lõike 1 punktis b nimetatud kontrollsertifikaadi väljastamise eest vastutavad asu- tused; Austraalia on teatanud muudatustest kontrollisüsteemis; Austraa- lias kontrollivad ettevõtjate tegevust eraõiguslikud kontrolliasu- tused riikliku ametiasutuse järelevalve all; Iisrael on kinnitanud, et mahepõllundustooteid kontrollib ja ser- tifitseerib põllumajandusministeerium; eespool nimetatud kolmandate riikide esitatud info põhjal võib järeldada, et nõuded vastavad ühenduse õigusaktide nõuetele; käesolevas määruses ettenähtud meetmed on kooskõlas määruse (EMÜ) nr 2092/91 artiklis 14 nimetatud komitee arvamusega, ON VASTU VÕTNUD KÄESOLEVA MÄÄRUSE: Artikkel 1 Käesolevaga muudetakse määruse (EMÜ) nr 94/92 lisa vastavalt käesoleva määruse lisale. Artikkel 2 Käesolev määrus jõustub 1. juulil 1998. Käesolev määrus on tervikuna siduv ja vahetult kohaldatav kõikides liikmesriikides. Brüssel, 29. juuni 1998 Komisjoni nimel komisjoni liige Franz FISCHLER (1) EÜT L 198, 22. 7. 1991, lk 1. (2) EÜT L 202, 30. 7. 1997, lk 12. (3) EÜT L 11, 17. 1. 1992, lk 14. (4) EÜT L 51, 21. 2. 1997, lk 34. 15/4. kd ET Euroopa Liidu Teataja 49 LISA 1. Lõigete 3 ja 4 Austraaliaga seotud tekst asendatakse järgmisega: “3. Kontrollasutused: — Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) — Bio-dynamic Research Institute (BDRI) — Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) — Organic Vignerons Association of Australia Inc. (OVAA) — Organic Herb Growers of Australia Inc. (OHGA) — National Association of Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA). 4. Sertifikaate väljastavad asutused: vt punkti 3. ” 2. Lõike 5 Ungariga seotud tekst asendatakse järgmisega: “5. Loetelus oleku tähtaeg: 30. 6. 2000. ” 3. Lõigete 3 ja 4 Iisraeliga seotud tekst asendatakse järgmisega: “3. Kontrolliv ametiasutus: põllumajandusministeerium. 4. Sertifikaate väljastav ametiasutus: vt punkti 3. ” 4. Lõike 1 ja lõigete 3-5 Šveitsiga seotud tekst asendatakse järgmisega: “1. Tooteliigid: a) töötlemata taimekasvatussaadused määruse (EMÜ) nr 2092/91 artikli 1 lõike 1 punktis a määratletud tähenduses, välja arvatud kõnealuse määruse artikli 5 lõikes 5 märgitud üleminekuajal valmistatud tooted; b) põhiliselt ühest või enamast koostisosast koosnevad taimsed toiduained määruse (EMÜ) nr 2092/91 artikli 1 lõike 1 punktis b määratletud tähenduses, välja arvatud kõnealuse määruse artikli 5 lõikes 5 märgitud tooted, mis sisaldavad ühte üleminekuajal valmistatud, põllumajandusliku päritoluga koostisosa. ” “3. “Vereinigung Schweizerischer Biologischer Landbauorganisationen” (VSBLO), “Institut für Marktökologie” (IMO), “Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau” (FIBL) ja “Association Suisse pour Systèmes de Qualité et Management” (SQS). 4. Sertifikaate väljastavad asutused: vt punkti 3. 5. Loetelus oleku tähtaeg: 31. 12. 2002. ”