24.3.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 85/13 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 8 March 2001 on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with the Republic of Turkey (2001/235/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 390/2001 of 26 February 2001 on assistance to Turkey in the framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of an Accession Partnership (), and in particular to Article 2 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1) The Helsinki European Council stated: ‘Turkey is a candi- date State destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate States. Building on the existing European strategy, Turkey, like other candidate States, will benefit from a pre-accession strategy to stimulate and support its reforms.” As a key feature of such a strategy, an Accession Partnership will be drawn up on the basis of previous European Council conclusions. (2)  Regulation (EC) No 390/2001 provides that the Council is to decide, by a qualified majority and following a proposal from the Commission, on the principles, prior- ities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the individual Accession Partnership, as it will be submitted to Turkey, as well as on subsequent significant adjustments applicable to it. (3)  Community assistance is conditional on the fulfilment of essential elements, and in particular on progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria. Where an essential element is lacking, the Council, acting by a qualified () O] L 58, 28.2.2001, p. 1. majority on a proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate steps with regard to any pre-accession assis- tance. (4  The EC-Turkey Association Council decided that the implementation of the Accession Partnership for Turkey will be monitored by the Association Agreement bodies as appropriate. (5)  The Commission's 2000 regular report presented an objective analysis on Turkey's preparations for member- ship and identified a number of priority areas for further work. (6) In order to prepare for membership, Turkey should prepare a national programme for the adoption of the acquis. This programme should set out a timetable for achieving the priorities and intermediate objectives established in the Accession Partnership, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 In accordance with Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 390/2001, the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership for Turkey are set out in the Annex hereto, which forms an integral part of this Decision. Article 2 The implementation of the Accession Partnership shall be monitored in the Association Agreement bodies as appropriate and through the competent Council bodies to which the Commission shall report regularly.