12.6.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L145/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 19 May 2003 on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Bulgaria (2003/396/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com- munity, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 622/98 of 16 March 1998 on assistance to the applicant States in the framework of the preaccession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of Accession Partnerships (1), and in particular to Article 2 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: 1 The Luxembourg European Council stated that the Accession Partnership is a new instrument and the key feature of the enhanced preaccession strategy. The Copenhagen European Council stated that following the conclusions of the European Council in Brussels and depending on further progress in complying with the membership criteria, the objective is to welcome Bulgaria as a member of the European Union in 2007.1It endorsed the Commission’s communication on a roadmap for Bulgaria, including the proposals for a significant increase in preaccession assistance, and stated that the high level of funding to be made available should be () OJL 85,20.3.1998, p. 1. used in a flexible way, targeting the priorities identified, including in key areas such as justice and home affairs. It stated that further guidance in preaccession work would be provided by the revised Accession Partnerships to be presented to them next year. Regulation (EC) No 622/98 sets out that the Council is to decide, by a qualified majority and following a proposal from the Commission, on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions con- tained in the individual Accession Partnerships, as they will be submitted to each applicant State, as well as on subsequent significant adjustments applicable to them. Community assistance is conditional on the fulfilment of essential elements, and in particular on the respect of the commitments contained in the Europe Agreements and on progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria; where an essential element is lacking, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate steps with regard to any preaccession assistance. The Luxembourg European Council decided that the implementation of the Accession Partnership and pro- gress in adopting the acquis communautaire will be examined in the Europe Agreement bodies. The Commission’s 2002 regular report presents an objective analysis on Bulgaria’s preparations for mem- bership and identifies a number of priority areas for further work.