Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Romania in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 0 5. 0 3. 1 9 97 COM(97) 14 final 97/ 0021 (CNS) Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Romania in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education (presented by the Commission) Explanatory Memorandum The Additional Protocols with Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania have entered into force on 1 February 1996 (Additional Protocols with Hungary and the Czech Republic), on 1 July 1996 (Additional Protocol with Slovakia) and on 1 August 1996 (Additional Protocols with Bulgaria and Romania). In view of Association Council decisions which, according to Article 2 of the Protocols, are to fix the conditions and modalities of these countries' participation, the Commission services have held exploratory discussions in the respective capitals during the first semester of 1996 covering a first group of programmes (Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe III, Socrates, Media II) for which the legal basis has been adopted in 1994 and 1995, and provided for the participation of associated CEC's. During these discussions, information has been provided on the content of each of the programmes concerned, on the progress and timetable of preparatory actions which are being implemented, and on conditions and modalities for these countries' participation, including the cost of participation. More particularly, taking into account that, according to Article 3 of the Protocols, the CEC's will themselves meet the costs resulting from their participation, they have been invited to make the necessary provisions in their budgets for 1997, on the basis of cost estimates provided by the Commission. CEC's are, of course, entitled to use up to 10 % of their Phare National Indicative Programme, to be decided according to normal PHARE programming procedures, for complementing the contribution from their own budget1. The Commission has also underlined that, after this first set of programmes, other programmes in the fields mentioned in Article 1 of the Additional Protocols will be discussed shortly after their adoption or renewal. This will be the case notably for programmes in the field of culture, the environment, social policy and health, energy, preparation for the internal market. So far, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania have been the only CEC's with an operational Additional Protocol that have confirmed to the Commission in writing their willingness to participate in Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates as from 1997 and to make available the necessary budgetary appropriations. Whereas the Czech Republic envisages to pay its financial contribution entirely from its national budget, Hungary and Romania intend to spread the cost of their participation over their national budget and Phare allocation. A question of particular importance to these countries relates to the way in which they will be associated to the management and decision making process of the programmes to which they will contribute financially; their participation will be an opportunity to get acquainted with the Community's institutions and decision making mechanisms, in COR 1 8773/94 of 27. 7. 1994 & addition (1) to the Structured Dialogue. In the draft Association Council decisions, it is proposed to closely involve them in the monitoring of their participation in the Programmes, to invite them to coordination meetings prior to the meetings of the Management Committees, and to inform them about their results. (2) The main issues addressed in the draft Decisions of the EC - Czech Republic, EC-Hungary and EC-Romania Association Councils adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education are the following : • the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania shall participate in all measures and actions of Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates and Youth for Europe, in principle on the same footing as the Member States of the Community (Articles 1 and 2) • • • a minimum number of partners from EC Member States will be required for all transnational projects (Article 3) proposed by the Czech Republic, Hungary or Romania the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania shall set up or make available national structures and mechanisms in order to implement their participation (Article 4) the financial contribution of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania is defined in Article 5 and the Annex • best efforts shall be made to facilitate the free movement and residence of students, teachers etc. (Article 6) • the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania shall be associated to the monitoring of their participation in the Programmes (Article 7) • the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania shall be invited to coordination meetings prior to the meetings of the Programmes Committees; they will be informed about their results (article 8) • the Decision shall apply for the duration of the Programmes (Article 10) The adoption of Association Council decisions to allow the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania to participate in a first set of Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education from 1997 will offer these countries the opportunity to participate actively in internal Community instruments, in principle, on the same footing as Member States. It is, therefore, of considerable political importance. Subject to their capacity to fulfil in time relevant administrative and budgetary requirements, other associated CEC's should also be able to join these programmes in the course of 1997. (3) Accordingly, the Council is invited to adopt the annexed proposal for Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council with Romania on its participation in the Community programmes in the fields of training (Leonardo da Vinci), youth (Youth for Europe) and education (Socrates). Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION of concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Romania in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 126 and 127, in conjunction with Article 228(3) first paragraph thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, Whereas the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part, has been Concluded by decision of the Council and the Commission of 4 December 1995, Whereas, according to Article 1 of the Additional Protocol, Romania may participate in Community framework programmes, specific programmes, projects or other actions notably in the fields of training, youth and education, pursuant to Article 2, the terms and conditions for the participation of Romania in the activities referred to in Article 1 shall be decided by the Association Council, Whereas, Council Decision (94/819/EC) of 6 December 1994 establishing an action programme for the implementation of a European Community vocational training policy, (hereinafter called "Leonardo da Vinci"1 ), and in particular Article 9,1 thereof, Decision (818/95/EC) of 14 March 1995 of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting the third phase of the "Youth for Europe"2 programme and in particular Article 7,4 thereof and Decision (819/95/EC) of 14 March 1995 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Community action programme in the field of education (hereinafter called "Socrates"3) and in particular Article 7,3 thereof, provide that these programmes shall be open to the participation of associated Central European countries in accordance with the conditions set out in the Additional Protocols to the Association Agreements on participation in Community programmes, 1 O. J. n°L 340 of 29. 12. 1994 2 O. J. n°L 87 of 20. 4. 1995 3 O. J. n°L 87 of 20. 4. 1995 4 Whereas, during the joint meetings of Education Ministers held in Luxembourg on 23 October 1995 and in Brussels on 21 November 1996 in the framework of the Structured Dialogue between the European Union and the associated Central European Countries the Parties reconfirmed their willingness to extend the participation in Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates to these countries, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: The position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council established by the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part, concerning the participation of Romania in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education, is the attached draft decision of the Association Council. Done at Brussels For the Council ^ Draft Decision n°. /96 of the EC-Romania Association Council of 1996 adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Romania in Community programmes in the fields of training, youth and education The ASSOCIATION COUNCIL Having regard to the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other,1 Having regard to the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Romania, of the other part concerning Romania's participation in Community programmes, and in particular Article 1 and 2 thereof;2 Whereas according to Article 1 of the Additional Protocol, Romania may participate in Community framework programmes, specific programmes, projects or other actions notably in the fields of training, youth and education; Whereas pursuant to Article 2 of the Additional Protocol the terms and conditions for the participation of Romania in the activities referred to in Article 1 shall be decided by the Association Council; Whereas during the joint meetings of Education Ministers held in Luxembourg on 23 October 1995 in and in Brussels on 21 November 1996 the framework of the Structured Dialogue between the European Union and the associated Central European Countries parties reconfirmed their willingness to extend the participation in Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates to these countries; HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Romania shall participate in the European Community programmes Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates according to the attached terms and conditions which shall form an integral part of this Decision. Done at The Chairman For the Association Council 1 O. J. N°L 347 of 31. 12. 1993 2 O. J. N° L 317 of 30. 12. 1995 Terms and conditions for the participation of Romania in the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates-programmes Article 1 Romania shall participate in all measures and actions of the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates programmes (hereinafter called "the Programmes") in conformity, unless otherwise provided in this Decision, with the objectives, criteria, procedures and deadlines as defined in Council Decision (94/819/EC) establishing an action programme for the implementation of a European Community vocational training policy, Decision 818/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting the third phase of the "Youth for Europe" programme and Decision n° 819/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Community action programme in the field of education. Article 2 The terms and conditions for the submission, assessment and selection of applications related to eligible institutions, organisations and individuals of Romania shall be the same as those applicable to eligible institutions, organisations and individuals of the Community. Language preparation and training activities concern the official languages of the Community. In exceptional circumstances, other languages could be accepted if the implementation of the programmes so requires. Article 3 To ensure the Community dimension of the Programmes, transnational projects and activities proposed by Romania will be required to include a minimum number of partners from the Member States of the Community. This minimum number will be decided in the framework of the implementation of the Programmes, taking into account the nature of the various activities, the number of partners in a given project, and the number of countries participating in the Programme. Projects and activities carried out solely between Romania and the EFTA-EEA States or any other third country, including those with an association agreement with the Community, to which participation in the programmes is open, shall not be eligible for Community financial support. Article 4 In conformity with the terms of the relevant provisions of the Decisions on Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates, Romania shall provide the appropriate structures and mechanisms at national level and shall take all other necessary steps to ensure national coordination and organisation of the implementation of the Programmes. Article 5 Romania shall pay each year a contribution to the budget of the Community to cover the costs resulting from its participation in the Programmes. q- The rules governing the financial contribution of Romania shall be those set out in the Annex, which constitutes an integral part of this Decision. The Association Committee shall be entitled to adapt this contribution whenever necessary. Article 6 The Community and its Member States and Romania shall make every effort to facilitate the free movement and residence of students, teachers, university administrators, young people and other eligible persons moving between Romania and the Community for the purpose of participating in activities covered by this Decision. Article 7 Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Commission and the Community's Court of Auditors in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of the programmes pursuant to Articles 10, 9 and 8 of Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates decisions respectively, the participation of Romania in the programmes shall be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving the Commission and Romania. Romania shall submit to the Commission relevant reports and take part in other specific activities set out by the Community to this end. Article 8 Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in article 6 of the Decision on Leonardo da Vinci, article 6 of the Decision on Youth for Europe and article 4 of the Decision on Socrates, Romania shall be invited to coordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the Committees. The Commission shall inform Romania about the results of such regular meetings. Article 9 The language to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other administrative arrangements for the programmes, shall be one of the official languages of the Community. Article 10 This Decision shall apply for the duration of the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates programmes (until 31 December 1999). Article 11 This Decision shall enter into force the first day of the month following its adoption by the Association Council. ? ANNEX FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF ROMANIA TO LEONARDO DA VINCI, SOCRATES AND YOUTH FOR EUROPE 1. The financial contribution of Romania will cover: -subsidies or any other financial support from the programmes to Romanian participants: -the financial support from the programmes to the functioning of the national agencies, where applicable; -supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programmes by the Commission stemming from Romania's participation. 2. For every budget year, the aggregated amount of subsidies or any other financial support received from the programmes by Romanian beneficiaries and by the national agencies of Romania will not exceed the contribution paid by Romania, after deduction of the supplementary administrative costs. Should the contribution paid by Romania to the budget of the Community, after deduction of the supplementary administrative costs, be higher than the aggregated amount of the subsidies or other financial support received by the Romanian beneficiaries and by the national agencies from the programmes, the Commission of the European Communities will transfer the balance to the next budgetary exercise, and it will be deducted from the following year's contribution. Should such a balance be left when the programmes come to an end, the corresponding amount will be reimbursed to Romania. 3. Leonardo da Vinci Romania's annual contribution will be of 4,500,000 ECU from 1997. From this sum, an amount of 300,000 ECU will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming from Romania's participation. 4. Socrates Romania's contribution will be : - 3,481,000 ECU in 1997 for its participation in Chapter II (School education, Comenius) and Chapter III (horizontal measures). From this sum, an amount of 228,000 ECU will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming from Romania's participation. 9 - 7,911,000 ECU in 1998 and in 1999, for its participation in the entire Socrates programme, including Chapter I (Erasmus). From this sum, an amount of 518,000 ECU will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming from Romania's participation. 5. Youth for Europe Romania's annual contribution will be: - 575,000 ECU in 1997 for participating in actions AI and BI; from this sum an amount of 40,000 will cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stemming from Romania's participation. - 725,000 ECU in 1998 and 1,332,000 ECU in 1999 for participating in all the actions of the programme, except Action D. From these sums, an annual amount of 50,000 ECU in 1998 and 80,000 ECU in 1999 will cover supplementary admin istrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission stem ming from Romania's participation. 6. The financial regulation applicable to the general budget of the Community shall apply, notably to the management of the contribution of Romania. After the entry into force of this Decision and at the beginning of each following year, the Commission shall send to Romania a call for funds corresponding to its contribution to the costs under the Decision. This contribution shall be expressed in ECU and paid into an ECU bank account of the Commission. Romania shall pay its contribution to the annual costs under this Decision according to the call for funds and at the latest three months after the call for funds is sent. Any delay in the payment of the contribution shall give rise to the payment of interest by Romania on the outstanding amount from the due date. The interest rate corresponds to the rate applied by the European Monetary Co-operation Fund, for the month of the due date, for its operations in ECU1 , increased by 1,5 percentage points. 7. Romania shall pay the supplementary administrative costs referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 from its national budget. 8. Romania shall pay 20%, 59 % and 60% of the remaining cost of its participation in the programmes from its national budget of 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively. Subject to regular PHARE programming procedures, the remaining 80%, 41 % and 40% will be paid from Romania's annual PHARE National Indicative Programmes of 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively. 1 Rate published monthly in the Official Journal of the European Communities - C series. FINANCIAL {STATEMENT Opening of programmes Leonardo. Youth for Europe and Socrates to Romania Article B7-503: Aid for economic restructuring of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe 1. TITLE OF OPERATION B7-50 -Cooperation with countries of Central and Eastern Europe 2. BUDGET HEADING INVOLVED B7-503 - Aid for economic restructuring of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe 3. LEGAL BASIS Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 126 and 127, in conjunction with Article 228(3) thereof. Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement with Romania (Articles 228 and 238) of 4 December 1995, providing for the opening-up of Community programmes (OJ No L317/95) Council Decision (819/94/EC) of 6 December 1994 establishing the Leonardo da Vinci programme, and in particular Article 9(1) thereof, Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council (818/95/EC) of 14 March 1995 establishing the Youth for Europe programme, and in particular Article 7(4) thereof, Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council (819/95/EC) of 14 March 1995 establishing the Socrates programme, and in particular Article 7(3) thereof, 4. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION: 4. 1 General objective // Romania's participation in the three Community programmes concerned on an equal footing with the Member States will assist in its future accession to the Union, which was the aim set by the Copenhagen European Council of June 1993 and confirmed by subsequent European Councils. Its participation will not only contribute towards the implementation of the provisions relating to economic and cultural cooperation in the Europe Agreements but will also enable Romania to familiarise itself with the procedures and methods used in Community programmes. The decision-making process for the opening-up of programmes involves a decision by the Association Council between the Union and the associated country. This decision also lays down the practical arrangements for opening up the programmes. The Additional Protocol with Romania entered into force on 1 February 1996 and provides for Romania's participation in the three programmes concerned from 1997. The above-mentioned programmes are not intended to form an exhaustive list as the process for opening them up has only recently begun. Other Community programmes, notably in the fields of culture, health and social policy, energy, the environment, etc. , have been or will shortly be opened up to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, probably during 1997. 4. 2 Period covered and arrangements for renewal Up to the accession of the country concerned to the European Union, but dependent on decisions taken as regards the budget after 1999. 5. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 5. 1 Non-compulsory expenditure 5. 2 Differentiated appropriations 5. 3 Type of revenue involved: Since the first paragraph of Article 3 of the Additional Protocol stipulates that Romania itself will meet the costs resulting from its participation, it will be invited to transfer its contribution to item 6091 of the EU's budget receipts. However, as the second paragraph of Article 3 states that the Community may supplement Romania's contribution (by up to 10% of the National Indicative Programme), Romania will contribute only part from its national budget, with the remainder being charged to heading B7-503. 6. TYPE OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE - 100% subsidy - subsidy for joint financing with other sources in the public and/or private sector - no provision for all or part of the Community contribution to be reimbursed As far as revenue is concerned, provision for Romania's contribution to cover the cost of its participation is made under item 6091. The revenue will be allocated to the items for ix expenditure on the three programmes in question and, where appropriate, to the relevant items of operating expenditure. The total revenue expected is given under item 7. 4. 7. FINANCIAL IMPACT 7. 1 Method of calculating total cost of operation for 1997, 1998 and 1999 financial years (link between individual costs and total cost) The calculation is based on the following preconditions: - each partner country's contribution to the financing of the activities referred to in the Protocol is calculated according to the principle that the country bears the cost of participation itself. Heading 6091 has been created in the statement of budget revenue for that purpose; - the Community may decide on a case-by-case basis to pay a supplement to the partner country's contribution. The supplement may be in the form of a contribution under the PHARE programme, but the amount cannot exceed 10% of its National Indicative Programme. Based on the Additional Protocol with Romania, the financial and budgetary arrangements for the three programmes concerned are as follows: the costs have been calculated on the basis of various parameters inherent in the three programmes, i. e. GDP, population, school attendance, distances involved. The cost of Romania's participation in Leonardo da Vinci from 1997 will be ECU 4,500,000 per year. For Socrates the amount will be ECU 3,481,000 in 1997, provided that Erasmus is not opened up that year. In 1998 and 1999, the cost will be ECU 7,911,000 per year. The cost of Youth for Europe will amount to 575,000 ECU in 1997, 725,000 ECU in 1998 and 1,332,000 ECU in 1999. The above-mentioned figures, from which the supplementary administrative costs -to be borne exclusively by Romania- have to be deducted, are divided per year and per programme as follows : Romania shall pay 20%, 59 % and 60% of the cost of its participation in the programmes from its national budget of 1997, 1998 and 1999 respectively; subject to regular PHARE programming procedures, the remaining 80%, 41 % and 40% will be paid from Romania's annual PHARE National Indicative Programmes of 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively. /s 7. 2 Itemised breakdown of cost in ECU Programme 1997 1998 1999 Total of which Romania of Phare which Leonardo Vinci da 4,200,000 4,200,000 4,200,000 12,600,000 5,838,000 6,762,000 Socrates 3,253,000 7,393,000 7,393,000 18,039,000 9,448,270 8,590,730 Youth Europe Total for 535,000 675,000 1,252,000 2,462,000 1,256,450 1,205,550 7,988,000 12,268,000 12,845,000 33,101,000 16,542,720 16,558,280 7. 3 Operational expenditure on studies, expert meetings, etc. , included in Part B: None 7. 4 Schedule for multiannual operations Amounts to be charged to item B7-503 1997 1998 1999 subsequent years TOTAL 6,390,400 5,029,880 5,138,000 16,435,600 5,027,742 1,160,818 4,199,739 159,469 713,517 4,270,407 42,371 116,624 867,593 5,027,742 5,360,557 5,143,393 1,026,588 Comm. app- Pay. app. ' ) 1997 1998 1999 subsequent years Total 6,390,400 5,029,880 5,138,000 16,558,280 (*) Schedule based on the method of payment currently applying to these programmes. >H The foreseeable annual receipts are as follows: Item 6091 1997 1998 1999 subsequent years TOTAL operational part administrati vepart 1,597,600 7,238,120 7,707,000 16,542,720 568,000 868,000 898,000 2,334,000 Total 2,165,600 8,106,120 8,605,000 18,876,720 8. FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES; RESULTS OF MEASURES TAKEN All the Commission's contracts, agreements and other legal commitments provide for on- the-spot checks by the Commission and Court of Auditors. Among other things, the beneficiaries of the operations are obliged to file reports and financial statements. These are analysed from the point of view of their content and the eligibility of the expenditure in line with the objective of Community financing. The anti-fraud provisions of the basic budget headings apply to this heading too when adapted to the case of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. 9. ELEMENTS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 9. 1. Specific and quantified objectives; target population The aim of opening up the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates programmes to Romania is to bring it the same benefits as the Member States of the Community already enjoy from the three programmes. The essential aim of Community action on education and training should be to enable all European citizens to achieve their full potential and display initiative and creativity so that they can participate fully in society and in the building of Europe. This objective is based on the gradual establishment of an open European area for education and training. In the field of education, the principal aim of the Socrates programme is to contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States. The specific aims of the programme are: to develop the European dimension in education at all levels so as to strengthen the spirit of European citizenship, drawing on the cultural heritage of each Member State; to promote a quantitative and qualitative improvement of the knowledge of the languages of the European Union, and in particular those which are least widely used and least taught, leading to greater understanding and solidarity between the peoples of the European Union, and to promote the intercultural dimension of education; /r to promote wide-ranging and intensive cooperation between institutions at all levels of education, enhancing their intellectual and teaching potential; to encourage the mobility of teachers, so as to promote a European dimension in studies and to contribute to the qualitative improvement of their skills; to encourage mobility for students, enabling them to complete part of their studies in another Member State, so as to contribute to the consolidation of the European dimension in education; to encourage contacts among pupils in the European Union, and to promote the European dimension in their education; to encourage the academic recognition of diplomas, periods of study and other qualifications, with the aim of facilitating the development of an open European area for education; to encourage open and distance education in the context of the activities of this programme; to foster exchanges of information and experience so that the diversity and specificity of the educational systems in the Member States become a source of enrichment and of mutual stimulation. In the field of vocational training, the principal aim of the Leonardo da Vinci programme is to implement a vocational training policy which supports and supplements the action of the Member States. The main objectives of the programme are to: support the improvement of the vocational-training systems and arrangements in the Member States by: improving the quality of initial vocational training and the transition of young people to working life, improving the quality of the Member States' continuing vocational training arrangements, supporting vocational information and guidance, promoting equal opportunities for men and women in vocational training, improving the quality of vocational training arrangements for persons disadvantaged on the labour market, for example owing to socio-economic, geographical or ethnic factors or by physical or mental disabilities or a lack of insufficient qualifications such that they are at risk of social qualifications or exclusion; for the training measures improvement of vocational support including university /industry cooperation, concerning undertakings and workers: innovation in vocational training, with a view to taking into account technological change and its impact on work and the necessary qualifications and skills, investment in continuing vocational training for workers, the transfer of teclinological innovation in the context of cooperation between undertakings and universities in the field of continuing vocational training, the promotion of equal opportunities for men and women; support for the development of language skills, knowledge and the dissemination of innovation in the field of vocational training. i& In the area of youth policy, the overall objective of the Youth for Europe programme is to contribute to the educational process of all young people through activities which complement those taking place in the Member States or provided at Community level in the fields of education and training. The specific objectives of the programme are to: promote youth exchanges for young people aged 15 to 25 living in one or several Member States; support initiatives and innovative projects of Community interest or of a transnational nature set up by young people for young people, which allow them to in society and to develop their personal play an active and acknowledged role abilities, creativity, sense of solidarity and independence; create favourable conditions for meetings of a high standard and ensure the high quality of all measures taken under the programme; support the training of youth leaders to enable young people to benefit from high-quality common measures related to the general objectives of the programme; step up cooperation among Member States and between them and the Commission through exchanges of experience and joint initiatives at Community level, and thus to support Member States in their endeavours to improve the quality of services and measures for young people, in particular through activities aimed at providing young people with information about the objectives of the programme; promote exchanges with young people from non-member countries with which the Community has concluded in particular cooperation agreements. 9. 2. Grounds for the operation - Need for Community financial aid In view of the high cost of participation in the programmes and Romania's precarious budgetary situation, assistance from PHARE as provided for in Article 3(2) of the Additional Protocol is essential. - Choice of ways and means With a contribution from PHARE, supplemented by one from the national budget, Romania's integration in the programmes concerned will put it on an equal footing with the current EU Member States. The integration of Romanian nationals in Community networks will make a definite contribution to preparing Romania for future membership. - Main factors of uncertainty which could affect the specific results of the operation Since projects will be selected according to qualitative criteria, it will only be possible to measure the real impact on the basis of Romanian firms' capacity to respond to the calls for proposal to be launched by the Commission under the three programmes. /> 9. 3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation The monitoring and evaluation procedures included in the Leonardo da Vinci, Youth for Europe and Socrates programmes (notably in respect of evaluation, as included in the decisions establishing the three programmes) will also cover operations financed for Romanian beneficiaries. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE The administrative resources required will actually be mobilised following the annual Commission Decision on the allocation of resources, taking account in particular of manpower and additional amounts granted by the budgetary authority. The supplementary needs can not, in any case, prejudge the decision that the Commission will need to take concerning : a) the request of new posts in the framework of APB, b) the resources allocation. 10. 1 Impact on the number of posts Type of post Staff required to manage the operation including Permanent posts Temporary posts using existing resources of the departments concerned using additional resources duration 1995-1999 or Officials temporary staff A B C 1A IB 1C Other resources 1A IB 1C TOTAL 3 2 1 from 1997 If m. 2 Overall financial impact of the additional human resources I Total Method of calculation (in ECU) Officials 300,000 100,000 Ecu/year = 300,000 Ecu Temporary staff (Titles Al, A2, A3, A4 and A5) Other budget heading) resources (indicate TOTAL 300,000 The expenses concerning the human resources needed to carry out this task that will be met through the allocation of the existing resources are estimated to : two officials (IB, IC) = 145,000 Ecu/year = 435,000 Ecu (Titles Al, A2, A3, A4 and A5). 10. 3 Increase in other operating expenses as a result of the operation Budget heading (No and title) Total Method of calculation (in ECU) A1178/A238 assistance - technical 2,133,000 A1300 -missions A2500 - meetings 30,000 30,000 A2510 - compulsory meetings 141,000 6% of the additional funds to be managed by the agencies assisting the Commission with the 3 programmes 3 missions per year per programme Participation a Romanian of representative in 3 annual meetings per programme the EUR15 budget | the ! Based on required additional presence of Romanian representatives in 1996, cost of I ! I 2,334,000 Total I I The above expenditure will be met from the Romanian contribution. I >9 ISSN 0254-1475 COM(97) 14 final DOCUMENTS EN 11 16 Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-010-EN-C ISBN 92-78-15020-7 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg c*6o