Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Slovenia in the multiannual Community programme for energy efficiency - SAVE II
26. 10. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 307 E/35 Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the Community position within the Association Council on the participation of Slovenia in the multiannual Community programme for energy efficiency, SAVE II (1999/C 307 E/07) COM(1999) 381 final - 1999/0170(CNS) (Submitted by the Commission on 23 July 1999) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 174, conjunction with Article 300, paragraph 3, 1st alinea thereof, in Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, (1) Whereas the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Slovenia, of the other part, has entered into force on 1 February 1999, (2) Whereas, according to Article 106 of the Europe Agreement, Slovenia may participate in Community framework programmes, specific programmes, projects or other actions including those in the field of energy and the terms and conditions for the participation of Slovenia in the activities referred to in the said Article shall be decided by the Association Council, (3) Whereas Council Decision (96/737/EC) (1) of 16 December 1996 establishing a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community and in particular Article 10 thereof, provides that this programme shall be open to the participation of associated Central European countries in accordance with the conditions set out in the Association Agreements on participation in Community programmes. 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 Slovenia, of the other part, concerning the participation of Slovenia in the Community programme for energy effi- ciency, SAVE II, is that set out in the attached draft decision of the Association Council. (1) OJ L 335, 24. 12. 1996, p. 50. C 307 E/36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 26. 10. 1999 Draft Decision of the Association Council between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Slovenia, of the other part adopting the terms and conditions for the participation of Slovenia in the Community programme for energy efficiency, SAVE II THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL, Having regard to the Europe Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Slovenia, of the other part, and in particular Article 106 thereof; Whereas according to Article 106 of the said Europe Agreement, Slovenia may participate in Community framework programmes, specific programmes, projects or other actions including those in the field of energy and the terms and conditions for the participation of Slovenia in the activities referred to in the said Article are to be decided by the Association Council, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 Slovenia shall participate in the European Community programme SAVE II according to the terms and conditions set out in Annexes I and II which shall form an integral part of this Decision. This Decision shall apply for the duration of the SAVE II programme. Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the first day of the month following its adoption. Article 3 ANNEX I Terms and conditions for the participation of Slovenia in the multiannual Community programme for energy efficiency, SAVE II 1. Slovenia will participate in all actions of the multiannual Community programme for energy efficiency, SAVE II (hereinafter called SAVE IIí) in conformity, unless otherwise provided in this Decision, with the objectives, criteria, procedures and time limits laid down in Council Decision 96/737/EC establishing a five-year programme for the preparation and implementation of measures and actions in a cost-effective manner in order to promote energy efficiency within the Community. 2. The terms and conditions for the submission, assessment and selection of applications related to eligible institutions, organisations and individuals of Slovenia will be the same as those applicable to eligible institutions, organisations and individuals of the Community, set within the limits of the financial contribution of Slovenia less administrative costs as provided in Annex II. 3. Where applicable, to ensure the Community dimension of SAVE II, transnational projects and activities proposed by Slovenia 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 SAVE II, 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 activity. 4. Slovenia will take all necessary steps to ensure national co-ordination and organisation of participation in SAVE II. 5. Slovenia will pay each year a contribution to the general budget of the European Communities to cover the costs resulting from its participation in SAVE II (see Annex II). The Association Committee is entitled to adapt this contribution whenever necessary. 6. The Member States of the Community and Slovenia will make every effort, within the framework of existing provisions, to facilitate the free movement and residence of persons moving between Slovenia and the Member States of the Community for the purpose of participating in activities covered by this Decision. 26. 10. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 307 E/37 7. Without prejudice to the responsibilities of the Commission and the Community’s Court of Auditors of the European Communities in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of SAVE II pursuant to Article 5 of the Council Decision on SAVE II, the participation of Slovenia in the programme will be continuously monitored on a partnership basis involving Slovenia and the Commission of the European Communities. Slovenia will submit the necessary reports to the Commission and take part in other specific activities set out by the Community in that context. 8. Without prejudice to the procedures referred to in Articles 4 and 5 of the Decision on SAVE II, Slovenia will be invited to co-ordination meetings on any question concerning the implementation of this Decision prior to the regular meetings of the SAVE Committee. The Commission will inform Slovenia about the results of such regular meetings. 9. The language to be used as regards the application process, contracts, reports to be submitted and other adminis- trative arrangements for the SAVE II programme, will be one of the official languages of the Community. ANNEX II Financial Contribution of Slovenia to SAVE II 1. The financial contribution of Slovenia will cover: - subsidies or any other financial support from the programme to Slovenian participants, - supplementary administrative costs related to the management of the programme by the Commission of the European Communities stemming from Slovenia’s participation. 2. For every financial year, the aggregated amount of subsidies or any other financial support received from the programme by Slovenian beneficiaries will not exceed the contribution paid by Slovenia, after deduction of the supplementary administrative costs. Should the contribution paid by Slovenia to the general budget of the European Communities, after deduction of the supplementary administrative costs, be higher than the aggregated amount of the subsidies or other financial support received by the Slovenian beneficiaries from the programme, the Commission 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 programme comes to an end, the corresponding amount will be reimbursed to Slovenia. 3. Slovenia’s annual contribution will be of 57 942 EUR from 1999. From this sum, an amount of 3 942 EUR will the programme by the Commission cover supplementary administrative costs related to the management of stemming from Slovenia’s participation. 4. The financial regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities will apply, notably to the management of the contribution of Slovenia. Upon the entry into force of this Decision and at the beginning of each year, the Commission will send to Slovenia a call for funds corresponding to its contribution to the costs under this Decision. This contribution will be expressed in EUR and paid into an euro bank account of the Commission. Slovenia will 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 Slovenia on the outstanding amount from the due date. The interest rate corresponds to the rate applied by the ECB for the month of the due date, for its operations in EUR, increased by 1,5 percentage points. 5. Slovenia will pay the supplementary administrative costs referred to in paragraph 3 (3 942 EUR) from its national budget. 6. Slovenia will pay the remaining cost of its participation in SAVE II, i. e. 54 000 EUR from its national budget