EU/Croatia agreement: participation of Croatia in the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
PURPOSE: to conclude an agreement between the EU and Croatia regarding the participation of the latter in the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2011/841/EU on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Croatia on the participation of the Republic of Croatia in the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
BACKGROUND: in accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is open to the participation of any third country that shares the interests of the Union and its Member States in its objectives and work.
The Agreement between the EU and Croatia on the participation of Croatia in the work of the EMCDDA was signed on behalf of the Union on 6 December 2010, subject to its conclusion.
CONTENT: this Decision approves, on behalf of the EU, the Agreement between the EU and Croatia on the participation of Croatia in the EMCDDA.
The main provisions of the Agreement may be summarised as follows :
European Information Network on Drugs and Drug Addiction (REITOX): Croatia shall be linked to REITOX. It will notify the Centre of the main elements of its national information network within 28 days of the entry into force of the Agreement, including its national monitoring centre, and name any other specialized centres which could make a useful contribution to the Centre's work.
Management Board: the Management Board of the Centre shall invite a Croatian representative to participate in its meetings. The representative shall participate fully without the right to vote. The Management Board may convoke exceptionally a meeting restricted to representatives of the Member States and of the European Commission on issues of interest particular to the Union and its Member States. The Management Board, in session with representatives of Croatia, will lay down the detailed arrangements concerning the participation of Croatia in the work of the Centre.
Budget: the financial contribution to be paid by Croatia to the budget of the E to participate in the Centre will progressively increase in a four-year period during which the activities will be phased in by Croatia. The financial contributions required are:
· during the first year of participation EUR 100.000
· during the second year of participation EUR 150.000
· during the third year of participation EUR 210.000
· during the fourth year of participation EUR 271.000
From the fifth year of participation, the annual financial contribution to be paid by Croatia to the Centre shall be the contribution of the fourth year of participation indexed by the rate of increase of the Union Subvention to the Centre.
Croatia may partially use Union assistance to pay the contribution to the Centre and will fully respect the proportions set out in the Annex to the Agreement.
Duration of the Agreement: the Agreement is concluded for an unlimited period of time and shall terminate on the date of Croatia's accession to the EU (2013).
ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision enters into force on 05/12/2011. The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal.