EU/Poland agreement: participation in the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network

PURPOSE: Poland's participation in the European Environment Agency and the European environment information and observation network. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 2001/582/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement between the EC and Poland concerning Poland's participation in the European Environment Agency and the European environment information and observation network. CONTENT: Negotiations have been concluded by all 13 candidate countries regarding their participation in the EEA and the European environment information and observation network. The agreements state that the countries in question will take part in the Agency's work programme and meet the obligations of the Agency Regulation. They will need to establish an infrastructure for providing uniform environmental data on the state of the environment in their territory. Each country will contribute financially to the Agency to cover the cost of its participation. It is foreseen that these countries will be fully integrated in all Agency activities after a three-year phase-in period. The financial contribution is foreseen to increase during this three- year period. The candidate countries can obtain financial assistance from the relevant Community assistance programmes to subsidise 75%, 65% and, in the third year, 50% of their membership fees to the Agency. As from the fourth year, all countries will have to cover the full cost of their participation in the Agency. When the full work programme is implemented, the total yearly financial contribution from all the countries to the Agency will amount to EUR 8.82 million. ENTRY INTO FORCE: The Agreement is to be approved by the Parties on accordance with their own procedures. It shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date on which the last Party has delivered to the first Party that its procedures have been completed.�