EC/Poland Europe agreement: additional protocol

The proposal for a decision by the Council and Commission seeks to conclude an additional protocol to the European agreement between the Community and EURATOM, of the one part, and Poland, of the other part. This protocol, which is concluded for an unlimited period, relates exclusively to Community areas of competence and seeks to include Poland in a series of Community programmes and initiatives in the following fields: - research and technological development (Fourth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development), - information services, - the environment (LIFE), - education, training and youth (SOCRATES, LEONARDO, Youth for Europe III), - social policy and health, - consumer protection, - SMEs, - tourism, - culture, - the audiovisual sector (MEDIA programme), - civil protection, - trade facilitation, - energy (THERMIE, ALTENER, SAVE), - transport, - combatting drugs and drug addiction. The parties might agree to add other fields of cooperation to those listed above. Poland's participation in these programmes will help promote its integration into the European Union and familiarize it with the methods used for managing Community programmes in all fields. An Association Council will decide the terms and conditions for the participation of Poland in the various programmes listed. Poland will have to meet the costs resulting from its participation and, if necessary, the Community could decide, on a case-by-case basis, to pay a supplement to Poland's contribution. As regards the procedures needed for the entry into force of the present protocol, ratification by each Member State will not be required since the protocol only relates to Community areas of competence. �