EC/Cyprus agreement: participation in Community programmes in the fields of training, education and youth

PURPOSE : to allow the participation of Cyprus in Community programmes in the fields of training, education and youth. CONTENT : in the fields of training, education and youth, Cyprus has participated in the frst phase of the Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates programmes, and in the Youth for Europe programme, on the basis of agreements concluded with the Community which expired on 31 December 1999. The second phase of Leonardo da Vinci, the second phase of Socrates, and a new Youth Programme, are succeeding the previous programmes. The decision establishing these new programmes provide that the programmes shall be open to the participation of Cyprus. As the participation of Cyprus in the Community programmes is not provided for in its Association Agreement, the conditions and modalities of its participation are to be defined in an agreement with the Community. The competent departments of the Commission conducted negotiations with Cyprus on the basis of the Directive adopted by the Council on 14 February 2000. Cyprus has confirmed its willingness to participate from 2001 in the second phase the programmes mentioned above, and pay its financial contribution partly from its national budget, and partly from the pre-accession funds. Furthermore, the terms and conditions for the participation of Cyprus will be identical to those applicable to Malta and the 10 candidate countries from Central and Eastern Europe. Finally, the adoption of the Agreement would allow Cyprus to be fully integrated in Community networks and other activities in the fields of vocational training, education and youth. Accordingly, the Council is invited to adopt the annexed proposal for a Decision concerning the conclusion of the Agreement by the end of 2000 and to notify the Cypriot authorities that the procedures necessary for the entry into force of the Agreement have been completed on behalf of the European Community.�