EC/Cyprus relations: extension of the Community programmes Socrates, Leonardo and Youth for Europe III to Cyprus

OBJECTIVE: to open the LEONARDO, Youth for Europe III and SOCRATES programmes to Cyprus and lay down the conditions for management and detailed provisions for implementing this participation. SUBSTANCE: the proposal for a decision is the legal instrument for the conclusion of 3 bilateral agreements establishing cooperation between Cyprus and the Community in the framework of Community programmes concerning youth, education and training. In particular, these agreements provide as follows: -Cyprus is to participate in all activities conducted within the framework of LEONARDO, SOCRATES and Youth for Europe on the same basis, in principle, as the Member States of the Community; -in order to preserve the Community dimension of the programmes, a minimum number of partners of the Member States is required for all transnational projects proposed by Cyprus; -Cyprus is to put in place the national structures and mechanisms required for its participation; -it is to make an annual financial contribution to the Community budget corresponding to the cost of its participation in each programme. The contribution is to cover the operating and administrative costs arising from its participation. The contribution is to be: .ECU 253 000 for the SOCRATES programme in 1997 (ERASMUS will not be open in that year), then ECU 575 000 per annum in 1998 and 1999 (including ERASMUS), .ECU 482 000 per annum for the LEONARDO programme, .ECU 139 000 in 1997 for participation in part of the programme, ECU 246 000 in 1998 and ECU 300 000 in 1999 for participation in the whole of the Youth for Europe programme. The implementation of each agreement will be entrusted to a joint committee. Cyprus will also be invited to attend coordination meetings prior to the formal sessions of the programme management committees. Cyprus's participation will continue for the full duration of the programmes (i.e. until 31.12.1999).�