KAROLUS programme: exchange of national officials between administrations (amend. Dec. 92/481/EEC)

OBJECTIVE: to extend for two years (until December 1999), in its present form, the Karolus programme of exchanges between Member State administrations of officials responsible for implementing Community legislation, and to extend the programme to the Central and Eastern European associated countries and to EFTA countries which are EEA members and Cyprus. SUBSTANCE: Pending a complete overhaul of the programme, the Commission proposes extending the Karolus programme for two years (from 01.01.1998 to 31.12.1999), in accordance with the programme management committee's desire for a transitional period before the programme is altered. The extension can be carried out without any extra resources, as the amount laid down in Decision 92/481/EEC setting up the Karolus programme has not been completely exhausted. In parallel, the proposal calls for the programme to be extended to: - associated CEECs in accordance with the conditions laid down in the additional protocols to the association agreements concerning participation by these countries in Community programmes, - EFTA countries which are EEA members and Cyprus, on the basis of additional appropriations and in accordance with arrangements to be agreed with the countries concerned.�