Small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs: participation of Bulgaria in Community programme

OBJECTIVE: as an element in the pre-accession strategy, to open up the third Community programme for SMEs to Bulgaria for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000. SUBSTANCE: the proposal for a decision by the EC-Bulgaria Association Council lays down the conditions and procedures for Bulgaria's participation in the Multiannual Community Programme for SMEs. In particular, Bulgaria: -will participate, unless otherwise provided in the proposal, in all actions of the Programme under the same conditions as the Member States; -in order to ensure the Community dimension of the Programme, will include in all transnational projects and activities which it proposes a minimum number of partners from the Member States; -will pay a contribution to the budget of the Community to cover the costs arising from its participation in the programme. The contribution is to cover the financial aid provided to Bulgarian entities under the programme and additional administrative costs imputable to the management of the programme by the Commission (approx. 7%). It amounts to: .ECU 726 102 in 1998, .ECU 726 102 in 1999, .ECU 833 102 in 2000. To some extent, the Community will be able to participate in the payment of these contributions by deducting the necessary amounts from the annual allocation to Phare/Bulgaria (subject to the usual programming procedures, Phare would contribute 100% of this contribution in 1998, around 86% in 1999 and around 64% in 2000, the remainder being met from Bulgaria's national budget). Bulgaria will facilitate the free movement and residence of all private persons receiving funding under the programme and moving between Bulgaria and the Member States. It will be involved in the monitoring of its participation in the programme in order to prepare for the Community decision-making process with a view to accession (particularly by attending coordination meetings before meetings of the management committee and by being informed of the latter's decisions). Bulgaria's participation is valid for the duration of the programme (i.e. until 31.12.2000).�