Small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs: participation of the Czech Republic in the Community programme

OBJECTIVE: as an element in the pre-accession strategy, to open up the third Community programme for SMEs to the Czech Republic for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000. SUBSTANCE: the proposal for a decision by the EC-Czech Republic Association Council lays down the conditions and procedures for the Czech Republic's participation in the Multiannual Community Programme for SMEs. In particular, the Czech Republic: -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 Czech entities under the programme and additional administrative costs imputable to the management of the programme by the Commission (approx. 7%). It amounts to ECU 654 626 per annum in 1998, 1999 and 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/Czech Republic (subject to the usual programming procedures, Phare would contribute ECU 200 000 per annum, the remainder being met from the Czech Republic's national budget). The Czech Republic will facilitate the free movement and residence of all private persons receiving funding under the programme and moving between its territory 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). The Czech Republic's participation is valid for the duration of the programme (i.e. until 31.12.2000).�