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

PURPOSE: within the framework of the pre-accesion strategy, to allow participation of Slovenia in the Third Multiannual Programme for SMEs in 1999 and 2000. CONTENT: this proposal for an EC-Slovenia Association Council decision sets the terms and conditions of this country's participation in the Multi-annual Programme for SMEs. In particular, Slovenia will: - participate (subject to some specific contrary provisions in the proposal) in all the relevant measures of this programme according to the same terms and conditions as for Member States; - in order to ensure the Community dimension of the programme, include a minimum number of partners from the Member States of the Community in the transnational projects and activities it proposes; - pay each year a contribution to the general budget of the European Communities to cover the costs resulting from its participation in the programme. This contribution will cover financial support from the programme to Slovenian entities undertaking activities under the programme, and supplementary administrative costs related to the Commission's management of the programme (EURO 33,124 per year). Slovenia's overall financial contribution amounts to EURO 506,324 per year for 1999 and 2000. According to the provisions of the Europe Agreements or their Additional Protocols, Slovenia is entitled to use part of its National Phare allocations to complement its contributions from its own budget up to a maximum of EURO 236,600. The remaining costs of its participation in the programme will be borne by Slovenia's own national budget. Slovenia is further required to make every effort, within the framework of the existing provisions, to facilitate the free movement and residence of all eligible persons participating in the programme between Slovenia and the Community Member States.�