EC/Malta relation: financial and technical cooperation, 4th protocol

- OBJECTIVE: to conclude a fourth protocol on financial and technical cooperation between the European Community and Malta, the objective of which is to contribute to the latter's economic and social development and to facilitate the economic transition of Malta with a view to future accession to the European Union. - COMMUNITY MEASURE: Decision 95/484/EC of the Council on the conclusion of the protocol on financial and technical cooperation between the Community and Malta. - SUBSTANCE: The decision establishes the technical details and financial envelope of the Fourth EC-Malta Financial Protocol. The protocol has been allocated a financial envelope of ECU 45 m, namely: . ECU 15 m from the Community budget (ECU 13 m of non-refundable aid plus ECU 2 m in high-risk capital), . ECU 30 m in loans from the European Investment Bank, and has set 3 primary objectives: - to contribute to the economic and social development of Malta and to the integration of its economy into that of Europe, in accordance with the provisions of the Association Agreement. - to promote the transfer of the acquis by adapting Malta's national legislation, by training the country's civil servants and by alerting national public opinion to European realities; - to prepare Malta's economic and social structures for the challenge of accession to the European Union. - PRIORITY AREAS OF INTERVENTION: The objectives set forth in the present protocol are to be realized by the financing of technical aid and training projects in the following fields: . adaptation of Malta's public administration to the acquis (training programmes for public officials); . in the services sector and in industry: support for Malta's structural reforms in view of the demands of the single market (investment promotion, support for SMEs, etc.); . strengthening of the ties between Maltese and European socio-economic operators by the promotion of exports and the implementation of Malta's trade-, customs- and fiscal-policy reforms; . cooperation in the field of science and technology (strengthening of the ties between Maltese and European research institutes on various EC research programmes) and in the transport, energy and telecommunications sectors; . participation of Malta in Community programmes in the areas of education, youth and culture. - VALIDITY: up to 31.12.1998. - ENTRY INTO FORCE: 2 months after all the necessary notification procedures have been completed by each of the parties. �