Following the conclusions of the Luxembourg European Council in December 1997, it was proposed that the EU Accession countries (including ten of the Central and East European countries) would be offered association with the 5th FP in the same way as certain EFTA countries are currently associated with the 4th FP. This opportunity to accelerate the integration of EU candidate countries into the scientific and technological community at European level and their preparation for accession to the EU, is envisaged as one of the instruments of the pre-accession strategy to be applied to the candidate countries. Association is expected to be highly beneficial for the candidate countries themselves and for the European Community, which will profit more consistently from the high scientific potential present in these countries. The association is also important for the support of the economic development of the candidate countries.
Through the powerpoint slides included below, and based on the current state of discussions, this presentation addresses some of the main rules for the participation of enterprises, research centres and universities as proposed under Article 130J of the EC Treaty, but which are yet to be adopted by the Council. Furthermore, basic selection criteria will be outlined, as well as - the current state of play - conditions for participation of legal entities from Member States, Associated States, candidate countries, and for CEECís not in the pre-accession phase. All information provided within this presentation must still be considered provisional, as corresponding Council Decisions have not yet been taken.
