Council Joint Action

of 16 November 2000

on the holding of a meeting of Heads of State or of Government in Zagreb (Zagreb Summit)

(2000/717/CFSP)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 14 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The Feira European Council of 19 and 20 June 2000 made it clear that its key objective remains the fullest possible integration of the countries of the Western Balkans region into the political and economic mainstream of Europe.

(2) The European Union is committed to encouraging, in all the countries of that region, the promotion of the values and models on which it is founded: in particular, democracy, respect for human rights and minorities, the rule of law and the market economy.

(3) The Feira European Council of 19 and 20 June 2000 welcomed the idea of a summit meeting between the European Union and the countries of the stabilisation and association process, pointing out that such a summit would allow the countries of the region to be reassured of Europe's solidarity with them, and afford an opportunity to examine with them how the process of democratic and economic reform can be accelerated thereby confirming those countries' ties with Europe, thus contributing towards the strengthening of stability, prosperity and cooperation in the region,

HAS ADOPTED THIS JOINT ACTION:

Article 1

1. The European Union shall provide financial and logistical support for the holding of a meeting of Heads of State or of Government of the Member States of the European Union and of Slovenia, Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to be held in Zagreb.

2. The financial support referred to in paragraph 1 shall concern the costs of preparing, staging and hosting the meeting.

Article 2

1. The financial reference amount for the implementation of Article 1 shall be EUR 770000.

2. Management of expenditure incurred from the amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be subject to compliance with the procedures and rules of the Community applicable to the general budget of the European Union.

Article 3

This Joint Action shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Article 4

This Joint Action shall be published in the Official Journal.

Done at Brussels, 16 November 2000.

For the Council

The President

R. Schwartzenberg