22011A1216(01)

Agreement

between the European Union and the Republic of Croatia on the participation of the Republic of Croatia in the work of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

THE EUROPEAN UNION (hereinafter "the Union"),

of the one part, and

THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA,

of the other part,

RECALLING that the Thessaloniki European Council in 2003 aimed to further strengthen the privileged relations between the European Union and the Western Balkans drawing on the enlargement experience;

HAVING REGARD TO Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (recast) [1], (hereinafter "the Regulation" and "the Centre" respectively);

WHEREAS the Regulation provides in its Article 21 that the Centre shall be open to the participation of third countries which share the Union’s interests and those of its Member States in the Centre’s objectives and work;

WHEREAS the Republic of Croatia shares the objectives laid down for the Centre in the Regulation, and since the Republic of Croatia’s ultimate objective is to become a member of the European Union;

WHEREAS the Republic of Croatia subscribes to the description of the tasks of the Centre and to its work method and priority areas as described in the Regulation;

WHEREAS there exists in the Republic of Croatia an institution suitable to be linked to the European Information Network on Drugs and Drug Addiction (Reitox);

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Participation

The Republic of Croatia shall participate fully in the work of the Centre on the terms set out in this Agreement.

Article 2

European Information Network on Drugs and Drug Addiction (Reitox)

1. The Republic of Croatia shall be linked to Reitox.

2. The Republic of Croatia shall notify the Centre of the main elements of its national information network, including its national monitoring centre, within 28 days of the entry into force of this Agreement, and name any other specialised centres which could make a useful contribution to the Centre’s work.

Article 3

Management Board

The Management Board of the Centre shall invite a representative of the Republic of Croatia to participate in its meetings. The representative shall participate fully without the right to vote. The Management Board may exceptionally convoke a meeting restricted to representatives of the Member States and of the European Commission on issues of interest particular to the Union and its Member States.

The Management Board, in session with representatives of the Republic of Croatia, shall lay down the detailed arrangements concerning the participation of the Republic of Croatia in the work of the Centre.

Article 4

Budget

The Republic of Croatia shall contribute financially to the activities of the Centre, in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Annex to this Agreement, which shall form an integral part thereof.

Article 5

Protection and Confidentiality of Data

1. Where on the basis of this Agreement information is forwarded by the Centre to the Croatian authorities in accordance with Union and Croatian law, such information may be used only for the stated purpose and under the conditions prescribed by the forwarding authority. Such information may not contain personal data.

2. Data on drugs and drug addiction provided to the Croatian authorities by the Centre may be published subject to compliance with Union and Croatian rules on the dissemination and confidentiality of information. Personal data may not be published or made accessible to the public.

3. Designated specialised centres in the Republic of Croatia shall be under no obligation to provide information classified as confidential under Croatian legislation.

4. In relation to data supplied by the Croatian authorities to the Centre, the latter will be bound by the rules laid down in Article 6 of the Regulation.

Article 6

Legal Status

The Centre shall enjoy in the Republic of Croatia the same capacity as accorded to legal entities under Croatia’s law.

Article 7

Liability

The liability of the Centre shall be governed by the rules laid down in Article 19 of the Regulation.

Article 8

Privileges

To enable the Centre and its staff to perform their tasks, the Republic of Croatia shall grant the privileges and immunities identical to those contained in Articles 1 to 4, Articles 5 and 6, Articles 10 to 13, Articles 15, 17 and 18 of the Protocol No 7 on Privileges and Immunities of the European Union annexed to the Treaty of European Union, to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

Article 9

Staff Regulations

Under the conditions laid down in Article 12(2)(a) of the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Communities laid down in Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 [2], Croatian nationals enjoying their full rights as citizens may be engaged under contract by the Director of the Centre.

Article 10

Entry into force

This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of receipt of the latter diplomatic note confirming that legal requirements of the respective Contracting Party concerning the entry into force of the Agreement have been fulfilled.

Article 11

Validity and Termination

1. This Agreement is concluded for an unlimited period of time. It shall terminate in the date of the Republic of Croatia’s accession to the Union.

2. Either Contracting Party may denounce this Agreement by a written notification to the other Contracting Party. This Agreement shall cease to be in force six months after the date of the receipt of such notification.

Done at Brussels on

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in duplicate in the English language.

For the European Union

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For the Republic of Croatia

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[1] OJ L 376, 27.12.2006, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1.

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ANNEX

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA TO THE EUROPEAN MONITORING CENTRE FOR DRUGS AND DRUG ADDICTION

1. The financial contribution to be paid by the Republic of Croatia to the general budget of the European Union to participate in the Centre will progressively increase in a four-year period during which the activities will be phased in by the Republic of Croatia. The financial contributions required are:

— during the first year of participation EUR 100000,

— during the second year of participation EUR 150000,

— during the third year of participation EUR 210000,

— during the fourth year of participation EUR 271000.

From the fifth year of participation, the annual financial contribution to be paid by the Republic of Croatia to the Centre shall be the contribution of the fourth year of participation indexed by the rate of increase of the Union subvention to the Centre.

The Republic of Croatia may partially use Union assistance to pay the contribution to the Centre with a maximum Union contribution of 75 % in the first year of participation, 60 % in the second year of participation and 50 % thereafter. Subject to a separate programming procedure, the requested Union funds will be transferred to the Republic of Croatia by means of a separate financing memorandum.

The remaining part of the contribution will be covered by the Republic of Croatia.

2. The contribution of the Republic of Croatia will be managed in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities [1] and Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities [2]. Travel costs and subsistence costs incurred by representatives and experts of the Republic of Croatia for the purposes of taking part in the Centre’s activities or meetings related to the implementation of the Centre’s work programme shall be reimbursed by the Centre on the same basis as, and in accordance with, the procedures currently in force for the Member States of the Union.

3. For the first calendar year of its participation the Republic of Croatia will pay a contribution calculated from the date of participation to the end of the year on a pro rata basis. For the following years the contribution will be in accordance with this Agreement.

[1] OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1.

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