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All candidate countries participate, more or less intensively, in Community programmes. Central and Eastern European countries participate in particular in education, vocational training, youth, research, culture, audiovisual, energy, the environment, small and mediumsized enterprises and public health programmes. Cyprus participates in certain programmes in audiovisual, education, vocational training, youth, scientific research, the environment and small and mediumsized enterprises, while Malta does so in programmes dealing with scientific research, education, vocational training and youth. Turkey participates in two Community programmes at project level only (LIFE and the 5 th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development). Following the Helsinki European Council conclusions in December 1999, preparations for full Turkish participation in education, vocational training and youth programmes are ongoing, and participation in other programmes is under discussion.
As announced in last year's strategy paper, in order to streamline procedures for the participation of candidate countries in Community programmes, general Association Council decisions for each Central and Eastern European country, as well as agreements for Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, are in the process of being concluded. These new instruments should considerably facilitate such participation. On the basis of these instruments which establish the general principles for participation in existing and future programmes, the Commission and the competent authorities of the candidate countries will negotiate the terms and conditions for participation in individual programmes. Candidate countries can continue to use preaccession aid to cofinance the cost of their participation.
Following the recent ratifications of the relevant agreements, all 13 candidate countries will become members of the European Environment Agency in 2002. Similar agreements will shortly be negotiated with interested candidates for their participation in the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and DrugAddiction. Preparations for participation of candidate countries in other Community agencies are also under way.
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