Press Release: Commission to negotiate agreements with Cyprus, Malta and Turkey for participation in EU programmes

On 5 June 2001 the European Union's Council of Ministers gave a mandate to the Commission to negotiate 'framework agreements' with Cyprus, Malta and Turkey for their participation in EU programmes such as the Research & Development Programme or education and vocational training programmes. These countries are already participating or preparing to participate in a number of programmes. However, the proposed 'framework agreements' will greatly accelerate the procedures needed to start participating other programmes. In addition, these agreements will allow Cyprus, Malta and Turkey to participate in all programmes open to the candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including those for which they were not previously eligible