- the uniformisation of audit documentation,
- training and advisory operations.
3. To this end, technical assistance shall be provided by the Community as appropriate.
Article 88. Monetary Policy
At the request of the Estonian authorities, the Community shall provide technical assistance designed to support Estonia's efforts towards the gradual alignment of its policies on those of the European Monetary System. This will include informal exchange of information concerning the principles, the policies and the functioning of the European Monetary System.
Article 89. Money Laundering
1. The Parties agree on the necessity of making strenuous efforts and cooperating in order to prevent the use of their financial systems for the laundering of proceeds from criminal activities in general and drug offences in particular.
2. Cooperation in this area shall include administrative and technical assistance with the purpose of establishing suitable standards to combat money laundering, equivalent to those adopted by the Community and other international bodies in this field, in particular the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Article 90. Regional Development
1. The Parties shall strengthen cooperation between them on regional development and land-use planning.
2. To this end, any of the following measures may be taken:
- exchange of information by national, regional or local authorities on regional and land-use planning policy, and, where appropriate, the provision of assistance to Estonia for the formulation of such policy,
- joint action by regional and local authorities in the field of economic development,
- study of a joint approach towards the development of inter-regional cooperation with Baltic Sea regions in the Community,
- exchange of visits to explore cooperation and assistance opportunities,
- exchange of civil servants and experts,
- provision of technical assistance with special emphasis on the development of disadvantaged regions,
- establishment of programmes for the exchange of information and experience, by methods including seminars.
Article 91. Social Cooperation
1. With regard to health and safety at work and public health, the Parties shall develop cooperation between them with the aim of improving the level of protection of the health and safety of workers, taking as a reference the level of protection existing in the Community. Cooperation shall comprise the following in particular:
- the provision of technical assistance,
- the exchange of experts,
- cooperation between companies,
- information and training operations,
- cooperation on public health.
2. With regard to employment, cooperation between the Parties shall focus in particular on:
- organisation of the labour market,
- modernisation of job-finding and careers advice services,
- planning and implementation of regional restructuring programmes,
- encouragement of local employment development.
Cooperation in these fields shall be realised through actions such as the performance of studies, provision of the services of experts and information and training.
3. With regard to social security, cooperation between the Parties shall seek to adapt the Estonian social security system to the new economic and social situation, primarily by providing the services of experts and information and training.
Article 92. Tourism
The Parties shall increase and develop cooperation between them in the field of tourism, which will be aimed in particular at:
- facilitating the tourist trade,
- strengthening the flow of information through international networks, databases, etc.,
- transferring know-how through training, exchanges, seminars,
- enhancing regional cooperation projects,
- studying the opportunities for joint operations (cross-border projects, town twinning, etc.),
- introducing computerised booking and information systems (preferably common to all three Baltic States) and consumer protection standards for tourists.
Article 93. Information and Communication
1. With regard to information and communication, the Community and Estonia shall take appropriate steps to stimulate effective mutual exchange of information. Priority shall be given to programmes aimed at providing the general public with basic information about the European Union and specific circles in Estonia with more specialised information, including, where possible, access to Community databases.
2. The Parties shall coordinate and, where appropriate, harmonise their policies regarding the regulation of cross-border broadcasts, technical standards and the promotion of European audiovisual technology.
3. Cooperation may include providing for exchange programmes, scholarships, training facilities for journalists and experts in the sectors of the media as appropriate.
Article 94. Consumer Protection
1. The Parties shall cooperate with the aim of achieving full compatibility between the systems of consumer protection in Estonia and the Community. Effective consumer protection is needed to ensure that the market economy functions properly.
2. To this end, and in view of their common interests, the Parties shall encourage and ensure:
- a policy of active consumer protection, in accordance with Community law and any relevant UN guidelines on consumer protection,
- the approximation of legislation and the alignment of consumer protection in Estonia with that of the Community,
- effective legal protection for consumers in order to improve the quality of consumer goods and maintain appropriate safety standards.
3. Cooperation shall include:
- the exchange of information on dangerous products,
- the training of consumer protection specialists for the government and NGOs,
- help with the development of independent organisations intended to increase consumer awareness, particularly by providing information,
- the establishment of information and advisory centres for the settlement of disputes and the provision of legal and other advice to consumers; provision will be made for cooperation between Estonia's centres and those in the Community,
- acces to Community data banks,
- the development of exchanges between consumer representatives.
4. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Community as appropriate.
Article 95. Customs
1. The Parties commit themselves to developing customs cooperation in order to guarantee compliance with all the provisions to be adopted in connection with trade and achieve the approximation of Estonia's customs system to that of the Community, thus helping to ease the steps towards liberalisation planned under this Agreement.
2. Cooperation shall include the following in particular:
- the exchange of information including on the methods of investigation,
- the development of cross-border infrastructure,
- the introduction of the single administrative document and the interconnection between the transit systems of the Community and Estonia,
- the simplification of inspections and formalities in respect of the carriage of goods,
- the organisation of seminars and placements,
- support in the introduction of modern customs information system,
- the approximation of the Estonian Nomenclature of Goods to be Combined Nomenclature of the Community,
- the approximation of the structure of Estonia's customs tariff system to that of the Community.
Technical assistance shall be provided where appropriate.
3. Without prejudice to further cooperation foreseen in this Agreement, and in particular Article 99 and Title VII, the mutual assistance between administrative authorities in customs matters in the Parties shall take place in accordance with the provisions of Protocol 5.
Article 96. Statistical Cooperation
1. Cooperation in this area shall have as its aim the development of an efficient statistical system to provide, in a rapid and timely fashion, the reliable statistics needed to support and monitor the process of economic reform and contribute to the development of private enterprise in Estonia.
2. The Parties shall cooperate in particular to:
- strengthen Estonia's statistical system,
- bring about harmonisation with international (and particularly Community) methods, standards and classifications,
- provide the data needed to support and monitor economic reform,
- provide the private sector, the press and any other social and economic operators with appropriate macroeconomic and microeconomic data,
- guarantee the confidentiality of data,
- exchange statistical information,
3. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Community as appropriate.
Article 97. Economics
1. The Community and Estonia shall facilitate the process of economic reforms and integration by cooperating to improve understanding of the fundamentals of their respective economies and the formulation and implementation of economic policy in market economies.
2. To these ends, the Community and Estonia shall:
- exchange information on macroeconomic performance and prospects and on strategies for development,
- analyse jointly economic issues of mutual interest, including the framing of economic policy and the instruments for implementing it,
- through the programme of Action for Cooperation in Economics (ACE) in particular, encourage extensive cooperation between economists and managers in the Community and Estonia in order to expedite the transfer of know-how for the drafting of economic policies, and provide for wide dissemination of the results of policy-relevant research.
Article 98. Public Administration
The Parties shall promote cooperation between their public administration authorities, including the setting up of exchange programmes, in order to improve mutual knowledge of the structure and functioning of their respective systems.
Article 99. Drugs
1. Within the scope of their respective powers and competences, the Parties shall cooperate in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of policies and measures to counter the illicit production, supply and traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including the prevention of diversion of precursor chemicals, as well as in promoting drug demand prevention and reduction.
2. The Parties shall agree on the necessary methods of cooperation to attain these objectives, including the modalities of the implementation of common actions.
3. The cooperation in this area shall be based on mutual consultation and close cooperation between the Parties over the objectives and measures in the fields targeted in paragraph 1 and shall, inter alia, include where available technical assistance from the Community.
Cooperation aimed at preventing the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances will comprise technical and administrative assistance including:
- drafting and implementation of national legislation,
- creation or strengthening of institutions and information centres and of social health centres,
- increasing the efficiency of the institutions engaged in combating illicit drug trafficking,
- training of personnel and research,
- prevention of diversion of precursors and other essential chemicals used for the purpose of illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, by establishing suitable standards equivalent to those adopted by the Community and relevant international bodies, in particular the Chemical Action Task Force (CATF).
The Parties may agree to include other areas.
Title VII. COOPERATION IN THE PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
Article 100.
1. The Parties shall cooperate, within the scope of their powers and competences, with the aim of preventing the following illegal activities in particular:
- illegal immigration and the illegal presence of their nationals on the other's territory, while taking account of the principles and the practice of readmission,
- corruption,
- illegal transactions involving industrial waste and counterfeit products,
- illegal trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances,
- organised crime,
- trafficking of human beings and crime related to activity of illegal immigration networks,
- theft of and illegal trade in radioactive and nuclear material,
- illegal transfer of motor vehicles.
2. Cooperation in the matters referred to in paragraph 1 shall be based on mutual consultations and close coordination between the Parties and should include technical and administrative assistance for:
- the drafting of national legislation,
- the establishment of information centres and databases,
- enhancing the efficiency of the institutions charged to prevent illegal activities,
- staff training and the development of investigative facilities,
- the formulation of mutually acceptable measures to prevent illegal activities.
The Parties may agree to include other areas.
Title VIII. CULTURAL COOPERATION
Article 101.
1. The Parties undertake to promote, encourage and facilitate cultural cooperation. Where appropriate, the Community's cultural cooperation activities or those of one or more Member State may be extended to Estonia and further activities of interest to both sides developed.
This cooperation shall cover in particular:
- literary translations,
- exchange of non-commercial works of art and artists,
- conservation and restoration of monuments and sites (architectural and cultural heritage),
- training, particularly in art management,
- cultural events (e.g. song festivals),
- publicising significant cultural events.
2. The Parties may cooperate in the promotion of the audiovisual industry in Europe. In particular, the audiovisual sector in Estonia could apply to take part in activities set up by the Community in the framework of the MEDIA programme, in accordance with the procedures laid down by the bodies responsible for the various activities and the Council Decision of 21 December 1990 setting up that programme.
The Parties shall coordinate and, where appropriate, harmonise their policies on the regulation of corss-border broadcasting, paying particular attention to matters relating to the acquisition of intellectual property rights for programmes broadcast by satellite or cable, technical standards in the audiovisual field and the promotion of European audiovisual technology.
Cooperation could include, inter alia, the exchange of programmes, bursaries and facilities for the training of journalists and other media professionals.
Title IX. FINANCIAL COOPERATION
Article 102.
In order to achieve the objectives of this Agreement and in accordance with Articles 103, 104, 105 and 106, without prejudice to Article 105, Estonia shall benefit from temporary financial assistance from the Community in the form of grants and loans, including loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) according to the provisions of Article 18 of the Statute of the Bank to accelerate the economic transformation of Estonia.
Article 103.
This financial assistance shall be covered:
- either within the framework of an indicative multiannual programme through PHARE foreseen in Council Regulation (EEC) No 3906/89, as amended, or within a new multiannual financial framework established by the Community following consultations with Estonia and taking into account the considerations set out in Articles 104 and 105,
- by loan(s) provided by the European Investment Bank within a ceiling and during a period of availability to be established, following consultations with Estonia in application of the relevant provisions of the Treaty on European Union.
Article 104.
The objectives and the areas of the Community's financial assistance shall be laid down in an indicative programme to be agreed between the two Parties. The Parties shall inform the Association Council.
Article 105.
1. The Community shall, in case of special need, taking into account the availability of all financial resources, on the request of Estonia and in coordination with international financial institutions, in the context of the G24, examine the possibility of granting temporary financial assistance:
- to support measures with the aim of maintaining the convertibility of the Estonian currency,
- to support medium-term stabilisation and structural adjustment efforts, including balance of payments assistance.
2. This financial assistance is subject to Estonia's presentation of IMF supported programmes in the context of the G24, as appropriate, for convertibility and/or for restructuring its economy, to the Community's acceptance thereof, to Estonia's continued adherence to these programmes and, as an ultimate objective, to rapid transition to reliance on finance from private sources.
3. The Association Council will be informed of the conditions under which this assistance will be provided and of the respect of the obligations undertaken by Estonia concerning such assistance.
Article 106.
The Community financial assistance shall be evaluated in the light of the needs which arise and of Estonia's development level, taking into account established priorities and the absorption capacity of Estonia's economy, the ability to repay loans and the further development of the market economy system and restructuring in Estonia.
Article 107.
In order to permit optimum use of the resources available, the Parties shall ensure that Community contributions are made in close coordination with those from other sources such as the Member States, other countries, including the G24, and international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.