European Commission - Enlargement - Participation in EU Programmes, Agencies and Committees
The purpose of participating in EU programmes, agencies and committees is to help enlargement countries become familiar with EU policies and instruments and to enhance co-operation before accession. The principle of participation was agreed by the European Council in December 1997 for candidate countries* and in 2003 – for Western Balkan countries. Participation is decided on a case by case basis for each programme, agency and committee.