
Article 1 
As part of the enhanced pre-accession strategy, Accession Partnerships shall be established for the applicant States of central and eastern Europe. Each Accession Partnership shall provide a single framework covering:

— the priorities, as defined in the analysis of the situation in each State, on which preparations for accession must concentrate in view of the political and economic criteria and the obligations incumbent upon a Member State of the European Union as defined by the European Council,
— the financial resources for assisting each applicant State to implement the priorities identified during the pre-accession period.
Article 2 
Following a proposal by the Commission, the Council shall decide by qualified majority on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the individual Accession Partnerships, as they will be submitted to each applicant State, as well as on subsequent significant adjustments applicable to them.
Article 3 
This Regulation shall have no financial implications. Under the pre-accession strategy, the Community assistance shall be the assistance provided for in the programmes adopted in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.
On the basis of decisions taken by the Council pursuant to Article 2, the programming of the financial resources of the assistance granted in the framework of the Accession Partnerships shall be established in accordance with the procedures set out in the Regulations relating to the corresponding financial instruments or programmes.
Article 4 
Where an element that is essential for continuing to grant pre-accession assistance is lacking, in particular when the commitments contained in the Europe Agreement are not respected and/or progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria is insufficient, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate steps with regard to any pre-accession assistance granted to an applicant State.
Article 5 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 16 March 1998.
For the Council
The President
J. CUNNINGHAM