Key Benefits:
The President of the Republic,
On the report of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Having regard to Articles 52 to 55 of the Constitution;
Given the Decree No. 53-192 of 14 March 1953, as amended concerning the ratification and publication of international commitments entered into by France,
Décrète:
Agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Republic of Croatia setting out the Conditions of cooperation in the field of support for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, signed in Paris on 19 June 2003, will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
The Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall each have responsibility for the execution of this Decree, which shall be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
A C C O R D
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC FRENCH AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA FIXING THE CONDITIONS FOR CO-OPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES
Convinced of the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to the Economic growth and their role in job creation,
In view of the importance and common interest of the French Republic and the Republic of Croatia in developing their cooperation in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises Enterprises,
The Government of the French Republic and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,
agreed to the following provisions:
Article 1
The Parties shall deepen their mutual knowledge of small and medium-sized enterprises and develop their cooperative relations in this field. They encourage this cooperation between their States, represented by, on the one hand, the State Secretariat for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade, Crafts, Liberal Professions and Consumption with the Ministry of Economy, The Finance and Industry of the French Republic and, on the other hand, the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Handicrafts of the Republic of Croatia.
Article 2
Parties, within the limits of their budgetary availability, promote cooperative relations in support of the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular commercial, craft and service enterprises, on the main Topics:
-exchange of information and experience on access to information and methodological studies;
-exchange of information and assistance in the development of business recognition processes, implementation of Directories, business registration records;
-design and implementation of business development tools and devices;
-development of support programs for small and medium-sized enterprises For example:
-training;
-access to the board;
-help with innovation;
-promotion of approaches " Quality " ;
-access to external markets, in liaison with the French Foreign Trade Centre (CFCE) ;
-support for the development of opportunities for cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises in France and Croatia.
Article 3
The Parties shall establish a joint committee to facilitate the Cooperation in support of the development of small and medium-sized enterprises between the two states. The Committee's mission is to develop short-and medium-term programmes, specifying the nature of the actions to be taken during the period under review. It carries out the monitoring and evaluation of the projects selected and presents, if necessary, proposals for reorientation. It meets annually, alternately in France and Croatia, or at the initiative of either Party.
Article 4
To achieve the objectives set out in Article 2, the Parties Develop cooperation between, on the one hand, the State Secretariat in charge of small and medium-sized enterprises, trade, crafts, liberal professions and consumption with the Ministry of Economy, Finance and The industry, for the French part, and, on the other hand, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Handicrafts for the Croatian part. They also encourage the conclusion of special arrangements between agencies, public and private institutions and enterprises in both States, wishing to contribute to the development of the small and medium-sized enterprise sector At national or regional level.
Article 5
The Parties, under this Agreement, shall each seek, or jointly, the financial means necessary for the execution of the Selected programmes, the implementation of which shall be carried out within the limits of the budgetary availability of the two Parties.
Article 6
This Agreement shall apply on a temporary basis from the day of its Signature by the Parties and shall enter into force on the day of the receipt of the last note, by diplomatic means, by which both Parties inform each other that the conditions laid down by their domestic laws relating to the entry into force of The Agreement has been in force. This Agreement shall be concluded for a period of three years. It is renewable to its term by tacit renewal for a similar duration. It may be amended after agreement between the Parties. It may be denounced only in writing and shall remain in effect for a period of 180 days after the receipt of the written information.
Article 7
Any dispute relating to the interpretation or The application of this Agreement shall be settled by negotiation between the Parties.
In witness whereof, the representatives of both Parties duly authorized thereto have signed this Agreement and have affixed their seal thereto.
Done at Paris, 19 June 2003, In two originals, each in the French and Croatian languages, both texts being authentic.
Done at Paris, February 7, 2006.
Jacques Chirac
By the President of the Republic:
The Prime Minister,
Dominique de Villepin
Foreign Minister,
Philippe Douste-Blazy
For the Government
of the French Republic:
François Loos
Minister Delegate
to Foreign Trade
For the Government
of the Republic of Croatia:
Zeljko Pecek
Minister for
and
Handicrafts
