Marjan Senjur l. r.
Za Flandrijo
Luc van den Brande l. r.
THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA
and
THE FLEMISH COMMUNITY AND THE FLEMISH REGION, hereinafter referred to as ˝Flanders˝
hereinafter referred to as “the Parties”,
Drawing on the attachment to their friendly ties of and to the collective values of freedom, democracy, justice and solidarity;
Considering that the historical changes have created possibilities to bring about a just and lasting peace in Europe, based on the Charter of the United Nations and on the principles of the Final Helsinki Act, on the basis of the European Convention of Human Rights and on the Paris Charter for a new Europe;
Welcoming the negotiations between the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union aiming at full membership of the Union;
Wishing to confirm the existing cooperation;
With the intention of extending this cooperation to new areas such as determined in this Treaty, insofar as these are within the scope of the Parties, in order to contribute to establishing closer bonds between the Republic of Slovenia and Flanders;
AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Both Parties shall intensify their cooperation in such fields as economy, science, technology, education, culture, social policy, housing, environmental protection, town and country planning, infrastructure, transport policy, agriculture and agroindustry, vocational training and employment, tourism, sport, telecommunication and media policy.
To this end trey shall promote cooperation between the institutions and companies active in the above-mentioned fields.
Both Parties shall encourage the exchange of experiences in the fields of technical, technological and administrative know-how.
Article 2
Both Parties shall endeavour to extend their mutual economic relations.
They shall encourage cooperation, especially in the fields of:
– developing economic structures,
– creating management programmes for company managers,
– attracting investments and establishing joint-venture deals,
– transferring technology and know-how,
– developing business contacts and bringing about cooperation between companies and institutions,
– sectoral programmes,
– extending bilateral trade.
To this end the Parties shall promote the exchange of managers and experts specialised in establishing structures for small and medium-sized companies and management programmes for SME-managers.
Article 3
Both Parties shall stimulate cooperation and exchanges between public and private bodies in the field of basic and applied scientific research and technology development.
At regular intervals they shall determine which sectors have priority in the field of scientific and technological development.
Article 4
Both Parties shall encourage cooperation and exchanges in the cultural and sociocultural fields. They shall support priority actions contributing to cultural development and the propagation of their respective languages and cultures in the other country.
Moreover, they shall support exchanges in the field of art and join in protecting their common cultural heritage.
Furthermore, they shall promote exchanges in the audio-visual field.
Article 5
Both Parties shall support and promote the cooperation in the field of tourism.
To that end they shall promote the exchange of experts and the exchange of experience and information on tourism policies.
Article 6.
Both Parties shall support and promote the cooperation in the field of sports.
Both Parties encourage cooperation between sports organisations, exchange of sports teams and sportsmen and participation in the sports in both countries.
Article 7
Both Parties shall enhance the cooperation and exchanges in the field of education, training and vocational training.
Both Parties encourage direct cooperation and contacts between universities and other educational institutions.
Both Parties encourage the exchange of information, teaching experience, expert and research findings, documentation and publications from the field of education and exchange of teachers, pupils and students.
Article 8.
Both Parties shall work together in the social field and the field of labour and employment-finding, more specifically as vocational training, labour relations and social bargaining, family policy, social welfare, special youth assistance, social integration of the handicapped and care for the elderly are concerned.
Article 9.
Both Parties shall work together in the field of public health.
Special attention shall be paid to medical care, health education and preventive health care.
Article 10.
Both Parties shall encourage cooperation and exchanges in the fields of environment, rural development, town and country planning, housing, infrastructure, transport policy and telecommunication.
They shall promote the exchange of scientific, technical and statistical information, and also technology transfer, especially regarding environmental protection and rehabilitation.
Article 11.
Both Parties encourage cooperation and exchange in the field of agriculture. The Parties encourage the exchange of scientific, technical and statistical information as well as technology in the above field.
Article 12.
In the fields covered by this Treaty, both Parties shall strive for cooperation in the framework of international organizations. To that end they can inform each other on their respective positions and -more generally- consult each other.
Both Parties shall cooperate in the framework of programmes of international organizations in the fields mentioned in article 1, expressing their special ties of friendship and partnership.
Article 13.
With a view to implementing this Treaty, both Parties shall establish a Mixed Commission Slovenia – Flanders.
This Commission shall meet at least every two years, alternately in Slovenia and Flanders.
The Mixed Commission may have working groups organize interim meetings so as to support the implementation of the working programmes.
The heads of both delegations in the Commission may have interim meetings so as to discuss the implementation of the working programmes.
Article 14.
The Mixed Commission shall consist of representatives appointed by the respective Parties.
The Mixed Commission’s tasks shall be:
– to prepare and approve the programmes and projects planned for the near future;
– to oversee the financing by both Parties of the programmes and projects resulting from this Treaty;
– to verify to what point the cooperation has progressed and to judge its results;
– to adjust the priorities at regular intervals and to determine the line to be pursued;
– to study any problem pertaining to the implementation, operation and interpretation of this Treaty.
Article 15.
This Treaty shall enter into force on the date on which both Parties have notified each other in writing that their respective requirements for entry into force of this Treaty have been complied with.
This Treaty is established for a period of five (5) years.
It shall thereafter be automatically renewed for successive periods of two (2) years. Either Party may, by giving six (6) months notice in writing to the other Party, terminate the Treaty at any time.
In case of termination, both Parties shall take the measures required to guarantee the completion of any joint projects emerging from this Treaty.
Done at Ljubljana, on 3rd September 1998, in two original copies, in the Slovene, Dutch and English languages, the three versions being equally authentic. In case of contest, the English version shall serve as a basis for agreement.
For the Republic of Slovenia Marjan Senjur, (s)
For Flanders Luc van den Brande, (s)