L 78/10 [EN Official Journal of the European Communities 29.3.2000 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 20 March 2000 on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with the Republic of Cyprus (2000/248EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 555/2000 of 13 March 2000 on the implementation of operations in the frame- work of the pre-accession strategy for the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Malta (!). Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1)  The Luxembourg European Council stated that the Accession Partnership is a new instrument and the key feature of the enhanced pre-accession strategy. (2)  Regulation (EC) No 555/2000 complements Regulation (EC) No 622/98 (%) which provides that the Council is to decide, by a qualified majority and following a proposal from the Commission, on the principles, priorities, inter- mediate objectives and conditions contained in the indi- vidual Accession Partnerships, as they will be submitted to each applicant country, as well as on subsequent significant adjustments applicable to them. (3)  Community assistance is conditional on the fulfilment of essential elements, and in particular on progress towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria. Where an essential element is lacking, the Council, acting by a qualified () O] L 68, 16.3.2000, p. 3. (3 Council Regulation (EC) No 622/98 of 16 March 1998 on assi- stance to the applicant States in the framework of the pre-accession strategy, and in particular on the establishment of Accession Part- nerships (O] L 85, 20.3.1998, p. 1). majority on a proposal from the Commission, may take appropriate steps with regard to any pre-accession assis- tance. (4)  The 1999 Commission's regular report presented an objective analysis on the Republic of Cyprus' prepara- tions for membership and identified a number of priority areas for further work. (5)  In order to prepare for membership, the Republic of Cyprus should prepare a national programme for the adoption of the acquis. This programme should set out a timetable for achieving the priorities and intermediate objectives established in the Accession Partnership, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 In accordance with Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 555/ 2000 the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership for the Republic of Cyprus are set out in the Annex hereto, which forms an integral part of this Decision. Article 2 The implementation of the Accession Partnership shall be examined in the Association Agreement bodies as appropriate, and through the competent Council bodies to which the Commission shall report regularly.