Brussels, 03/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - the European Commission has put together the actions that it will develop in 2000 within the framework of the Odysseus programme. EUROPE recalls that this programme aiming to favour practical co-operation by the Member State administrations (and, where need be, the candidate countries for adhesion, or third states) responsible for the implementation of the policies in terms of asylum, immigration and the crossing of the EU's external borders was adopted by the Council on 19 March 1998. Covering the period 1998-2002, the programme has funds of EUR 12 million. For 2000, the programme will continue to focus on the training of civil servants, on the exchange of civil servants between Member States and, finally, on studies and research. The new guidelines, held by the Commission for 2000, are published in the Official Journal Nº C/30 of 20 February.