The action programme has been drawn up as the successor to the joint action for the period 1998-2002, adopted by the Council in March 1998, introducing a programme of training, exchanges and cooperation in the fields of asylum, immigration and crossing of external borders (known as ODYSSEUS) with the ultimate objective of standardising the applicability of Community law in the fields referred to above so that third-country nationals might enjoy equal treatment irrespective of which national administration they approach in the Member States.

With this proposal for a decision, the Council is seeking to ensure the continuity of the Odysseus programme, a joint action adopted in 1998 (98/224/JHA) which introduced a programme for training, exchange and cooperation in the fields of asylum and immigration policy and the crossing of external borders.

With regard to the general objectives, ARGO is virtually indistinguishable from Odysseus. The only changes involve a strengthening of cooperation between Member States and with applicant countries and or/ third countries in the fields of asylum, immigration and the crossing of external borders.

The Commission will present an administrative cooperation action programme in the field of visas, asylum, immigration and other policies relating to free movement of persons (the ARGO programme which succeed the Odysseus programme).

Administrative co-operation will be facilitated through the proposed action programme in the field of visas, asylum, immigration and other policies related to the free movement of persons (the ARGO programme [16]), the successor to the Odysseus programme.

- Initiative on a new Community programme to replace the ODYSSEUS programme in 2002 (end of current programme: 2001), focusing principally on cooperation between national authorities in the field of asylum (Commission proposal: in 2001);