Considerations on COM(1999)312 - Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 relating to aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Yugoslavia and Macedonia, in particular through the setting-up of the European Agency for Reconstruction - Main contents
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dossier | COM(1999)312 - Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 relating to aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Yugoslavia and Macedonia, in ... |
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document | COM(1999)312 ![]() |
date | November 15, 1999 |
(2) The European Council at its meeting on 3 and 4 June 1999 confirmed the European Union's desire to play a leading role in the reconstruction efforts in the region, especially in Kosovo, and called upon the Commission to draw up, as a matter of priority, proposals regarding the organisation of the reconstruction assistance envisaged and in particular the appropriate means and mechanisms for putting such a programme in place, including the setting up of an agency to be responsible for implementing the Community's reconstruction programmes;
(3) The Stability Pact underlines in particular the European Union's role in bolstering democratic and economic institutions in the region;
(4) The objectives relating to this region involve reconstruction, revitalisation and economic, social and institutional development;
(5) Aid programmes necessary for the reconstruction of Kosovo cannot be implemented unless the appropriate means and mechanisms are in place;
(6) Regulation (EC) No 1628/96(2) sets out, inter alia, objectives, mechanisms and instruments for the reconstruction of the regions it covers, including Kosovo;
(7) Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 should be amended to take account of the specific requirements for Kosovo's reconstruction, which will demand the rapid implementation of numerous small-scale projects, measures to support returning refugees and the assistance of experts covering a wide range of fields; provisions should therefore be laid down for setting up and running a European Agency for reconstruction (hereinafter referred to as the 'Agency') that can be charged by the Commission with implementing the reconstruction programmes;
(8) Reconstruction efforts must be united with those for the people of Kosovo;
(9) Provision should be made for the States covered by the PHARE programmes and the States of South-East Europe to be involved in the tendering procedures and contracts;
(10) Coordination of the assistance for the reconstruction with the European Investment Bank, the international financial institutions, the United Nations/High Commissioner for Refugees and the non-governmental organisations concerned should be ensured;
(11) The measures necessary for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 being management measures within the the meaning of Article 2 of Council Decision No 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(3), such measures should be adopted in accordance with the management procedure provided for in Article 4 of that Decision;
(12) The authority put in charge of the provisional administration of Kosovo should be consulted on the implementation of the reconstruction programmes;
(13) The reconstruction programmes should be managed in accordance with effective and flexible rules and procedures ensuring rapid implementation;
(14) The reconstruction programmes should be managed locally and so the operational centre of the Agency should be established initially in Pristina, making use of the general services located at the seat in Thessaloniki;
(15) The Agency will pursue its activities initially in Kosovo; it is for the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, to take any decision on extending the Agency's activities to other regions of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), when the conditions have been met;
(16) The Agency's mandate should allow it to manage the programmes of other donors contributing to the reconstruction of the region, in particular in the context of the cooperation established with the appropriate financial institutions;
(17) For the sake of effectiveness, the Agency requires a special financial regulation that allows a rapid response while at the same time ensuring full managerial accountability and transparency in management;
(18) The Agency should adopt the internal rules relating to investigations by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF);
(19) The Agency is being set up for the purposes of reconstruction, and a proposal will be made to wind it up once that objective has been achieved;
(20) Provision should be made for the Commission to submit a report on the implementation of this Regulation, together with any appropriate proposals, particularly with a view to establishing a unified regulatory framework for assistance to the region;
(21) Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 should be extended until 31 December 2004.