AGREEMENT ON FINANCING CARDS PROGRAMS FOR 2002 SIGNED IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - An agreement on financing programmes within CARDS for 2002, worth 59 million euros, was signed in Zagreb on Tuesday by Croatian European Integration Minister Neven Mimica and the head of the European Commission's delegation to Croatia, Jacques Wunenburger. #L# Ambassador Wunenburger said Croatia had strongly and decisively begun the process of association with the European Union, not only in political statements but also in the sense of concrete acts. He announced that the Cards programme for 2003 would be worth 62 million euros and cover 39 projects. Minister Minica said that 59 million euros, granted as one-off assistance for the 2002 budgetary year, would be used for the stabilisation of democracy, economic and social development, reforms in the judiciary and internal affairs, and the strengthening of administration and management over natural resources, as well as for the protection of the environment. Thanking for the assistance, Premier Ivica Racan, who attended the signing ceremony at the government's building, said this event as well as a Croatian national programme for its association with the Union, recently adopted by his cabinet, showed that the government "knows how to, is willing to and can" fulfil conditions for full membership in the Union. On this occasion, a data base on foreign help projects in Croatia, was presented to reporters. The Cards (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation) is an instrument for technical and financial assistance which the EU offers for reconstruction, development and stabilisation in five countries covered by the Stabilisation and Association Process: Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The EU has planned to earmark a total of EUR4.65 billion for this purpose to the region from 2000 to 2006. Until 2004, Zagreb is to receive a total of EUR250 million. (hina) ms sb