CARDS PROGRAMME PRESENTED IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) - Croatia's European Integration Ministry officials on Friday presented a CARDS programme under which the European Union would offer assistance to southeastern Europe. CARDS is a new instrument of technical and financial assistance which the EU will give to southeastern European countries: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro). The programme in Croatia will be implemented with Zagreb's fulfilling its obligations under a Stabilisation and Association Agreement which it and the EU initialled on 14 May. Under CARDS, the EU is intending to ensure 4.65 billion euro for all the beneficiaries by 2006. A 2001 financial CARDS budget for Croatia is being drawn up currently. According to unofficial sources, Zagreb can expect some 50 million euro this year under this programme. An assistant to the European Integration Minister, Indira Konjhodzic, said those means would be used for projects of refugee returns, investment in the human resources, the reconstruction of the labour market, the adjustment of Croatia's industrial legislature with the European laws, the modernisation of border crossings, training of judges, trade liberalisation and the reconstruction of the Ernestinovo transformer station (eastern Croatia). An agreement on the implementation of the CARDS programme may be signed by the Croatian government and the European Commission. The latter is responsible for making decisions on the financing of proposed projects. (hina) ms