ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - The European commission should adopt key documents for the implementation of the Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Democratisation and Stabilisation (CARDS) programme by the end of 2001. It is expected
that the programme for Croatia for 2001 should be put in force in early spring 2002, assistant to the Croatian European Integration Minister, Indira Konjhodzic, told Hina Tuesday. "Within the CARDS programme there is a so-called regional and national "envelope", a part of the programme intended for regional cooperation, and a separate part for each country in the stabilisation and association process (SAA). By the end of 2001, the European commission should adopt several documents for both areas which are prerequisites for the implementation of the CARDS programme," Konjhodzic said and added that the implementation of the programme for Croatia for 2001 is most likely to start in e
ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - The European commission should adopt key
documents for the implementation of the Community Assistance for
Reconstruction, Democratisation and Stabilisation (CARDS)
programme by the end of 2001. It is expected that the programme for
Croatia for 2001 should be put in force in early spring 2002,
assistant to the Croatian European Integration Minister, Indira
Konjhodzic, told Hina Tuesday.
"Within the CARDS programme there is a so-called regional and
national "envelope", a part of the programme intended for regional
cooperation, and a separate part for each country in the
stabilisation and association process (SAA). By the end of 2001,
the European commission should adopt several documents for both
areas which are prerequisites for the implementation of the CARDS
programme," Konjhodzic said and added that the implementation of
the programme for Croatia for 2001 is most likely to start in early
spring next year after the European commission gives a "green
light" by the end of this year.
Among the documents that need to be adopted by the end of 2001 is the
framework strategy for the implementation of the CARDS programme
for each of the five countries in the process of stabilisation and
association with the European Union (Croatia, Albania, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Yugoslavia) in the period between 2001
and 2006.
The European Union allotted EUR4.65 billion for CARDS until 2006.
At an October session of the Stabilisation Pact in Bucharest, the
European Commission introduced the CARDS general assistance
programme for the SAA countries until 2004. The EU intends to
allocate EUR197 million for regional cooperation which is an
important part of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. It
is estimated that EUR194 million will be allotted to Croatia in the
same period, EUR147.5 million to Albania, EUR198 million to Bosnia,
EUR680 million to Yugoslavia, EUR270 million to Kosovo, and
EUR130.5 million to Macedonia.
From the resources intended for regional cooperation, EUR117
million have been intended for the advancement of the work of SAA
countries' border administration services.
Croatia should receive EUR60 million out of the CARDS programme for
2001. The CARDS committee approved EUR23.2 million in July for the
return of refugees, and what was left from the EUR36.8 million will
go towards the primary goal of supporting the implementation of the
Stabilisation and Association Agreement, a temporary agreement
which will come in force on January 1, 2002.
Croatia made a list of priorities corresponding to those of the EU,
including developing of human resources, reaching EU industrial
standards, reviving the power-supply infrastructure, reforming
the judiciary and asylum policy, advancing the work of the border
administration, reforming the state administration, adjusting the
legislation with the EU in areas of intellectual ownership and
market competition, adjusting the statistics system and
strengthening the civil society.
(hina) np sb