EUROPEAN COMMISSION ADOPTS DIRECTIVES FOR FUTURE ASSISTANCE

ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina) - The European Commission (EC) adopted a report on directives and detailed conditions for granting European Union (EU) assistance to some countries in Southeast Europe, Croatia included, in the 2000-2006 period, the office of EC's special envoy to Croatia said in a statement on Friday. The statement says the EC adopted the report which had been submitted by commissioner for foreign affairs Chris Patten. The report outlines the directives and detailed conditions for the granting of future EU assistance to Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, and Croatia, so that the assistance may be more adjusted with the goals of EU's strategy and the necessities on the ground. According to the said directives, the EC will early next year release a draft rule-book on assistance distribution. The statement says the future rule-book, which should be called CARA (Community Association and Reconstruction Assistance), will serve as the exclusive legal foundation for all EU assistance to the region. The EC estimates up to EUR5.5 billion could be earmarked for the 2000-2006 period, through subsidies. The programme will be monitored simultaneously with the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe. (hina) ha mm