The 2007 draft budget which U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday moved to Congress, proposes that SEED assistance should no longer be given to Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania.
SEED is the acronym for the Southeastern European Economic Development Program.
The reason for the discontinuation of this kind of financial assistance to the said three countries is their sufficient headway in political and economic reforms.
This year, Croatia will be given 15 million US dollars within the SEED program and funds are to be used for the strengthening of democracy and the development of private economic sector.
In 2007 Croatia might receive USD 45,000 as assistance for military training provided that Zagreb signs with the United States an agreement on non-extradition of U.S. soldiers to International Criminal Court.
According to an official of the State Department the assistance of 49,000 dollars which should be given to Croatia for military training in 2006 is also made conditional on the conclusion of the said treaty.
SEED assistance will continue to cover Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia-Montenegro with nearly 274 million US dollars to be granted in 2007 as against 357 million allocated in 2006.