The Council of the European Union adopted without a debate a regulation on setting up a instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA), within the frameworks of which some 11.5 billion euros will be available to EU candidate countries and potential candidates in the next seven years.
On 1 January 2007, IPA will replace the existing pre-accession funds - PHARE, ISPA, SAPARD and CARDS.
Financial assistance has been and remains an important element of our enlargement policy, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said. We are prepared to assist countries in their preparations for joining the EU by offering them advice, political guidelines and significant financial assistance, he said.
Rehn welcomed the decision of EU member states to continue supporting candidate countries and potential candidates during the next budgetary period.
The new financial instrument will ensure financial assistance for the period between 2007 and 2012, worth 11.468 billion euros.
IPA is intended for candidate countries - Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia - and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.
Assistance will be allocated to potential candidate countries to adjust national legislation to EU standards. At the beginning, pre-accession programmes will be led by the European Commission, with candidate countries gradually taking over the managing of the funds.
The Council of the EU called on Serbians and Albanians urged Belgrade to encourage Serbs in Kosovo to participate in Kosovo's institutions, in which they can most effectively advocate their own interests.
"The Council reiterated its full support for UN Status Envoy Martti Ahtisaari and his efforts in conducting the political process to determine Kosovo's future status. The Council welcomed his intention to move forwards into direct political talks on the status issue. It called upon both sides to engage constructively in this phase of the negotiations," read the Council Conclusions on the Western Balkans, adopted by the EU foreign ministers at today's meeting in Brussrels
Rehn and EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana presented a joint report on the future EU role and contribution in Kosovo, after the final status is defined. The document stresses tat the outcome of the negotiations on Kosovo's status must ensure European prospects for Kosovo.
The Council also decided to extend bilateral political dialogue at d ministerial level to Montenegro and welcomes the generally peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections in Macedonia.