EC/developing countries: rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries

The Council incorporated nine of Parliament's 14 amendments at first reading in its common position, either in a new position or changing the wording. The amendments concerned: - taking account of aid requirements for rehabilitation and the need for substantial funding; - incorporating rehabilitation measures into a medium or long-term development plan; - taking action through experienced international organizations or NGOs; - considering strengthening institutional capacities with regard to rehabilitation; - financing operating expenditure during the rehabilitation period; - providing for the assessment of measures financed under the regulation and its future in this context. The Council did not retain the other amendments, such as tax status of consignments and services financed by the Commission under rehabilitation measures (the fact that they should be exempt from taxes, duties and charges) and the distribution of the minutes of the Committee's meetings. Among the new provisions introduced by the Council were: - extending the geographic scope of the regulation to developing countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia; - taking account of security aspects and transition to democracy in decisions on rehabilitation measures; - taking account of certain criteria in assessing the projects to be financed; - informing the Committee in advance on decisions concerning projects of less than ECU 2 m in value and informing the Member States subsequently; - assessing measures financed at regular intervals and a general assessment of these measures to appraise the regulation's effectiveness; - a type-III(a) committee (regulatory committee), with regard to commitology. �