Montenegro: providing exceptional financial assistance

PURPOSE : to provide exceptional financial assistance to Montenegro. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Decision 2000/355/EC providing exceptional financial assistance for Montenegro. CONTENT : on 23 and 24 March 2000, the European Council in Lisbon underlined the urgent need for substantial assistance to Montenegro in order to ensure the survival of democratic government and to avoid another serious crisis in the region. Therefore, the Community has decided to make available to Montenegro exceptional financial assistance in the form of straight grants of up to EUR 20 million, with a view to alleviating the Republic's immediate financial needs. Furthermore, this assistance shall be managed by the Commission in close cooperation with the Economic and Financial Committee. The grant assistance shall be made available to Montenegro in at least two instalments on the basis of successful completion of the economic policy conditions. The second tranche shall not be released before two months after the release of the first tranche. Finally, the Commission shall address to the European Parliament and to the Council an annual report, which will include an evaluation on the implementation of this Decision. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 22/05/00.�