European Agency for Reconstruction: creation and operation

This amended proposal, (presented before the adoption of the EP's opinion) seeks to take into account the new guidelines proposed by the Commission concerning the reform of the management of external aid. The main aim of the reform is to improve radically the speed, quality and visibility of external aid and the role of the committees responsible for helping the Commission in managing aid (comitology). The main changes relate to comitology: in particular, the management committee's opinion would be sought for the priorities and broad guidelines for assistance rather than on specific projects, in order to speed up the decision-making process. It is proposed that the management committee, together with the Commission, would examine the strategy framework (country strategy paper) on which programming is to be based. Only the multiannual and annual programmes would be submitted to the committee for its opinion. Moreover, the experience gained since the Agency began operations in February 2000 has highlighted the need to make the decision making process mechanisms connected with reconstruction programmes faster and more operational. It is proposed that the reconstruction programmes proposed by the Agency must be able to be adopted by the Commission without needing to be reviewed by the management committee, and, therefore, that the management committee procedure should not apply. The proposed modifications do not entail financial consequences.�