Aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

-OBJECTIVE: to provide a legal basis for aid to the rehabilitation and reconstruction in the Republics of Former Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Macedonia). -SUBSTANCE: the aid measures concern projects, programmes and cooperation measures for reconstruction, the return of refugees and displaced persons and economic and regional cooperation between the different parties with a view to their reconciliation and the creation of economic and social conditions fundamental to the development of the beneficiaries. The financing of the measures shall be subject to an indicative multi-annual approach (1996-1999) within the limits of the financial perspectives. Financing shall take the form of non-reimburseable aid (except for certain investments which take the form of cofinancing up to 80%). The measures concerned shall cover in particular the following fields: . consolidation of civil society and strengthening of NGOs, cultural institutions and educational establishments, . rebuilding of infrastructure and other individual or collective facilities damaged in the fighting, . the return of refugees, . integration or reintegration of refugees, displaced persons and former soldiers into working life, . preparation of the production apparatus for economic recovery, . development of the private sector and promotion of investment, . regional cooperation. The granting of aid is subject to: . the application of the clauses of the Peace Agreement, . respect for human rights, the rights of minorities and the right of refugees to return home, . as regards Serbia and Montenegro, the granting of greater autonomy to Kosovo, . observance of the principles of a market economy, . cooperation with the International War Crimes Tribunal. Expenditure may cover the importation of goods and services, local expenditure, running and maintenance costs. Taxes, duties and charges are excluded from Community financing. Aid may be granted to regional and international organizations, public and semi-public bodies, organizations providing support to businesses, private operators, cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations and NGOs. Provisions are made for the exchange of information between the Community and the Member States on their respective intentions regarding financing. The measures to be financed shall be subject to a selection based on assessment of the requests of potential recipients, the urgency and the actual take-up capacity. Invitations to tender and contracts shall be open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons in the Member States and in the recipient states. Service contracts up to a value of Ecu 200.000 shall be awarded by restricted invitations to tender (contracts below that sum may be awarded by private treaty). As regards commitology, the Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee composed of representatives of the Member States. For financing decisions regarding sums exceeding Ecu 2 m, the Commission shall submit a draft of measures to be taken to the Committee which shall deliver an opinion of which the Commission shall take utmost account. The Committee shall also be informed of operations involving financing of less than Ecu 2 m. Decisions amending decisions adopted taking account of the opinion of the Committee shall be adopted by the Commission without consulting the Committee where they do not comprise substantial changes to the nature of the original projects and where they do not exceed 20% of the total amount of the initial commitment. The Commission shall implement the budget for this initiative and shall supervise the implementation of aid under this initiative. It will submit a report on the implementation of aid and their evaluation to the European Parliament and to the Council before 30 April of each year. In its financial form, the Commission states that the budgetary line concerned by this action is Line B7-54 pursuant to which the indicative budget of the initiative is Ecu 400 m for the period of 1996 to 1999.�