MEDA: measures to continue support for a Mediterranean Partner

OBJECTIVE: amendment of the regulation setting up the MEDA programme in order to establish the decision-making procedure to be followed by the Council when a country does not respect human rights and democratic principles. SUBSTANCE: Regulation 1488/96/EC establishing the MEDA programme provided that, in order to receive Community aid, the beneficiary countries must respect democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms; these were essential elements, the violation of which could justify the adoption of appropriate measures (including the cessation of aid). However this Regulation did not lay down the procedure to be followed when one or more of these elements is lacking and delayed the setting out of this procedure until 30 June 1997 (following the outcome of the Intergovernmental Conference). The Commission now proposes reintroducing the procedure which it had already proposed in the initial proposal for the MEDA Regulation (see procedure CNS95127), i.e. that when an essential element for the continuation of aid for a Mediterranean partner is missing, the appropriate measures to be taken will be decided by the Council acting by a qualified majority, on a proposal from the Commission. �