Financial perspective, revision 2001-2006: mobilisation of the flexibility instrument for Serbia

PURPOSE : mobilisation of the flexibility instrument with a view to extending to Serbia the CARDS programme of assistance for reconstruction. CONTENT : following the conclusions of the budgetary conciliation meeting on 23 November 2000 and in light of the recent developments in Serbia, it has been decided that Serbia should qualify for the programme of assistance for reconstruction, development and stabilisation mounted for the entire Western Balkans. Serbia has, up until now, been excluded from this programme. The aid initially earmarked for Serbia in the preliminary draft budget presented by the Commission for 2001 totalling EUR 40 million was designed to assist the democratic forces in the country and the towns administered by the opposition. This aid must be extended to cover the financing of reconstruction work. This amount must be raised to EUR 240 million for that year. After examining the allocations for all the actions covered by heading 4 of the financial perspective, the two arms of the budgetary authority agreed that this additional expenditure cannot be financed in 2001 within the limits of the ceiling set for this heading. Therefore, the flexibility instrument shall be used to provide EUR 200 million for the 2001 budget. This amount shall be used to finance reconstruction work in Serbia within Chapter B7-54 of the 2001 budget.�