EC/developing countries: rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries

OBJECTIVE: the establishment of procedures for the administration of rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries that have suffered serious destruction through war, civil disorder or natural disaster. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council regulation 2258/96/EC on rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries. SUBSTANCE: The rehabilitation and reconstruction operations are to be of limited duration and launched as quickly as possible and seek: . to help re-establish a working economy and the institutional capacities needed to restore social and political stability to the countries concerned; . to meet the needs of the people affected as a whole. The operations must progressively take over from humanitarian action and pave the way for the resumption of medium-term and long-term development aid. They must in particular permit refugees, displaced persons and demobilized troops to return home and must help the entire population to resume normal civilian life in their countries and regions of origin. - Beneficiary countries: African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, the Mediterranean countries, the countries of Latin America and Asia and the developing countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia. - Cooperation partners: regional and international organizations, NGOs, national, provincial and local government departments and agencies, Community-based organizations, institutes and public and private operators. - Operations to be implemented: relaunch of production on a lasting basis; the physical and operational rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, including mine clearance; social reintegration, in particular of refugees, displaced persons and demobilized troops; the restoration of the institutional capacities needed in the rehabilitation period, especially at local level. - Community financing: covers both investment (except for the purchase of buildings) and recurring costs (administrative, maintenance and operational costs) which should be taken over by the beneficiaries. A financial contribution from the partners is to be sought within their means. Cofinancing with other providers of funds (in particular the Member States) should be sought. Steps are to be taken to emphasize the Community character of the operations and to ensure coherence and complementarity of these actions with those undertaken by the Community and/or the Member States. - Nature of aid: grants. - Decision-making procedure: the Commission is to manage and implement the operations undertaken under this Regulation. It is to be assisted by a regulatory committee of the IIIa type consisting of representatives of the Member States which should include, depending on the region, representatives of the EDF, MED or ALA committee. In its decision on the projects to be financed the Commission is to take into account a certain number of criteria including the effectiveness and viability of operations and security and developments in the country with regard to the transition process towards democracy or respect for human rights. The Commission must also inform the committee succinctly of any financing decision it intends to take with regard to projects of less than ECU 2 million in value. For decisions over this amount the decisions are to be taken in agreement with the committee. - Information: an annual report is to be forwarded to the European Parliament and the Council summarizing the operations financed in the course of that year and giving an evaluation (any contracts concluded, independent evaluations etc.). - Evaluation: the Commission is to undertake regular evaluations in order to establish whether the objectives of the regulation have been achieved. These assessments are to be forwarded to the various committees and to any Member States requesting them. An overall assessment is to be submitted three years after the entry into force of this regulation to the European Parliament and the Council, on the basis of which amendments can be made with a view to the adoption of a new regulation. ENTRY INTO FORCE: the regulation enters into force on 1 December 1996. �