Macro-financial assistance to Albania

The Parliament voted to approve the proposal subject to some amendments. Parliament's Rapporteur was Ms. Leonie VAN BLADEL (UPE, NL). The main amendments were as follows : - The Commission will make the disbursement of the two instalments conditional upon verification of the rapid liquidation of the remaining pyramid scheme companies, and implementation of the newly adopted organic budget law; - the Commission shall also examine, before any disbursement, the situation as regards the approval of the new Customs Code, the consolidation of customs and tax revenue collection and the modernisation of customs services; - the Commission shall inform the European Parliament on the economic and institutional policy conditions attached to the loan and agreed with the Albanian authorities according to Art. 2(1); it shall also inform Parliament about the results of the verification carried out pursuant to Art. 2(2); - The Commission shall inform the European Parliament prior to the disbursement of the second instalment of the macro-financial assistance; - Article 4(5) is amended to 'The European Parliament and the Monetary and the Phare Committees shall be kept informed of developments in the operations referred to in Art. 4 (2) and (3) at least once a year.�