European Agency for Reconstruction: extension of mandate and status until 31 December 2006

PURPOSE : to prolong the mandate of the European Agency for Reconstruction until 31 December 2006.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation.

CONTENT : in this proposal, the Commission discusses the evaluations required under Council Regulation 2666/2000 (hereafter "the CARDS Regulation"), and Council Regulation 2667/2000/EC (hereafter "the Agency Regulation"). The latter applies until 31 December 2004.

These evaluations, which took place in the period May 2003-May 2004 (CARDS) and October 2003-May 2004 (EAR), were conducted by an international team which included experts from CARDS countries.

The external evaluation concludes that the Agency is working efficiently in the countries and territories in which it operates, and that the model is administratively sound and managerially responsive.

In view of this overall positive assessment of the activities of the Agency, and taking into account that the framework of the Community assistance, in line with the Community's financial perspectives, covers the period until 2006, it is important to ensure continuity in the implementation of Community assistance to the countries and territories covered by the Agency's mandate. The Commission proposes that the Agency Regulation should be extended until 31 December 2006.

This proposal is without prejudice to further reflection on specific actions which the Commission may deem appropriate at a later stage to address the recommendations made by the evaluators to improve the performance of the Agency.

Amendments are also proposed for the CARDS Regulation.

Finally, it should be noted that a Constitutional Charter was adopted in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) on 4 February 2003, renaming the country "Serbia and Montenegro". This change of name of the state is taken into account.