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

 The committee adopted the report by Anders SAMUELSEN (ALDE, DK) approving the proposal under the consultation procedure, subject to a few amendments. MEPs said that South-east Europe was a key region for the EU and called for the Commission to submit a report to the Council by June 2005 clarifying the future of the Agency after 31 December 2006. They also wanted the Agency to be responsible for implementing assistance for the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community under the forthcoming Council regulation. Lastly, they called for the Commission to provide a detailed report by 31 December 2004 setting out clearly how tasks are divided up between the Agency's centres of operation and the Commission's delegation offices (now referred to as "deconcentrated" delegations) in the respective regions. The report should include an analysis of how well (or otherwise) the regulation was working for all the countries concerned and, in particular, for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the light of its application for EU membership.