WRITTEN QUESTION E-1099/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(7 April 2000)

Subject: Funding for Kosovo

Does the Commission feel that the allocation of funds for the rehabilitation and development of Kosovo might affect the EU's capability to provide essential funds for the world's poorest countries?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 May 2000)

The Commission believes that the level of funding it is proposing for the rehabilitation of Kosovo will not affect the Community's ability to provide essential funds for the world's poorest countries.

The proposed allocations for Kosovo take into account the following three considerations:

- the priority which the Community gives to countries near Europe;

- the poverty focus of the programmes; for example increases for the programmes in Asia have been maintained as they have a high poverty focus;

- past and present performance of the different programmes in terms of absorption capacity and evolution.

The proposed total for Heading 4 represents an increase for 2000-2006 as compared to the previous period 1993-1999.