91997E3692

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3692/97 by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Commission (19 November 1997)

Subject: Effect on Estonia of changes to the tasks of the PHARE programme

The European Union gives aid to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe through its PHARE programme. The Commission's guidelines regarding the PHARE programme for the next few years have changed the aid system to some extent. What effect does the Commission consider these changes will have on aid to Estonia in 1998 as compared with 1997?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3692/97 and E-3699/97 given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (21 January 1998)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member concerning the 1997 and 1998 Phare programmes in Estonia as follows:

1. 1997 programme

a) National programme

The 1997 Phare-funded country operational programme of a total amount of 29.6 MECU includes the following components:

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In addition, 1.2 MECU has been committed for Tempus.

The financing memorandum for the 1997 programme was signed in February 1997 and implementation is progressing. However, impact assessments can be made only when the individual programme components have been fully implemented.

b) Cross-border cooperation programme

3.1 MECU has been committed for cross-border cooperation.

2. 1998 programme

The programming of the 1998 Phare programme will take place only in the second quarter of 1998. However, the programme will focus on the most priorities identified in the Commission's opinion on Estonia with an estimated 30% being devoted to institution building and 70% for support of specific investments in sectors such as environment, transport and agriculture.