Phare programme to be strengthened
The European Commission intends to strengthen the PHARE programme providing assistance to the candidate countries to the EU in line with recommendations from a review of the programme commissioned in late 1999. Presenting the review, Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for Enlargement, urged the Commission to take action based on its results: 'We must consider candidate countries receiving Phare money as countries who will be managing large sums from the Community budget in a few years time. This means adapting our approaches to build the right institutions and delegate responsibility where we can.' According to the review, reforms introduced in 1997 have begun to show positive results, but more needs to be done as accession approaches. Areas of particular concern are the absorption capacity of candidate countries, agreements on multiannual programmes, increased responsibility for candidates managing EU funds and increased use of structural fund approaches within the Phare programme. 'I hope that we can from next year begin to plan interventions that can be supported first by Phare and in the future by structural funds, with as little disruption as possible,' said Commissioner Verheugen.