Six PHARE financing proposals approved
The Commission of the European Communities has approved six financing proposals in the context of the PHARE programme (the Community programme of assistance for the economic restructuring of Central and Eastern European countries). Five proposals concern aid to the countries themselves while the sixth concerns a renewal of funds to PHARE's information policy. Community action within PHARE is based on the policy that economic reform in the Central and Eastern European states is most effective if carried out in step with priorities established by the governments themselves as being most essential for lasting reform. In all five cases, aid is channeled through the ministries of the governments concerned in order to ensure continuity with existing programmes. - Albania: ECU 6 million is to support the renewal of the health system by providing finance for new structures, staff and equipment (primary health care, pharmaceuticals, basic training, upgrading skills of GPs, nurses and midwives and helping to outline a legislative framework for the healthcare system); - Lithuania: ECU 22.5 million will be focussed on encouraging investment and private initiatives and helping shape institutions in the fields of energy, transport, agriculture, privatization, aid coordination, labour, social security, finance, health, and the environment; - Slovenia: Aid of ECU 7.5 million for restructuring and privatization (financial and private sector development, including direct aid to the Agency for Privatization plus public sector support for the energy sector and the restructuring of rail transport); - Estonia: ECU 10.5 million towards economic restructuring (notably banking and finance), SMEs, agriculture, energy and the environment, public administration, reform of human resources (notably education and management training), social security (in particular reform of the labour market and the health care system); - Latvia: ECU 16 million aiding reform of the financial sector, energy, agriculture, telecommunications, transport, environment, plus adaptation of the social security system and aid in the solution of problems in the reform of public administration.
Countries
Albania, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia