Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-11-14-Speech-2-267"
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"en.20001114.9.2-267"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the Commission should start by applying the Feira conclusions to its proposals. All of us in the European Union who supposedly have a position of responsibility face a huge challenge. I think we have an historic chance today to prove that our acts are tantamount to a declaration of good intentions towards the western Balkans. The sums budgeted for the Balkans should put us in mind, in terms of quality and quantity, of a new Marshall plan and should act as a springboard to a new beginning in the countries of the western Balkans. Nor should we forget that the countries of the western Balkans are not third countries, they are candidate countries for membership of the European Union and we must treat them as such.
It is true that the European Union is often accused of promising aid to countries struck by disaster or catastrophe and then taking so long to pay it, so long to keep its financial promises that either it creates the impression that it regrets having promised it in the first place or, when it finally does pay, it is already too late. Luckily, there is a shining exception to this rule, and it really is a rule. The exception is the Reconstruction Agency which has its headquarters in Thessaloniki and an operational centre in Kosovo. This agency complies with the Commission's decision on decentralisation and is exceptionally efficient in managing the project for which it is responsible. It has already signed contracts for 90% of the budget for 2000, which is truly amazing. It has already disbursed approximately 30% of the appropriations for 2000. Plus, and this is unprecedented, it has requested a reduction in wage costs. I therefore propose, that not only should we leave these people in peace to get on with their job with the gusto and enthusiasm which they have shown so far, not only should we refrain from upsetting the
of the agency, although we should, of course, make it responsible for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and anywhere else it is needed, but we should also ask them to pass their know-how on to other committees whose work, as we all know, is so abysmal, so inefficient and brings in such poor results. I trust that we can use these opinions to do more for this region in which hardship and suffering abound."@en1
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