WRITTEN QUESTION E-2528/99 by Jürgen Zimmerling (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Cost of reconstruction in Kosovo.
C 303 E/76 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 (2000/C 303 E/066) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2528/99 by Jürgen Zimmerling (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Cost of reconstruction in Kosovo (4 January 2000) According to the latest information, the Council is providing for the sum of € 500 million for reconstruc- tion costs in Kosovo. These funds will come, essentially, from the development aid budget. The Committee on Development and Cooperation rapporteur, Mrs Carlotti, has informed us that the sum of € 500 million is based solely on estimates. To what extent is the Balkans coordinator, Bodo Hombach, able to give data on the actual cost of past and future reconstruction in Kosovo on the basis of the information to which he must have access by virtue of his office? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (1 February 2000) In November 1999, a joint assessment carried out by the Commission and the World Bank, was entitled Towards Stability and Prosperity, a programme for reconstruction and recovery in Kosovo (1). Furthermore, the needs assessment for Kosovo is based on various inputs, in particular the Commissionís damage assessment mission (carried out by the International management group), as well as statements made by the United Nations (UN) interim administration of Kosovo (UNMIK) and data available from other assessment missions. With regard to the role of the Stability Pact, it should be stressed that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (and hence Kosovo) is not a member of the Stability Pact. The Commission actively participates in the Working Tables of the Stability Pact. However, given the mandate of the Stability Pact, this would not appear to be the most appropriate forum for assessing the needs in Kosovo. The Commissioner in charge of external relations remains in close touch with Mr Hombach on matters affecting the region in general. Finally, the Commission recalls that the funds for Kosovo in 2000 will not come from the development budget as such but will follow this breakdown ü € 60 million carry-overs; € 40 million re-deployments; € 20 million ECHO; and € 60 million already foreseen in the preliminary draft budget (PDB) € 180 million flexibility reserve. (1) Available on the joint website of the Commission and World Bank at the following address: www. seerecon. org. / KeyDocuments/KeyOfficialDocuments. htm. (2000/C 303 E/067) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2529/99 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission (4 January 2000) Subject: Comitology costs According to the EC Treaty, the Commission is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Council. The Council has this process supervised by committees of national experts. How many advisory committees, management committees and regulatory committees of national experts assist the Commission in its executive tasks? In what areas?