Brussels, 17/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - The steering council of the European Agency for the reconstruction of Kosovo held its first meeting on Monday, in Thessalonika (Greece), under the chairmanship of European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten.
In his opening speech, Chris Patten said this was a new phase in the Union's contribution to reconstruction of Kosovo. The aim of the Agency, he continued, is clear: to provide the Union with the means of giving rapid and effective assistance on the ground and completing the mission entrusted to it to give life and hope back to the inhabitants of Kosovo.
The aim of the Agency is to elaborate and submit to the Commission, with a view to adoption, programmes for reconstruction and for the return of refugees to Kosovo, and to ensure the implementation of such programmes. The Agency may also ensure the implementation of reconstruction programmes and return of refugees that could be entrusted to it by Member States and other donors. It was created further to the request made by the European Council in Cologne to ensure rapid and effective implementation of reconstruction programmes in Kosovo. The Agency has its head office in Thessalonika and its operational centre in Pristina. This allows it direct contact with the local population and international bodies present on the ground. It takes over the tasks of the European Commission Task Force which, established in Pristina since July 1999, has allowed the most urgent needs to be met for reconstruction and has launched projects for a total of EUR 127 million.