Brussels, 30/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The forecasts where exceeded: the Donors Conference for South0eastern Europe won commitments for EUR 2.4 billion (against estimates of 1.8 billion). The total is divided, 70 to 80% will be donations and 20 to 30% loans.
The commitments concern the financing of reconstruction projects answering the following characteristics: rapid start-up (with one year maximum), regional value (concerning at least two beneficiary countries). In several cases, the projects are already known: a second bridge for the Danube between Romania and Bulgaria, electricity networks, clean-up of the Danube, roads, bridges, water reserves, etc., but also a large number of projects concerning the improvement of legal and financial structures. The EIB loans will concern infrastructure, those from the EBRD the development of the private sector.
The share from the EU and its Member States is particularly significant. The European Commission has committed itself for EUR 530 million (from the Community budget); the member States for a similar amount. According partly confirmed indications, Germany is committed for around EUR 150 million, the Netherlands for a similar amount, France for around EUR 75 million, Italy for 300 billion lira already decided and 400 awaiting Parliamentary approval, etc. To these loans is added the EIB loans.
Several participants in the Conference strongly underlined the requirement that beneficiary countries develop on their side co-operation between each other and implement fundamental economic and political reforms. The countries from the territories concerned are Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. As for Serbia, it may benefit from a significant share of the money when it has re-established democracy.
The table published by the Secretariat of the Conference (that was presented by the Vice-President of the European Commission Chris Patten and by the President of the World Bank James Wolfenstein, in close co-operation with the co-ordinator Bodo Hombach) indicates:
First working table (democratisation and human rights): EUR 430.27 million against the 255 million called for;
Second Table (economic, reconstruction, development and co-operation: EUR 1,833.8 million (1,449 sought) of which: 1,398 million for infrastructures, 281 for the development of the private sector, etc.
Third table (justice and other security measures): EUR 81 million (against the 77.8 sought) 5.24 million are aimed at horizontal projects (including the fight against corruption) and 63 million available that have not yet been given a precise destination.