Brussels, 08/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Economy/Finance Council met on Monday following the meeting of the Euro Group (see above), achieving the following results:
- Aid to Montenegro: the main decision taken. See details on page 12.
- Presidency of the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the East). The EU 15 designated Mr. Lemierre (France) as their candidate. His nomination is de facto, as the EU and its Member States are a majority within the Governors Council of the EBRD.
- Budgetary priorities for 2001. The European Commissioner Mrs. Schreyer presented the Commission guidelines for the preliminary draft EU budget for 2001, that it will approve this Wednesday. She insisted on the priorities and commented on the proposal for revision of the "multi-annual financial prospects" that the Commission will present next week to finance the EEC aid to the Balkans. For this aspect, the reaction of the Ministers was negative: at this stage, the Member States do not see the need for such a revision; they will first have to proceed with an more in-depth evaluation of the financing needs of the Balkans.
