Brussels, 22/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council adopted the regulation proposed by the European Commission providing for an EUR 135 million grant to Turkey during a three year period, in the context of the MEDA II programme. EU financial support is essential to "stimulate the implementation of the newly adopted Accession Partnership" for Turkey, commented Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen. This amount will mainly make it possible to finance projects aimed at promoting economic and social development in the eastern part of the country, improving institutional and infrastructure capacity in the fields of the environment, energy, telecommunications and transport; and defending and promoting human rights.
During the 1996-1999 period, the Commission had made EUR 376 million available for EU/Turkey financial cooperation, recalls a press release, stating that there will be a doubling of financial resources on an annual basis to Turkey from 2000 onwards, with a total of 209 million in EU 2000 allocation. This includes, in addition to the amount just approved under the MEDA II programme, funds provided in the regulation (adopted by the Council in April) on strengthening of customs union as well as rehabilitation assistance for the region hit by the earthquake in August 1999.