Brussels, 26/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and Slovakia signed, on Monday, the annual (2000) and multiannual financing agreements of the SAPARD programme, the pre-accession aid instrument for agriculture and rural development. These agreements set the rules for management and control of the programme, and for aid that may reach EUR 18.289 million annually. Before Slovakia can benefit from such aid, it is necessary for Slovakia to set a SAPARD management body in place, and that this body is approved by the European Commission. The Commission makes it clear that several last formalities for the implementation of the agreements must be completed. Over the next few weeks, the European Commission is expected to approve all the SAPARD financing agreements still pending.
European Parliament plenary session