Brussels, 16/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has adopted a Communication on the link between emergency aid, rehabilitation and development cooperation in view of bridging the existing gap between these three chapters of assistance provided by the Union to developing countries. Adopted on the initiative of Commissioner Poul Nielson (Development, humanitarian aid), this paper proposes measures to reduce problems met in these countries when long-term development takes over from emergency assistance, and improve the Community's contribution to international efforts in post-conflict situations. Here are the measures: a) closer coordination between multilateral, regional and non-governmental operators through a more systematic use of the United Nations so-called "circle of friends" formula, providing for coordination between the largest possible number of international donors intervening in any given country (like,, recently, East Timor); b) readjustment and rationalization measures of Community instruments, working methods and institutional mechanisms.