Brussels, 26/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Regional Conference on South East Europe, on 25 and 26 October in Bucharest, allowed the international community to announce the adoption of new projects for EUR 3 billion, under the aegis of the Stability Pact. The countries of the region have been called upon to develop stable and concrete regional cooperation and to continue their reforms, with a confirmed but long-term view of joining the European Union. These countries also adopted, with all the participants, a declaration on the fight against terrorism, said the spokesperson for the Stability Pact from Bucharest. Concluding the conference, the Stability Pact Coordinator, Bodo Hombach, stressed that the results of the conference show "the support of the international community go much further than financial aid: not only southern Europe has remained on the agenda but it is clearly a top priority". International community aid, and more particularly aid from the EU, remains very important and attentive, mainly because the "choice is a clear one: either we export stability to the Balkans and South East Europe, or this region exports instability towards the rest of Europe and perhaps to the world as a whole", said European Commission Chris Patten, who greatly insisted on regional cooperation (a network of bilateral free-trade agreements, infrastructures, the fight against crime). He said it is sad to see that the most effective regional cooperation is perhaps that between criminals of the region.
Donors confirmed in Bucharest the adoption of a new package of projects worth EUR 2.4 billion, which has been prepared over recent months, to which is added EUR 550 million from Bosnia, Croatia and Yugoslavia for the return of refugees, completed by 500 million from the international community, and EUR 60 million for the support of the private sector and trade. The infrastructure package comprises 27 projects for EUR 2.4 billion, of which 700 million are financed by the EIB in the form of loans. Other projects are being examined by the Infrastructure Group. In millions of euros they concern support for Albania (304), Bosnia (303), Bulgaria (390), Croatia (308), Macedonia (61), Romania (534), Yugoslavia (433.9), Moldova (42.8) and regional projects (33.25). They include the construction of the bridge over the Danube between Romania and Bulgaria (180 million), a motorway in Croatia (100 million), several border post projects, and the reconstruction of the rail network in Bosnia and Yugoslavia. Transport infrastructures benefit form most of the funds (EUR 1.44 billion), followed by energy (762 million), water (104 million) and the environment (100.4 million). (For information see: http: //http://www.seerecon.org ).