Brussels, 12/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - European CDU elected member Doris Pack, Chair of the EP Delegation for relations with South East Europe, affirmed that, in future, the responsibility of the Stability Pact for the Balkans would be entrusted to European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten (Ed.: the term of office of the Special Coordinator for the Pact, Bodo Hombach, has just reached expiry, and the president of the EPP-ED Group, Hans-Gert Pöttering, put forward the same proposal as his colleague). The Commissioner would set up a Directorate General to this end, Ms Pack added, noting with obvious optimism that "very rapidly, a sufficient number of officials will become available, following the conclusion of accession negotiations". Furthermore, Ms Pack called for the activities of the European Agency for Reconstruction in the region to be extended to Macedonia as a matter of urgency.