Brussels, 18/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of a public hearing on the theme "A New European Union Strategy for South East Europe", German Christian Democrat Doris Pack, Chair of the EP delegation for relations with this region, expressed the hope that the countries concerned would be more involved in the process that links them to the European Union. Ms Pack, who underlined the diverse situations of these countries (some already have an association agreement with the EU, while others do not, she noted), sketched out four priorities for the EU's future policy in the Balkans. These priorities are: - consolidation of the rule of law (in her view there is still a great deal to be done); - fight against crime (in which the EU must cooperate effectively); - greater effort for education, as "investment in education is investment in the future"; - and greater financial aid, mainly through the CARDS programmes. According to Ms Pack, pre-accession aid that will disappear after the next enlargement should be used for the countries of South East Europe.