Brussels, 17/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and Eurocontrol - The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation - in partnership with the Joint Aviation Authority (JAA), have signed a subsidy agreement in order to intensify air traffic control and aviation sectors in South Eastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia et Montenegro and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M.). This subsidy of 400 000 euros, paid out of the CARDS programme (Community Assistance for the reconstruction, development and stabilisation of the Balkans), will allow for the needs of the sector being evaluated so as to identify potential projects and action in order to improve the control of air traffic and air security in the region. Also areas shall be taken into account: judicial, regulatory and institutional demands, leadership capacities, operational and technical aspects (including human resources and training), airspace management, standards with which systems must comply, management of infrastructures and projects, security and air safety, training. In order to change over to this evaluation, which constitutes the first stage of a 5 million euro project, a workshop shall be organised in order to establish a list of suitable projects, which can be implemented, which shall represent the second stage of the project.