Brussels, 23/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - 2002 was a "record year" for the MEDA Programme, the financial instrument for EU cooperation in the Mediterranean, affirmed the European Commission during its study of a special case of a "series of remarkable advances" in the use of aid. EUR 763 million had been committed and EUR 685 million paid out - a use level of 90%, which constitutes progress that is absolutely massive compared to the past, asserts the report. These results can be attributed to EUROPAID, which compiled the report and which interprets the results of the wok carried out in the framework of this new structure established by EU external aid reform and decided on in 2000. EUROPAID was set up in January 2001 and is in charge of an overall envelope of EUR 5.53 billion (2000-2006) to help Mediterranean countries.
Richard Weber, EUROPAID Director, believes that the results are due to joint efforts by all (within the management) and that one of the factors for success is the "substantial increase in Europe Aid staff". José Izarra, Head of Unity in charge of MEDA funds explains that the difference is perhaps because of the MEDA I report, "We are 100% behind commitment appropriations but for new actions" whereas in the past "the percentages of 100% came partly from re-commitments on actions that had already been decided on but which had been cancelled because they had not been executed and which had to be re-committed during other exercises, notably in countries such as Syria or Turkey".
Mr Izarra explains that on a payments level, "progress has been even more significant than in the past. The first criticism of the MEDA I programme was that the level of disbursement remained extremely low". At the beginning of 2001 progress in payments was considerable. In two years all posts (MEDA + others) increased from EUR 479 million in 2001 to EUR 685 million in 2002". The other significant advance was, according to Mr Izarra due to the "catching up with the weight of the past". He explained that the real challenge for the future was to succeed with this deconcentration and that the delegations in the Mediterranean capitals had largely been provided with the personnel to do this.
According to Mr Izarra the objective is not the rapidity of the implementation but rather the "quality" of the commitment. He explained that "We are in a partnerships system and the results do not only depend on our action". He also mentioned two good examples of "excellent partnerships" in Jordan and Tunisia where the administrations are very effective and swift".