Brussels, 18/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Friday the European Commission approved a Regional Action Programme for 2003 to reinforce the regional co-operation between Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The programme will have a total budget of €31.5 million, funded under the 2003 CARDS (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation programme). Activities, discussed and approved by national authorities, will encourage co-operation and dialogue between the Balkans countries in four priority areas, namely integrated border management, institutional capacity building, democratic stabilisation and regional infrastructure. and environmental development. In a press statement the Commission indicated that The adoption of this programme "reflects the importance the EU gives to the promotion of regional co-operation within the Stabilisation and Association Process".