Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 181a(2), first sentence thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament^f1,

Whereas:

The European Agency for Reconstruction implements Community assistance provided for in Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000^f2 in Serbia and Montenegro, including Kosovo as defined by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999, and in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Regulation (EC) No 2667/2000^f3 applies until 31 December 2004.

Regulation (EC) No 2667/2000 provides that the Commission shall submit to the Council an evaluation report on its application and a proposal on the status of the Agency.

The Commission made that report public on 4 June 2004.

Community assistance for Serbia and Montenegro, including Kosovo as defined by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999, and in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is programmed in Country Strategy Papers for the period 2002 to 2006, in line with the Community's financial perspectives. The Commission is in the process of proposing multi-annual indicative programmes for the period 2005-2006 for these countries and territories.

In the light of the positive evaluation of the activities of the Agency and the fact that the framework of Community assistance covers the period until 2006, it is important to ensure continuity in the implementation of Community assistance. Consequently, the mandate of the European Agency for Reconstruction should be prolonged until 31 December 2006.

A Constitutional Charter was adopted in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 4 February 2003, renaming the country ‘Serbia and Montenegro’^f4. This change of name should be taken into account.

Regulation (EC) No 2667/2000 should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: