Euro-Mediterranean partnership: financial and technical measures to accompany (MEDA) the reform of economic and social structures

The committee adopted the report by Mr Enrique BARON CRESPO on the new Council proposal. In its first opinion, Parliament had stressed two essential requirements and these were highlighted once again: - the need to make financial aid conditional upon respect for human rights: the agreement contains a conditionality principle whereby aid may be suspended if human rights and fundamental freedoms are violated. The Commission is to present proposals on the procedure to be applied in the Council for suspension decisions by 30 June 1997. The committee felt that the procedure for adopting appropriate measures in the event that a Mediterranean partner failed to meet its obligations, especially the suspension of aid programmes, should be approved by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consultation with the European Parliament; - the concern for greater transparency in the administration of MEDA appropriations: on this point, the committee adopted the rapporteur's amendment making provision in the EU budget for "a breakdown of the amounts allocated to each beneficiary country and territory". The report therefore called for an indication of the allocations to each country under the annual overall budgetary line. The Commission had opposed this, basing its refusal on respect for the concept of financial cooperation which is no longer bilateral.�