MEDA programme, Euro-Mediterranean partnership: economic and social structures

The committee adopted a report under the consultation procedure by Jaime VALDIVIELSO DE CUE (EPP/ED, E) approving, with a number of amendments, a Commission proposal to amend Regulation 1488/96 on financial and technical measures to accompany the MEDA programme. The Commission's document was based on the findings of an assessment of the programme carried out in 1998 and its overall objective was to simplify implementation of MEDA. The committee welcomed the proposal, but wished to introduce measures to strengthen cooperation between the Union and the Member States and to enhance the transparency of budgetary decisions of the Commission. It further wanted Parliament to be kept better informed, with increased opportunity for democratic scrutiny. �