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

In its amended proposal, the Commission incorporated a number of the amendments adopted by Parliament, either in full or in a modified form. The purpose of the amendments in question was to: - develop an integration strategy for Mediterranean countries with the involvement of regions within the Union (promotion of interregional cooperation), - take into consideration the principles set out in the Commission's communication on 'The inclusion of respect for democratic principles and human rights in agreements between the Community and third countries' (COM(95)0216), - enable education and training structures, and trade union organizations, to receive financial support, - add to the list of support measures the sustainable management of natural and cultural resources and cooperation with the regions of the European Union (including, in the list of activities that may be funded, the development of the financial system, restructuring and privatization of industrial sectors and infrastructure, development of water resources, transport and telecommunications, the modernization of public administration, strengthening respect for the rights of ethnic and religious minorities and strengthening the media), and cooperation between local and regional bodies with a view to promoting good governance. - With regard to cooperation with the Arab League, the Commission did not omit this topic but preferred to refer to supporting regional activities 'including the Euro-Arab dialogue'. - Finally, in the interests of financial transparency, the Commission, in line with one of Parliament's amendments, called for the results of invitations to tender to be published in the Official Journal of the EC and for detailed information on the contracts concluded to be submitted to the MED Committee twice a year. The Commission also endorsed Parliament's proposal for a series of annual and interim reports to be submitted by the dates specified by the latter. Finally, although the Commission did not incorporate the proposal to review the regulation after five years, it called for the regulation to be re-examined before 30 June 1999 in the light of an evaluation report submitted before 31 December 1998. �