The Parliament approved the Commission proposal, drafted by Mr Carlos WESTENDORP Y CABEZA (PES, E), which aims to overhaul the financial aid arrangements for the Western Balkans (the CARDS programme). The Parliament makes a number of amendments highlighting the fact that the European Council decisions in Feira and Cologne are binding on the proposal and must therefore be taken into account. (Refer to the decisions of the Committee responsible for a guideline of what the Parliament adopted).
In addition to respecting democratic principles, the rule of law, human and minority rights and other fundamental freedoms, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia must also respect international law. The European Parliament wishes to strengthen the administrative parts of the regulation as well as its own role of democratic scrutiny by establishing a degree of accountability for both the Commission and the management committee. �