BRUSSELS, Sept 29 (Reuters) – The European Union’s executive arm agreed on Monday how to spend 4.5 billion euros ($6.5 billion) in aid to the bloc’s candidate countries in 2008-10, giving priority to improving governance and the rule of law.
The European Commission’s decision brings closer the release of the EU funds to Croatia, Turkey, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.
‘The road towards the EU is paved with reforms to improve the everyday lives of citizens and to comply with the strict EU accession criteria,’ EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in a statement.
The Commission said the 1.8 billion euros of aid for Turkey would focus on supporting the stability of institutions so as to guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms, democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for minorities.
EU agrees on 4.5 bln euro aid for candidate states – Forbes.com.