Emergency aid fund set to win approval

Date: 01/02/01

By Simon Taylor

Member States have approved a new emergency aid fund that will speed up the Union's ability to get much-needed money to crisis-stricken areas. Union ambassadors this week cleared a plan for a 30-40 million Rapid Reaction Mechanism, which would fund key equipment and personnel at very short notice.

External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said the mechanism would enable the executive to "respond swiftly and effectively in a crisis". The RRM is likely to be used to finance demining operations, provide election monitors, customs officials, border guards or any other personnel needed to ensure that the normal activities of a country continue in times of political upheaval or civil war.

Under the final deal, which will be approved by EU foreign ministers on 26 February, the Commission will be able to release up to €12 million at a time for individual projects. Member states have agreed to Patten's request for an annual budget of 30 million euro, rising to €40 million next year.

Bill Newton-Dunn, the UK Liberal MEP who drafted the Parliament's report on the mechanism, said it would help deal with situations like last week's earthquake in India. But he warned that the executive would have "no excuses" for failing to deliver aid quickly to crisis zones in future.