Press Release: Commission decides to strengthen PHARE programme

On 27.10.00, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Günter Verheugen, presented to the Commission the results of a review he commissioned in late 1999 on the functioning of the Phare programme. The review shows that the reforms introduced in 1997 have begun to show positive results but that more needs to be done with the approach of accession, such as enhancing the absorption capacity of the candidates, reaching agreement on multi-annual programmes with candidate countries, increasing the responsibility of candidate countries for managing EU funds, as well as increasing the use of Structural Funds approaches within Phare.