EU farm cash for Balkans

By FWi staff

EUROPEAN commissioners have agreed among themselves that 300 million a year in unspent farm budget money should be transferred to finance development of the Balkans.

The Financial Times says Chris Patten, external affairs commissioner, is campaigning for a 5.5bn package for the Balkans up to the end of 2006.

This would mean restructuring the EUs existing budgetary framework for the region.

But the FTreports that France opposes restructuring because it fears it would hit Europes farmers.

• The Financial Times, 17/04/00, page 6