BRUSSELS BREAKS RANKS ON AID TO SERBS
Stephen Bates in Brussels
The European Commission broke ranks with national governments and Nato yesterday, saying it might channel aid towards rebuilding parts of Serbia opposed to President Slobodan Milosevic even if he is still in power.
The suggestion by Hans van den Broek, the outgoing Dutch foreign affairs commissioner, immediately raised eyebrows among British and other diplomats. Tony Blair and President Clinton have insisted that Yugoslavia will be offered only humanitarian assistance as long as the Milosevic government remains in place.
Mr Van den Broek announced the establishment of a European agency to channel up to £1.5bn EU aid to Kosovo over the next three years to help rebuild the country after the war. Some of that money may be targeted on areas controlled by opposition groups or pro-democracy mayors.
He told journalists: "We shall not be able to conclude agreements with Milosevic or his government but that does not mean we can do nothing for the Serbian population.
"The question is what you can do under the Milosevic regime. I don't see why on an ad hoc basis one could not carry out specific projects with local or regional organisations which have proved to be pro-democracy."
The suggestion accords with Russian proposals that Serbia should receive aid to repair the damage caused by the Nato bombardment.
But it clashes with Mr Blair's firm line, endorsed at last weekend's G8 summit of the leading industrial powers in Cologne, that Serbia cannot expect help until there has been a change of regime in Belgrade.
Mr Van den Broek also be lieves the EU may be able to assist the oppostion in "democratisation projects", such as setting up opposition newspapers. Humanitarian aid is likely to be channelled through charities already working in the country.
Donor conferences in the EU later this year and assistance provided by organisations such as the European Investment Bank are likely to double the amount of aid available.
The EU's reconstruction agency is expected to be set up in Pristina within the next few weeks and will be fully operational by September, with a staff of up to 300 experts from across the EU. The agency will advise on rebuilding roads and buildings, mine clearance, the restoration of local agriculture, economic restructuring and the creation of new businesses.
Commission officials in Brussels say the EU has learned lessons from its aid projects in eastern Europe, where money went astray through mismanagement. They are also anxious to prove that, unlike in Bosnia, the EU can act swiftly.