Thanks to the support of the Cards Programme, we have been developing specific law enforcement capabilities in those countries to fight against drug trafficking.

It has already been mentioned that the CARDS programme alone is not enough.

It is important that the CARDS programme, for which ever less funding is available, should be given more money.

The Commission' s proposal for the CARDS programme is explicit and our group supports it.

In the first reading of the budget some cuts were made to external actions, such as the western Balkans CARDS programme.

The CARDS programme is so huge that it is impossible to adapt it to the present financial perspectives.

As part of the CARDS programme, the Commission will continue to focus its assistance on target groups which promote refugee return and the reconciliation process.

On the other hand, our group cannot accept the cut of EUR 84 million in the CARDS Programme.

At the same time, the continuity of activities promoting cooperation with the Western Balkans covered by the CARDS programme is ensured.

In that case Parliament will have to act within the framework of the financial perspectives, which will mean severe cutbacks in the CARDS programme.

In order to gauge the progress made by Macedonia, however, we sent a delegation of experts last June as part of the regional CARDS programme.

We have said that we stand ready in the Commission to support the process of building a successful, multi-ethnic Community through our CARDS Programme and so on.

The priorities of the European Partnership will continue to form the basis of the programme of assistance, which will be provided under the CARDS programme.

I welcome the Agency's role in developing and consolidating stability in the Balkans region and in the sound management of the CARDS programme.

The government sought to deflect attention from problems with its ID cards programme by attempting to personally denigrate the LSE report and Simon Davies personally.

I hope that we will do everything possible within the scope of our CARDS programme to ensure that the refugees are able to return to all parts of the region.

However, as of 2001 the CARDS programme (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stability in the Balkans) has provided financial assistance to these countries.

Last Spring the Commission proposed the so-called CARDS programme for the reconstruction of the Western Balkans. Its total value is EUR 5.5 billion.

Just to give some examples, the Commission is funding major initiatives for reform in justice and home affairs, including police, in a number of Balkan countries under the CARDS programme.

Nor do we know whether it will be acceptable to reduce our contributions within the CARDS programme in the Balkans at as fast a rate as the Commission is now proposing.

I also take this opportunity to welcome the statement by Commissioner Nielson on including many of the proposals by my fellow Member in her report in the new CARDS programme.

The report should of course also cover the implementation of the 2005-2006 multi-annual CARDS programme for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, something which is not yet the case.

Under the regional CARDS programme for 2002, the Commission published an open call for submission of proposals for support for the rule of law, good governance, public accountability and freedom of opinion.

The Commission will decide on the CARDS programme next week, because here there were still some questions that required clarification from the legal service. The key figures will therefore be available to you as from tomorrow.

Furthermore, the CARDS programme had already been given 63 million euros out of this year' s budget transfers, so all in all the programme is returning to what was proposed in the Council' s draft budget.