The Commission shall notify the beneficiary country concerned of this decision and shall publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, announcing that it intends to submit a proposal to the Council for temporary withdrawal, unless, before the end of the period, the beneficiary country concerned makes a commitment to take the measures necessary to conform, in a reasonable period of time, with the conventions referred to in Part A of Annex III.

Of the budget of EUR675.95 million for the six regions over the period concerned, a total of EUR60.298 million had been paid by the end of 2002.

By December 2002 20% of the budget allocated for the whole period was paid.

The Commissioner for economic, monetary and financial affairs, Yves-Thibault de SILGUY, underlined that "this financial assistance demonstrates the willingness of the EU to support at this critical moment the countries affected by the Kosovo conflict in their economic stabilisation and reform efforts.

During the transition period, these countries may also derogate from granting national treatment to Community companies and antionals in order to protect newly emerging industries and sectors undergoing restructuring.

The Community proposal lays down for example that : - the Community will grant credit for the purchase of a given quantity of food products on specified terms, the funds in question being paid to the Community exporter designated by the recipient country when proof is provided that the supply contract between the country and the exporter has been carried out, - the recipient country will repay the credit in accordance with a fixed timetable and rate of interest and other conditions laid down in the Agreement, - the recipient country will undertake to maintain its habitual commercial imports of the products concerned ...[+++]and not to re- export those products or similar products during a given period, - the recipient country will market the products supplied under the financing facility at agreed market price so as not to disturb national production and marketing policies.