The European Commission is one of the three or four major donors to the reconstruction effort in East Timor. Attention is shifting from dealing with the emergency to putting East Timor on its feet for the long term. It is above all a question of helping the East Timorese people to set up an effective administration. They have to be fully involved at the centre of the process.
Aid has to be provided in a simple and flexible way.
That is why the vast majority of European Commission funding will be channelled through a common trust fund. In our view, the structures being set up should allow for a flexible allocation of funds, as the situation evolves. We also want to see sustainable programmes rather than eye-catching projects. Within this framework, the Commission is examining the provision of aid in primary sectors such as health and infrastructure. It also expects to be providing technical assistance to the various bodies involved.