98/301/CFSP: Joint Action of 30 April 1998 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union in support of the Government of Montenegro
Date: 1998-04-30
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU aid, Montenegro, economic reform, joint action, political reform

9.5.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

L  138/1

(Acts  adopted  under  Title  V  of  the  Treaty  on  European  Union)

JOINT  ACTION

of  30  April  1998

adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union in support
of  the  Government  of  Montenegro

(98/301/CFSP)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  European  Union  and,  in
particular,  Articles  J.3  and  J.11  thereof,

Whereas in order to ensure the consistency of the Union’s
external  activities  European  Community  additional
measures in support of the reform process, such as in the
field  of  independent  media,  should  also  be  assessed
further  in  the  near  future  to  go  beyond  this  first  step,
notably  on  the  occasion  of  the  Troika  visit  of  5  May
1998,

Having  regard  to  the  general  guidelines  contained  in  the
conclusions  adopted  by  the  European  Council  in  Dublin
on  13  and  14  December  1996,

HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  JOINT  ACTION:

Whereas  a  new  President  took  office  in  the  Republic  of
Montenegro  on  15  January  1998;

Article  1

Whereas 
the
the  European  Union  recognises 
Government  needs  the  full  support  of  the  international
community  to  pursue  political  and  economic  reform;

that 

This  joint  action  aims  to  provide,  on  an  exceptional
basis,  rapid  short-tem  assistance  to  the  new  Government
of  Montenegro.  The  aim  of  the  Union’s  assistance  is  to
help  the  Government  of  Montenegro  to  continue  its
programme  of  economic  and  political  reform.

Whereas  the  Council  on  27  April  1998  welcomed  the
continuing  commitment  shown  by  President  Djukanovic
to  political  and  economic  reform  in  Montenegro,  agreed
that  the  European  Union  should  send  a  clear  and
immediate  signal  of  its  support  for  the  formed  process
and agreed to allocate an initial amount of ECU 3 million
in financial assistance to the Montenegrin Government to
help  it  meet  outstanding  social  welfare  payments;

Article  2

1. To this end, an initial amount of ECU 3 million shall
be  charged  to  the  general  budget  of  the  European
Communities  for  1998.

Whereas  the  Council  notes  that  the  Government  of
Montenegro 
intends  to  disburse  the  relevant  social
welfare  payments  as  soon  as  possible  and  in  any  case  no
later  than  31  May  1998;

2. The  amount  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  shall  be
managed  in  accordance  with  the  European  Community
procedures  and  rules  applicable  to  the  budget.

Whereas  it  is  important  to  ensure  appropriate  visibility
for  such  Union  support;  and

3. The amount referred to in paragraph 1 shall be made
available  immediately  to  the  account  specified  by  the
Government  of  Montenegro

L  138/2

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

9.5.98

Article  3

Article  6

The  Presidency  shall  report  to  the  Council  on  the
progress  made  by  the  Government  of  Montenegro  in
political  and  economic  reform.

This  joint  action  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  day  of  its
adoption.  It  shall  apply  as  from  1  March  1998.

Article  4

Article  7

The Council notes that the Commission in support of the
objectives  of  this  joint  action  intends  to  come  forward
where  appropriate  with  proposals  for  project  assistance
in  support  of  the  Government  of  Montenegro.

Article  5

The  European  Union  will  encourage  the  international
community  to  consider  assistance  in  support  of  the
objectives  of  this  joint  action.

This  joint  action  shall  be  published  in  the  Official
Journal.

Done  at  Luxembourg,  30  April  1998.

For  the  Council

The  President

T.  JOWELL