European Parliament 9 November 1999, WRITTEN QUESTION E-2021/99 by Gunilla Carlsson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. National interpretation of Article 86 of the EC Treaty.

Faced with a very grave humanitarian situation the Commission has made every effort to mobilise funds quickly. The Commission’s Humanitarian Office (ECHO) initiated a programme (€ 1,75 million), but much larger sums were needed. The most effective way to mobilise PHARE funds was to cancel the tender in order to make € 8,5 million of the € 10 million immediately available for basic needs.