Council Regulation on the provision of assistance to partner countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The Community implements a program to promote the transition to a market economy and to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the partner countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia for the period from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2006.
This program concerns the following partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
The program is based on the principles and objectives set out in the partnership and cooperation agreements as well as in the trade and economic cooperation agreements, within which the Community, its Member States and the partner countries cooperate to support initiatives of common interest.
The programme aims to promote interstate, interregional, and cross-border cooperation among the partner countries themselves, between the partner countries and the European Union, and between the partner countries and Central and Eastern Europe.
The program takes into account: the evolving and differing needs and priorities of partner countries, individually and as regions, and, among other considerations, the content of enlargement; the absorption capacity of partner countries; progress towards democratic and market-oriented reform in partner countries.
The measures are implemented taking into account the following criteria: the need for sustainable economic development; the social impacts of reform measures; the promotion of equal opportunities for women; the sustainable use of natural resources and respect for the environment.