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The European Agency for Reconstruction The European Agency for Reconstruction is responsible for the management of the main EU assistance programmes in the Serbia and Montenegro (the Republic of Serbia, Kosovo, and the Republic of Montenegro) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It was established in February 2000 and has its headquarters in Thessaloniki, and operational centres in Pristina, Belgrade, Podgorica and Skopje. The Agency now oversees a total portfolio of over €1.6 billion across its four operational centres. The objectives of new EU-funded programmes managed by the Agency are: (i) to support good governance, institution building and the rule of law; (ii) to continue supporting the development of a market economy and to invest further in critical physical infrastructure and environmental actions, (iii) to support social development and the strengthening of civil society. The Agency plays its part in support of the European Union's wider process of 'Stabilisation and Association' with the five countries in South Eastern Europe, also including Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia. Other EU assistance includes EC budgetary, humanitarian, democratisation, customs and fiscal planning aid, support for educational exchange programmes, and the bilateral contributions made by EU Member States. |