The European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) was created under the mandate of Chris Patten as àEurope's Commissioner for External Relations: âÂÂthe first big test of our ability to run things competently and we passed it, was speeding up delivery by cutting corners where we could, setting up the European Agency for Reconstruction and giving it delegated authority and political coverâ (Chris Patten, âÂÂNot Quite the Diplomatâ ).
The Agency was established by Council Regulation (EC) No 1628/96, as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1756/2006 of 28 November 2006. When it was set up in 2000, the Agency was responsible for managing the EUâÂÂs aid programmes in Kosovo.
See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfrX5hceRHo&t=6s.