Eastern Partnership Territorial Cooperation Programmes Presentation by EaPTC team June 2013

Issues to be discussed Thematic and geographic coverage of the territorial cooperation programmes Role and composition of the joint decision making committees (JDMC) Establishment of the management mechanism, possible financial framework and timeline The planned information and capacity building events in the eligible regions Cooperation with EaPTC team

EaP Territorial Cooperation Programmes EaP TC programme Armenia – Georgia – Armenia: Shirak, Lori and Tavush regions (marzes) – Georgia: Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions EaP TC programme Azerbaijan – Georgia – Azerbaijan: Ganja-Gazakh and Sheki-Zaqatala regions – Georgia: Kvemo Kartli and Kakheti regions EaP TC programme Belarus – Ukraine – Belarus: Brest and Gomel oblasts – Ukraine: Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kyiv and Chernigiv oblast EaP TC programme Moldova – Ukraine – Moldova: the whole country’s territory – Ukraine: Chernivtsi, Vinnytsya and Odesa oblasts

Thematic coverage: issues pertaining to local / regional development Improving the living conditions of local communities through joint projects supporting economic and social development; Addressing common challenges in fields such as environment, employment, public health or any other field of common interest; Culture, education and sports

Financial framework Total programme budget (for four borders) – Euro 12,5 million (only EU contribution) 10% co-financing by grant beneficiaries (tbd) Project size: still to be defined; example Serbia – BiH: Min – EUR Max – EUR

Projects that may be supported Must have obvious cross border impact on both sides of the border Must come from at least two partners from both countries Should comply with these cooperation criteria: – joint project development – joint implementation – joint project staff – joint financing

Types of beneficiaries State actors: local and regional authorities, public service providers (hospitals, educational, research and cultural institutions, communal service providers, associations); Non-state actors: CSO in all their diversity (independent policy / research foundations, citizens’ initiatives and unions, youth organisations, SME associations)

EaPTC management: institutional framework Joint Decision Making Committee (JDMC) Territorial Cooperation Programme Managing Authority (MA) Subject to the final configuration of the programme management mechanism, MA decides on Technical Secretariat with offices in participating countries as the need may be

JDMC role, mode of operation and functions JDMC is a body where consultations between the participating countries take place and decisions concerning the programme taken. It will ensure ownership of the programme by the participating countries. JDMC brings together representatives of central government, local authorities and civil society organisations from each participating country JDMC may be established in the framework of bilateral inter-governmental commissions on economic cooperation, or in any other form deemed appropriate by the participating countries

JDMC main functions Define and approve the main priorities and measures of each programme; Decide on the optimal allocation of the programme´s resources to priorities; Advise on the selection criteria for projects including guidelines for applicants; Decide on the selection of the projects; Monitor progress towards the objectives of the programme by reviewing the reports submitted by the managing authority and/or other national/regional authorities;  Receive information on any issues related to TC programme implementation

Managing Authority To be selected and entrusted by the EC Options: Indirect centralised management – by a consortium of Member States’ agencies; Joint management with an international organization

Legal documents and decisions to be taken Commission decision on the budget of EUR 12.5 million, including Action Fiche Eastern Partnership Territorial Cooperation Strategy – prepared by the European Commission in consultation with the partner countries; among other things, setting out individual fund allocation to each of the four TC programmes Joint Operational Programmes – prepared by the partner countries, adopted by JDMCs and agreed with EC for each TC programme separately; setting out specific TC programme priorities and implementation modalities Delegation Agreement between EC and selected organisation on the functions of Managing Authority Operational documents: Guidelines for applicants, Programme manuals, etc.

Forward action: Jun-Sep 2013 EaPTC Action fiche drafted Consultations on JDMC establishment carried out Training modules to beneficiaries started Launching informational events held Web-portal made operational Decisions on the establishment of JDMC prepared or taken Depending on management mechanism, support to establishment of Technical Secretariats carried out Capacity building modules for managing bodies started

Forward action – three years’ milestones  2013: Decision on Programme Management Authority takenSep‘13 Action fiche approved by ENPI CommitteeOct’13 EU Commission decision to start EaP TC programmes takenNov’13  2014 Call for Proposals announcedJan ‘14 Proposals submittedMay ‘14 Projects selectedOct ‘14 Contracts signedDec ’14  2015 and beyond: First programme results assessedJan ‘15 Support on ENI-funded TC designed & renderedFeb ‘15 onwards EaP TC projects implemented untilDec ’16

Capacity building for stakeholders  Main topics relevant to all three TC programmes:  TC opportunities and specific information about requirements  Development of projects and preparation of project proposals  Identifying cross-border partners  Following the application procedures  Modules:  B1: Opportunities within territorial cooperation programmes;  B2: Project idea generation;  B3: Initial partner identification;  B4: Project preparation (General);  B5: General Info Day/Question & Answer Sessions;  B6: Partner Search Forum (Related to CfP);  B7: Project preparation workshop (Related to CfP);  B8: Individual support / advice in project preparation;  B9: General training for successful applicants;  B10: Procurement and financial training

EaPTC Support Programme Overall objective: To promote sustainable cross-border cooperation between border regions of the Eastern Partnership partner countries, so as to allow for the development of joint solutions to common challenges in their border areas. Purposes 1. To create a conducive environment for cross-border cooperation programmes along the borders of Ukraine-Belarus; Georgia- Armenia and Georgia-Azerbaijan, while taking into account specificities of each border area, 2. To strengthen the capacity of local and regional state and non- state actors along the borders Ukraine-Belarus; Georgia-Armenia; and Georgia-Azerbaijan to develop and implement cross-border projects. Timeframe: December 2012 – December 2015

EaPTC team Alexei Sekarev Team Leader Lyubov PalyvodaAdvocacy Expert Erikas Jankauskas Capacity Building Expert Lorenzo Nava Capacity Building Expert Tatiana Derevyankina Communication Expert Tamuna BaindurashviliOffice Manager 19 D.Gamrekeli st. Business Center «Palati», Room 411 Tbilisi 0160 Georgia Tel. ( ) (in preparation);