Regional and Bilateral cooperation instruments for the ENP-South countries The Post-Medstat Framework Jose L. CERVERA-FERRI NOM Prénom Fonction

The post-Medstat cooperation framework Contents The post-Medstat cooperation framework Prospects for the regional cooperation Bilateral instruments

The transition towards a renewed post-MEDSTAT cooperation framework Specific Objective 1: The continuous improvement of the production of official statistics in the MED countries is enabled through targeted, quality-focused, achievable and progressive implementation plans Specific Objective 2. Technical and management capacities of the human resources in the NSS of the MED countries are increased through a comprehensive training programme. Specific Objective 3: The users of statistics in the region are empowered with data and tools that aim at feeding the information needs that answer to the economic and social expectations raised in the region and the evolution of the EU-MED policy agenda Specific Objective 4: A comprehensive and sustainable framework to host the design, the implementation and the permanent steering of the EU-MED cooperation in statistics is established The transition towards a renewed post-MEDSTAT cooperation framework Project-based approach of MEDSTAT I, II and III vs long-term cooperation framework MEDSTAT III to prepare the transition to the post-Medstat framework for regional Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in statistics Regional strategy approved by the Directors Committee (Athens, May 2012) aiming at: Continuous improvement of official statistics for decision-making in Med countries Increased technical and management capacities of human resources of the national statistical systems of MED countries Empowerment of users of statistics with data and tools to feed the information needs that answer to the economic and social expectations in the region A comprehensive and sustainable framework for the design. Implementation and steering of the EU-MED cooperation in statistics 3

Institutional features of the post-MEDSTAT cooperation framework High-level Forum of Euro-Mediterranean Statisticians First Conference to be held in 2S2012 Permanent Secretariat of the Forum To be hosted by Eurostat Thematic Working Groups on priority sectors ToR to be defined in 1S2012 Sectors to be selected by the Forum Proposals: Employment, Energy, Migration, Trade, Transport, Business statistics, Training, Quality in Statistics 4

Prospects for the regional cooperation Specific Objective 1: The continuous improvement of the production of official statistics in the MED countries is enabled through targeted, quality-focused, achievable and progressive implementation plans Specific Objective 2. Technical and management capacities of the human resources in the NSS of the MED countries are increased through a comprehensive training programme. Specific Objective 3: The users of statistics in the region are empowered with data and tools that aim at feeding the information needs that answer to the economic and social expectations raised in the region and the evolution of the EU-MED policy agenda Specific Objective 4: A comprehensive and sustainable framework to host the design, the implementation and the permanent steering of the EU-MED cooperation in statistics is established Prospects for the regional cooperation A number of working groups will hold annual meetings and will prepare a working programme for 2 years (2013-2014) Activities will be implemented under the leadership of one of the parties (EU, Mediterranean countries) and in some cases with “variable geometry”(interested countries) EU contribution under the renewed ENPI policy in discussion It is expected that MED countries contribute to the implementation of activities: Work of experts from MED countries Hosting meetings, study visits... 5

Bilateral instruments for the cooperation in statistics Specific Objective 1: The continuous improvement of the production of official statistics in the MED countries is enabled through targeted, quality-focused, achievable and progressive implementation plans Specific Objective 2. Technical and management capacities of the human resources in the NSS of the MED countries are increased through a comprehensive training programme. Specific Objective 3: The users of statistics in the region are empowered with data and tools that aim at feeding the information needs that answer to the economic and social expectations raised in the region and the evolution of the EU-MED policy agenda Specific Objective 4: A comprehensive and sustainable framework to host the design, the implementation and the permanent steering of the EU-MED cooperation in statistics is established Bilateral instruments for the cooperation in statistics Twinning projects TAIEX instrument De-centralised EU funding (through EU Delegations in MED countries) 6

Twinning projects Joint implementation of a project between Public Administrations of a EU Member State (or a consortium) and a Beneficiary Country Aim at modernising the institution of the Beneficiary Country through training, reorganisation, drafting laws (modelled after the EU acquis) Long-term resident adviser and medium and short-term experts (all should be public officials of the EU Member State institutions) Normal duration: 18 months Procedures:  http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/financial_assistance/institution_building/twinning_en.htm

Examples of Twinning projects (1) Denmark-Egypt: Statistics Denmark lead in partnership with Statistics Finland, Statistics Sweden, Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia and the Czech Statistical Office a 27 months EU Twinning project in Egypt at the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). statistical policies and legislation, human resources and organisation, statistical awareness and dissemination, IT-functions, national accounts, foreign trade statistics, consumer and producer price indices, statistical business register.

Examples of Twinning projects (2) Lebanon-Ireland: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) provided expertise on different matters to the Central Adminsitration for Statistics of Lebanon: National accounts, foreign trade statistics, Social statistics publications, statistical business register.

What isTAIEX? Aims at supporting beneficiary countries, in understanding, transposing, implementing and applying EU policies, legislation, rules Centrally managed (in Brussels) short-term technical assistance It provides complementary services to other assistance instruments of the European Commission European Commission, DG Enlargement's Institution Building Unit and Eurostat

Who are the beneficiary groups for TAIEX? Central Governments, Ministries, Government bodies such as statistical offices National Parliaments Judiciary Social Partners Community representatives But NOT private bodies or persons

What are the forms of TAIEX assistance? Seminars/Workshops (1-3 days) Expert Missions Mobilised experts are almost exclusively Member States’ public-sector officials (from public service to public service) Officials of the European Commission and other EU Institutions tend also to be involved Study Visits 3 persons / 3 days Interpretation may be provided European Commission, DG Enlargement's Institution Building Unit and Eurostat

Procedures Demand driven Request preferably by e-mail and by filling out the form on the web completely http://taiex.ec.europa.eu All applications are submitted for opinion to the EC (Eurostat and EU Delegations) and managed at the national level by centralised TAIEX correspondents DG Enlargement, managing the TAIEX instrument, takes the final decision Once the application is approved, a minimum of 4-6 weeks for the dispatching of an expert and about 8 weeks for the organisation of a seminar You can speed up the organisation process considerably by identifying study visit hosts

De-centralized funding by EU Delegations EU Delegations manage national projects on a bilateral basis or using ENP funds Example: use of SAAP (Support to the Association Agreement to finance the national implementation in Egypt and Jordan of the regional migration survey (MED-HIMS) New European Neighbourhood Policy: “More for More approach”: support to commitment to reforms

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