The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance An overview Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones Counsellor, Head of the Economic and European Integration Section Delegation of the European Commission 07 December 2005

The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance An integrated Pre-Accession Instrument to assist candidate (Croatia, Turkey) and potential candidate (Western Balkan) countries Replaces the current pre-accession instruments (Phare, ISPA, SAPARD and Turkey pre-accession instruments) as well as the CARDS instrument Financial envelope (2007–13) proposed by the Commission: 12 919 million € (constant prices) (to be modified according to the agreement on Financial Perspectives)

Specificities of pre-accession aid Accession and pre-accession driven instrument (European and Accession Partnerships, Regular Reports, etc.) Medium term perspective Bridging function for accession

Aims of IPA Potential candidates: support for participation in the Stabilisation and Association process all the way to their future accession Candidate countries: full pre-accession support to help countries to: Adopt and implement the acquis Implement EU funds on accession

Structure of the IPA Five components: Transition Assistance and Institution Building (I) Regional and Cross-Border Co-operation (II) Regional Development (III) Human Resources Development (IV) Rural Development (V)

Transition Assistance and Institution Building Applies to both categories of countries: Transition assistance for potential Candidate Countries (Western Balkans) Institution building for both potential Candidate and Candidate Countries

Regional and Cross-Border Co-operation Applies to both categories of countries: Regional co-operation among all Western Balkan countries (multi-country programme) CBC at borders with the EU and, as appropriate, at borders between candidate/potential candidates. Participation in trans-national and inter- regional co-operation, as appropriate

Regional Development Emulates ERDF and Cohesion Fund approach Applies to Candidate Countries which operate on a decentralised management basis only Emulates ERDF and Cohesion Fund approach Finance investments and technical assistance Preparation for Structural and Cohesion Funds ERDF: European Regional Development Fund

Human Resources Development Applies to Candidate Countries which operate on a decentralised management basis only Emulates ESF approach Finance ESF-type measures, as provided for in the ESF Regulation Preparation for Structural Funds ESF : European Social Fund

Rural Development Applies to Candidate Countries which operate on an extended decentralised management basis only Emulates the post-accession Rural Development programmes Finance Rural Development-type measures, as provided for in the future EAFRD Regulation Preparation for Rural Development Fund EAFRD: European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

Implementing Regulation A single Implementing regulation, aiming at harmonising implementing rules between components, whenever this is more efficient and/or effective Components may apply different implementing methods where this is justified by the need to anticipate the Structural, Cohesion and Rural Development Funds implementing modalities and institutional framework Detailed implementing rules currently prepared by the Commission

General policy and programming framework Political and Financial Framework : Multi- annual Indicative Financial Framework (MIFF), per country and per component, 3 years rolling forward, included in enlargement package. Strategic programming: Multi-annual Indicative Planning Documents (MIPD), per country and for all components, following the logic of the MIFF. Specific programming by country and by component

Conclusions For the Commission, building on lessons learned: more coherence and co-ordination in Assistance under IPA for all beneficiary countries For candidates, better preparation for Structural, Cohesion and Rural development Funds through progressive emulation of EU funds rules For the beneficiary country get started as soon as possible to prepare the necessary structures and programming documents