1. Introduction to Eastern Partnership Territorial Cooperation Programmes 5-6 November Tbilisi, Georgia

2. Contents 1.EU External Initiatives in EaP region a)Bilateral track b)Multilateral initiatives and programmes 2.Eastern Partnership Territorial Cooperation: a)Legal basis, geographical coverage, funds b)Programming – Joint Operational Programmes c)Programme implementation d)Roles of EaPTC Support Programme and Managing Authority e)Current status programme by programme 3.Q&A session; General discussion

3. EU External Initiatives in EaP region: An Overview

4. EaP Objectives and Principles Objectives  Political association  Economic integration and convergence with EU policies/legislation  Strengthened sector-specific cooperation (notably energy security)  Mobility and people-to-people contacts Principles  Democracy and rule of law  Respect for human rights and freedoms  Commitment to market economy

5. EU Approach to Eastern Partners

6. Status Association Agreements as of 5.11.2014 Armenia negotiations discontinued Sep 2013 Azerbaijan negotiating only AA Belarus no negotiations Georgiasigned 2014, provisional application since 01.09.2014 Moldova signed 2014, provisional application since 01.09.2014 Ukraine signed 2014, provisional application since 01.11.2014

7. EaP value added Alignment with basic political and societal principles Better access to markets Wider cooperation on security issues More intensive dialogue on specific issues Easier travel Broader stakeholders involvement (civil society, EURONEST, EaP Business Forum, CORLEAP)

8. ENI CBC 2014-2020 Aim: reduce in-country disparities through cooperation on local issues with neighbours Memo: 53 programmes across EU borders (structural funds for European territorial cooperation) Altogether 12 programmes along the Eastern land border of the EU + 1 sea-crossing + 4 sea basins Budget ENI CBC 2014-20 €1.2bn (ENI+ERDF) Programming document (Annex to EC implementing decision of 08.10.2014: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/decision- programming-cbc-2014-7172-annex_en.pdf

9. Introduction to EaPTC Programme(s)

10. EaP TC is an EU action from the ENPI Regional Programme Strategy East 2010-13 Commission Implementing Decision C(2013) 8293 adopted on 22.11.2013 Indirect centralised management with GIZ (Delegation agreement of 16.12.2013) Strategy for EaPTC Programmes adopted upon country consultations on 15.04.2014 (priorities, eligible regions, target groups, financial framework, management provisions etc.)

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

12. Financial framework Total programme budget (for four programmes and administration) – Euro 12,5 million (only EU contribution) 10% co-financing by grant beneficiaries Project size (indicative): Min – 20 000 EUR Max – 250 000 EUR

13. EaPTC Programmes’ budget allocation (million EUR) Belarus – Ukraine3.30 Moldova – Ukraine 3.30 Armenia – Georgia1.35 Azerbaijan – Georgia1.35 Total 9.30

14. Steps leading to the CfP launch EaPTC Strategy undergone country consultations and accepted Joint operational programmes (JOP) drafted, undergone public & internal consultations, accepted by countries, agreed with EU JDMCs established, RoP and JOP approved Countries and EC exchange formal letters on acceptance of the action (i.e. TC) based on JOP Managing authority agrees GfA with the EC Final green light from the EC

15. TC programmes: current status Armenia-Georgia: – JDMC established and JOP approved on 20.06.2014 – CfP launched on 04.11.2014 Azerbaijan-Georgia: – JDMC established and JOP approved on 31.10.2014 Moldova-Ukraine: – JDMC established and JOP approved on 6.10.2014 Belarus-Ukraine: – JOP approval expected on 27.11.2014

16. EaP TC Joint Operational Programmes

17. JOP Structure 1.Introduction – background 2.Strategic analysis of programme regions (description + findings in SWOT format) 3.Programme rationale 4.Programme objectives, priorities and examples of actions 5.Indicators of achievement 6.Programme management 7.Programme implementation (eligible projects, eligible beneficiaries, contracting &implementation procedures, eligible expenditures and level of support) 8.Annexes

18. Analysis of programme regions National statistics – regional data Field research, interviews with officials and experts in both countries, Review of regional development strategies and plans; Findings at EaPTC support programme capacity building events

19. JOP AZ-GE – SWOT findings (1): (S) Favourable climatic conditions for development of efficient agriculture and ecological production (S) Favourable geographical location for transit routes between the capital cities of Azerbaijan and Georgia (W) Strong dependence on agricultural sector, the efficiency of which is relatively low (W) Regional economies are dependent on low-skilled labour limiting creation of higher value added (W) Under-developed small-medium business and services sector in general

20. JOP AZ-GE – SWOT findings (2): (O) Continuing friendly political and economic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Georgia (O) Economic boom in Azerbaijan offers possibilities by spill-over effects on the both sides of the border (O) Rising number of tourists to the Caucasus region at large (T) Divergent income levels in the regions (within economic activities; rural and urban areas) (T) Diverging trade policies (T) Diverging regional governance structures hampering direct regional cooperation within the programme area

21. Operational objectives: issues of local / regional development I.Improving the living conditions of local communities in the border regions through joint projects supporting economic and social development II.Addressing common challenges in the fields of environment, employment, public health and any other field of common interest having a cross border dimension III.Culture, education and sports

22. JOP AZ-GE: Priorities Operational objective 1 (living conditions) - Development of cross-border synergies agriculture and related economic sectors - Building up cross-border tourism potential Operational objective 2 (common challenges) – Solving cross-border environment problems and enhancing emergency preparedness Operational objective 3 (culture, education, sports) – Enhancing social inclusion measures – Develop links between youth in the bordering regions

23. AZ-GE: Examples of actions (projects) Agriculture – Business information services (centres) for agrarian producers (incl. customs rules and practice) – Trainings for stronger exporting competence – Irrigation systems with cross-border synergies Tourism potential – Creating joint cross-border touristic routes Environment and emergency preparedness – Joint monitoring of industrial zones that may cause serious environmental damage with trans-bordering impact on air, water, soil or groundwater pollution – Addressing Alazani river contamination

24. AZ-GE: Examples of actions (2) Social inclusion – Cooperation actions between regional and local authorities and CSO on community services, gender issues – Studies, trainings and advocacy measures on social inclusion – Regional media partnerships Youth – Cooperation actions between youth organisations in education, culture and sports – Fostering multi-cultural diversity and tolerance

25. Indicators of achievement AspectMeasured by indicatorBaselineTarget The increased level of structured and institutionalised contacts between local authorities of the bordering regions Number of applications received in response to call for proposals 034 Number of organisations involved in the applications 085 The number of joint projects implemented across the borders Number of grant contracts signed016 Number of projects completed016 The increased intensity of cross border contacts between the local communities Number of joint cross-border events implemented within the projects n/a48

26. EaPTC management: institutional framework Joint Decision Making Committee (JDMC) Territorial Cooperation Managing Authority (MA)

27. JDMC main functions Defines priorities of each programme with the assistance of the EaPTC Support Programme and approves the joint operational programme; Decides on the optimal allocation of the programme resources by priorities; Renders advice to the Managing Authority on the project selection criteria and the guidelines for applicants; In coordination with the Managing Authority, selects projects to be financed by the territorial cooperation programme, which will have to be confirmed by the EU Monitors progress towards the objectives of the programme by reviewing the reports submitted by the Managing Authority

28. AZ-GE: JDMC composition AzerbaijanGeorgia 1.Ministry of Economy and Industry 2.Ministry of Foreign Affairs 3.Ministry of Culture and Tourism 4.State Customs Committee 5.State Border Service 6.Ministry of Education 7.Council on State Support to NGOs under the Auspices of the President of Azerbaijan 8.Ministry of Labour and Social Protection 1.Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure 2.Office of the State Minister of Georgia for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration 3.Ministry of Foreign Affairs 4.Office of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality 5.Department of Relations with Regions and Bodies of Local Self-Governance, State Chancellery of Georgia 6.Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum National Platform 7.Governor’s Office Kakheti 8.Governor’s Office Kvemo Kartli Observers European Commission represented by EU Delegations in countries GIZ as Managing Authority Eastern Partnership Territorial Cooperation Support Programme

29. Functions of Managing Authority Prepare and announce calls for proposals; Collect and register project applications; Organise project selection; Sign grant contracts and make payments; Supervise the operational and financial implementation of projects; Report to the EC on the financial and operational implementation of projects

30. Eligibility of beneficiaries (AZ-GE) AzerbaijanGeorgia Public bodies: Executive Committees Municipalities Public equivalent bodies: State foundation out-of-budget Associations of municipalities Budget foundations with the aim Non-government and non-profit organisations: Non-commercial legal entities Any other legal form complying with EU Directive 2004/18/EC Public bodies: Municipalities and associations of municipalities Public equivalent bodies: Legal entities of public law (LEPL) Non-government and non-profit organisations: Non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entities Any other legal form complying with EU Directive 2004/18/EC

31. Implementation – key issues Projects duration: 9-18 months End of projects: 31.12.2016 Non-profit rule Eligibility check: MA Quality assessment: external assessors Selection results reported to JDMC Final endorsement: EC 10 per cent co-financing

32. AZ-GE: Financial allocations EU financing Co- financing (countries) Other donors Co- financing (project partners) Total funding Per cent thsd EURO Operational objective I: Improving living conditions 40540.0 0065.0600.0 Operational objective II: Addressing common challenges 30405.0 0045.0450.0 Operational objective III: Culture, education and sports 30405.0 0045.0450.0 Total 100 1,350.000150.01,500.0

33. Activities by EaPTC Support Programme: Capacity Building Awareness Raising and Advocacy Communication

34. 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

35. Advocacy Activities Stakeholder Mapping Meeting with Donors/National and Local Authorities/Beneficiaries List of Complimentary Resources Collection of Best Practices of Territorial Cooperation Programmes Public Consultations on JOPs Guides to National Legislations

36. Communication Activities Newsletters Media briefings for local media Regional conference Launching conference Information multipliers Social media presence:  https://www.facebook.com/eaptc.eu https://www.facebook.com/eaptc.eu  https://twitter.com/EaP_TC https://twitter.com/EaP_TC  http://www.linkedin.com/groups/EaPTC-5109143 http://www.linkedin.com/groups/EaPTC-5109143

38. 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. (+99579) 0 36 90 73 name.surname@eaptc.eu

39. Questions / Answers