1. Council of Europe Eastern Partnership Facility 16 May 2013, Brussels

2. Purpose of the presentation The purpose of this presentation is to provide Platform 1 with updated information on the implementation of the Council of Europe Facility (budget € 4M) and its thematic components.

3. CoE Facility main objective To provide support to EaP countries to enhance their domestic reform processes and bring them closer to the Council of Europe and EU standards in core areas:

4. CoE Facility implementation methodology The Council of Europe is a permanent partner in the European Union’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) initiative and contributes to the activities of the EaP Platform 1 “Democracy, Good Governance and Stability” The CoE Facility aims to reinforce synergy and complementarity with the activities organised by the EU under EaP and promote and strengthen co-operation at regional level The country-specific activities are complementary to the regional actions. The activities in the thematic areas: the reform of judiciary and the fight against corruption are carried out in close co-operation with EU EaP Panels “Judiciary” and “Fight against corruption”

5. Activities implemented under CoE Facility ComponentsMarch 2011- March 2012 March 2012- March 2013 Total (as of March 2011) Elections10919 Judiciary7815 Corruption92029 Cybercrime91625 Transversal358 Total385896

6. CoE Facility output Elaboration of “National Policies” in the field of fight against corruption. Development of the “Manual on economic crime” Development of the new legislation in the field of judiciary; Publication, “Efficient judicial system” Elaboration of the cybercrime strategies, ratification of the CoE Conventions (Convention on the Protection of Children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (Moldova), drafting legislative amendments (Armenia and Azerbaijan) Translation and dissemination of the “Domestic Observation Handbook”; reinforced capacity of the electoral commissions

7. CoE Facility achievements Revise the national legal framework and draft new legislation in line the CoE standards Reinforce institutional capacity of national partnersDevelop co-operation mechanism at national and regional levelPromote the best practice at national and regional levelInvolve civil society in decision-making process and reinforce NGO network

8. Objectives of the Project «Elections» To improve the quality of the organisation of elections To strengthen the capacities of NGOs involved in national observation of elections To create a network aimed at promoting voter participation and a critical attitude towards electoral campaigns and the whole electoral process

9. Thematic areas of the project «Elections» Pre-electoral assistance Reinforcement of capacity of the local observers Encouragement of women’s participation in political and public life Raised awareness of young voters

10. Project «Elections» contributed to : Improvement of the quality of the organisation of elections Reinforcement of the role of the CECs and the electoral administration as a whole Strengthening of the capacities of NGOs involved in national observation Creation of a network aimed at promoting voter participation

11. Project «Fight against cybercime» Strengthening the capacities of criminal justice authorities Effective co-operation against cybercrime in line with European and international instruments and practices

12. Project «Fight against cybercime» output Definition of cybercrime strategic priorities Development of tools for action against cybercrime Definition of legislative gap and improved legislation Main obstacles addressed for effective investigation Increased efficiency of international co-operation (24/7 points) Investigation of criminal offences related to computer system

13. Examples of implemented activities

14. A Handbook on “Design and implementing anticorruption policies”, prepared under the project “Fight against corruption”

15. Publications : The Report “Judicial self-governing bodies. Judges’ Career” The report provides an overview of the state of implementation in the participating countries of the European standards on an independent judiciary.

16. National Co-ordinators CoE Secretariat provides the national coordinators with relevant information on Facility implementation National co- ordinators are focal points for the Facility’s implementation Feedback from the national co-ordinators and national partners involved in the Facility Facility Steering Committee meetings take main decisions

17. Challenges Participation of all EaP countries in all CoE Facility projects remains a challenge (Belarus participates only in 2 thematic projects, the “Fight against corruption” and “ Fight against cybercrime) Regional networking and peer-to-peer approach of Facility activities should be further reinforced Permanent dialogue with all national co-ordinators could be further improved

18. Civil Society involvement Civil society representatives are involved in as many activities as possible under the Facility thematic projects Representatives of the EaP Civil Society Forum are regularly invited to exchange views with members of the CoE Facility Steering Committee

19. Co-ordination with international partners EU headquarters (EEAS,DEVCO, thematic DGs) OSCE, UNDP, USAID, SIDA, CIDA, DANIDA and others international stakeholders EU Delegations in EaP countries

20. CoE Facility web site www.eap-facility-eu.coe.int

21. Office of Directorate General of Programmes Council of Europe F- 67075 Strasbourg France