1. 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

2. 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: million € (constant prices) (to be modified according to the agreement on Financial Perspectives)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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