Pre-accession funds and how to access them,...

1. Pre-accession funds and how to access them,... Ptuj, july 2008

2. EU structural policy objectives • Structural policy is oriented towards social, economic and cultural development of European Union and all it’s member states. The goal of structural policy is also reduction of disparities. • Structural policy reflects Union’s solidarity and objectives to improve competitive position of all the countries.

3. Structual policy programmes • European Regional Development Fund • European Social Fund • European Cohesion Fund • Rural Development Programme

4. Pre-AccessionAssistance • is provided to beneficiary countries to assimilate and implement reforms and to attain basic infrastructure • Fullfilment of requirements before becoming a Member State in EU

5. Structural policy and Pre-Accession Assistance functioning

6. Structural policy and Pre-Accession Assistance functioning

7. Pre-Accession Assistance Funds to date • CARDS • INTERREG III • PHARE • ISPA • SAPARD

8. PHAREPologne et Hngrie – Aide a Restructuration Economique PHARE – realisation of required reforms to assist the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe in their preparations for joining the European Union, preparation for further consumptions of EU structural funds after becoming a Member country. • What? one of the three pre-accession instruments financed by the European Union to assist the applicant countries. • Why? assisting the applicant countries in their preparations for joining the European Union. • When? Open until 2006 PHARE programme objectives : • To strengthen public administrations and institutions to function effectively inside the European Union. • Promote convergence with the European Union’s extensive legislation and reduce the need for transition periods. • Promote Economic and Social Cohesion. • Preparation for further accessto EU structural funds after becoming a Member country.

9. PHARE – documents and beneficiaries Institutions development (European partnership, National programme for acession to EU) Central government Regional and local autonomy, NVOs, SME’s Investments in economic and social cohesion (European partnership, Regional operational plan, National development plan) Central government Investments in acquis (European partnership, National programme for acession to EU)

10. PHARE- priorities • Minimum 30% of funds – technical help for strengthening country's administration and institutions which can function in EU frames • Maximum 70% of funds • Improving regulation’s frame for implementing acquis • Acceleration of economic and social cohesion

11. CARDS (2000-2006) • Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation • Designed for south-eastern European countries Types of expenditure: • Technical assistance • Investments • Allocation of un-refundable means Collaborating areas: • Democratic stabilisation, • Economic and social development, • Judicial and internal affairs, • Strengthening of administration abilities, • Protecting environment and natural resources, • Preparation of infrastructural strategies.

12. ISPA Instrument for structural policies for Accession • Financial instrument for investment projects in environmental protection and transport area (in 50:50% ratio) • Preparation for EU Cohesions fund. • Co-funding of EU investment projects up to 75 % (in some cases 85%) in minimal value of 5 mio euro. • Co-funding projects in 25% from national governments.

13. SAPARD • Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development • Financial help for agriculture (using acquis which determines Common agricultural policy) and rural development • Preparation for implementation of EU agricultural and fisheries guidance funds (EAGGF - European Agriculture Guarantees and Guidance Fund, FIFG- Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) • Local autonomy projects – co-funding of projects up to 75 % from EU funds and public investments for separate measures (rural infrastructures) up to 100 %.

14. Pre-Accession Assistance Funds in future In final stages Basically open Prepared • - CARDS • (2001-2004) • TEMPUS • (2002-2004) • INTERREG • ISPA • (2005-2007) • PHARE • (2006-2007) • SAPARD • (2006-2007) • IPA • (2007 – 2013) • IPARD • (2007-2013) • EU Programmes • (2007-2013) Communityprogrammes

15. IPA and IPARD • IPA and IPARD priorities are similar for all countries • Negotiations between a specific country and Comission determines specific national priorities based on the accession agenda and the country’s needs. • On the national level individual priorities are implemented (in cooperation with EU Comission delegation in the country).

16. Central programmes • These are all the other programmes which can be accessedby the Member states and candidate countries • For example: 7 framework programme, Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus, Life+. • There are at least 100 different tenders within different programmes open at any time.

17. Europeanprogrammes • Ways of implementing common programmes are very different. • Tenders are always posted on European Commissions web pages. • Applications must be sent directly to address given in public tender, • Applications are competing with all other received applications.

18. Conclusions • There are several possibilities to fund your project • Ready to go project is the first step in funding • The projects will compete among each other