Multi-country– financial assistance under IPA II: Selected IPA 2014-2020 Action Programmes

The multi-country programme helps meet the targets identified in the Country Strategy Papers, albeit through different means. In line with the Multi-country Indicative Strategy Paper 2014-20 , the programme provides assistance through 4 multi-country channels that provide a viable complement to national assistance: a) horizontal support; b) regional structures and networks; c) regional investment support; d) territorial cooperation.

Selected programmes attached below are related to:

Technology Transfer capacity building in the Western Balkans
Western Balkans Youth Window under Erasmus+
Statistics
Improving economic governance and competitiveness
Regional School of public administration

Further programme documents are available at the DG NEAR website: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/instruments/multi-beneficiary-programme/index_en.htm

Background

A) Horizontal support

Technical assistance, information and training for authorities in IPA II beneficiaries, through the TAIEX instrument and in the form of twinning.

This makes available the know-how of EU and international organisations and best practices, including for evidence-based policy making (statistical cooperation), thereby helping improve the formulation and implementation of national sector policies and the related reform strategies. And it provides support across the region to strengthen civil society and ensure free and independent media, as well as building capacity and promoting mobility in higher education and for young people, by contributing to the Erasmus+ Programme.

B) Regional structures & networks

Promotes regional cooperation, networking and sharing of best practice to help IPA II beneficiaries prepare for EU membership, align their national legislation with EU law (acquis) and gradually adapt to EU standards and practices.

Support in this strand will target initiatives like:

C) Regional investment support

Targeting projects with a clear regional dimension that help socio-economic development in more than one IPA II beneficiary and address in particular investment needs related to:

competitiveness of business
connectivity between beneficiaries and EU countries
environmental protection & climate change mitigation/adaptation.

The main instruments providing such support are:

D) Territorial cooperation

Promoting good neighbourly relations between, and local development in, border regions – through cross-border programmes within the region and countries already in the EU, as well as transnational cooperation programmes and related macro-regional programmes (EU strategies for the Danube region and for the Adriatic-Ionian region).

How will these priorities be implemented? (general background on IPA)