Regional cooperation

Regional Cooperation builds bridges between the EU and its Eastern Partners through the funding of multi-country programmes and projects that contribute towards creating an area of peace, security and shared prosperity.

EuropeAid

AimsRegional Cooperation contributes to:

Reinforce regional integration

Promote the sharing of experiences and the transfer of expertise

Set and promote best practice

De� ne common thematic strategies and action plans

Carry out together concrete projects

Create networks of people and organisations

Reinforce capacities of national and local authorities

Advance the strengthening of civil society

European Neighbourood Partnership Instrument

Realised by the regional Information and Com

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With the support of the EN

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Since the EU’s enlargement in 2004 and 2007 an ever deeper

relationship is being built between the Union and the countries on its Eastern borders, within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The aim of the ENP is to bring these neighbours closer to the EU and support their eff orts for economic, social and political reform. The ENP has been developed with the objective of avoiding the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbours, and instead strengthening the prosperity, stability and security of partners and the EU. It is the fi rst single EU policy embracing its Eastern neighbours.

All Eastern Partners, and Russia, are benefi ciaries of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), the fi nancial tool that turns decisions taken on a political level into actions on the ground.

graphic design Studio Scibilia printed by Grafi che Veneziane – Venice, Italy

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Regional cooperationChallenges faced by the countries of the region, such as developing transnational corridors, the management of cross-border rivers and basins, and the fi ght against terrorism and transnational organised crime, have an inherent cross-border character and can be better tackled through a cooperative eff ort at regional level. Thus, the EU funds regional cooperation. The choice of regional projects refl ects the defi ned priority areas, which are: Transport; Energy; Sustainable management of natural resources; Border and migration management, the fi ght against transnational organized crime and customs; People-to-people activities; Landmines, explosive remnants of war, small arms and light weapons.

Regional cooperation has a strategic impact, as it deals with issues that diff erent Eastern Partners have in common. The Regional Programmes function as a forum for dialogue, bringing people from the Partner Countries to the same table, despite sometimes obvious diff erences, helping them to engage in discussion, and exchange views and experiences.

The EU seeks to support regional cooperation with its Eastern neighbours and between them, and helps them to deal with common challenges through a number of major policy initiatives. The latest, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) launched in spring 2009, foresees stronger political engagement of the Partner Countries with the EU. The EaP seeks to bolster political and socio-economic reforms in the Partner Countries, facilitating their approximation and convergence towards the EU.

Major donorThe EU is the region’s major donor, with the European Commission providing the lion’s share of its regional support through its EuropeAid Co-operation Offi ce. For the period 2007-2013, the EU Partnership with the Eastern neighbours is being fi nanced through the ENPI, for which a total amount of €12 billion is foreseen, of which approximately 10 percent is allocated for regional projects.The ENP allows every country to articulate its own ambitions in dialogue with the EU. Some want to work towards free trade. Others have diff erent ambitions, for example to work together on infrastructure, environmental or energy related issues, create closer cultural relations or chose to stimulate the exchange of students, journalists or other professionals.The European Union is committed to taking this cooperation further through its Regional Programmes and by providing the platform for continuous dialogue.

European CommissionEuropeAid Cooperation O� ceCentralised operations for Europe, the Mediterranean and Middle East, B-1049 Brusselshttp://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/regional-cooperation/enpi-east/index_en.htm

Decem

ber 2010

Financial Instruments and Tools Multi-Country Cooperation and Thematic programmes are other funding channels designed as part of the EU’s e� ort to support change in the Neighbourhood Partnership countries.

Interregional ENPI Programmes

E Cross Border Cooperation (CBC)

E Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF)

E Support for the Improvement in Governance and Management (SIGMA)

E Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX)

E Twinning

E Erasmus Mundus II and Tempus IV

E Cooperation in Urban Development and Dialogue (CIUDAD)

Other funding Instruments available for neighbouring countries

E European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)

E Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

E Food Security

E Investing in People

E Instrument for Nuclear Safety and Cooperation (INSC)

E Instrument for Stability (IfS)

E Migration and Asylum

E Non-State Actors (NSA)

E Local Authorities in Development

Find out more www.enpi-info.eu/main.php?id=309&id_type=9&lang_id=450

ENP countriesAlgeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine.

“If we look back to these years of cooperation and what we have achieved, I think we have good reasons to be proud. Despite certain obstacles and setbacks, we have built up over the years a robust partnership, I should even say a friendship that is built on mutual trust, frankness and our willingness to discuss all issues, however di� cult and sensitive. Cooperation is, indeed, a win-win process for the EU and our partners. ” Štefan Füle, Commissioner for

Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy

Political DialoguePolitical DialogueEconomy

Media

SecuritySecurityTelecommunication

Education

Civil societyTrainingTransport

YouthEnvironment Environment

Culture

Audiovisual

Culture

Political DialogueYouth

Civil society

Environment

Security

EconomyEconomy

EconomyCivil societyCivil societyTrainingTransportSecuritySecurity Civil society Training Civil societyTransportTransport Civil societyCivil society TransportTransportCivil society TransportTransportTransportTransport

Political DialoguePolitical Dialogue

SecuritySecurityTelecommunicationTelecommunication

Political DialoguePolitical Dialogue

SecuritySecurityTelecommunication

Regional Programmes Funded

EconomyAudiovisual

EconomyAudiovisual

TelecommunicationEducation

Civil societyTelecommunication

Education

Civil society

Youth Security

Culture

Training

Audiovisual

Culture

Political DialogueSecurity

TrainingTraining

Culture

Political Dialogue

Environment

Political Dialogue

Environment

Political Dialogue

Environment

Economy

East-Invest - Support to the SME sector BUDGET €7 million TIMEFRAME 2010-2013 WEBSITE www.enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=315&id_type=10

Why Regional Cooperation

E encourage cooperation among Eastern Neighbours

E empower citizens

E fi nance activities with no frontiers

E defi ne common priorities

E solve cross border issues

E transfer knowledge

E harmonise and coordinate activities

E support change and modernisation

Political DialogueTelecommunication

YouthEnvironment

Political DialogueTelecommunication

YouthEnvironment

The Financial Instrument Since 2007, the regional programmes and projects are being funded by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), which has replaced TACIS that was operational from 1991 to 2006. The overall amount allocated to the ENPI for the period 2007-2013 is €12 billion, of which €223 million was earmarked for the East until 2010. For the period 2010-13, a total of €348.57 million has been allocated to the Regional East Programme.

How to get involved

To participate in funded projects, look out and apply for the calls for proposals, announced on the EuropeAid website:

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

About a month before a new call is launched, there is a Forecast so that participants have time to prepare. The European Commission and Delegations often organise Information Days on the various calls.

Who bene� ts

Regional Cooperation invests in people who come together to share knowledge and experiences, learn through training, create networks and build on best practices. Government offi cials and bodies, NGOs, municipalities, professionals and hundreds of others who participate in the funded projects benefi t directly. But there is a broader long-term impact on the public at large, as citizens are the fi nal benefi ciaries of any political, economic and social change brought about through this Partnership.

Partnership and DialogueRegional Cooperation off ers a unique opportunity for people from the Partner Countries to sit around the same table and engage in a dialogue, even in diffi cult times or on sensitive issues, like safeguarding human rights.

Through this exchange, people learn to work together, experiences are shared, partnerships formed, relationships built and networks created. The partners carry out common activities, while civil society organisations and stakeholders are often involved, giving them a say.

Investing in PeopleMuch of the work done by the projects revolves around training, seminars and workshops that build on people’s knowledge and capabilities – this ranges from the training of border guards (EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine - EUBAM) or journalists (European Neighbourhood Journalism Network) and support to contemporary artists (Eastern Partnership Culture Programme), to strengthening the knowledge of experts in urban development (CIUDAD).

Some projects, like Aviation safety and Motorways of the Sea, may mainly involve offi cials on the government level, but the citizens are the ones who will benefi t from their outcomes as they promote security and economic growth. The same concept applies to East-Invest, which promotes investment and supports SMEs.

Energy Projects under INOGATE programme WEBSITE www.inogate.org

Strengthening of the INOGATE Technical Secretariat in support of the Baku Initiative BUDGET €2.9 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2012

Capacity Building for Energy Regulators in Eastern Europe and Central Asia BUDGET €0.83 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2011

Energy e� ciency investments in Ukraine & Moldova BUDGET €9.5 million TIMEFRAME 2006-2011

Energy saving in the building sector in Eastern Europe and Central Asia BUDGET €5 million TIMEFRAME 2010-2014

Harmonisation of electricity standards BUDGET €1.5 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2011

Harmonisation of gas and oil technical standards and practices in Eastern Europe and Caucasus BUDGET €2.9 million TIMEFRAME 2007-2010

Pre-investment project for the Trans-Caspian-Black Sea Gas Corridor BUDGET €5 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2012

Support to energy market integration and sustainable energy, SEMISE BUDGET €5.7 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2012

Supporting participation of Eastern Partnership and Central Asian Cities in the Covenant of Mayors BUDGET €5 million TIMEFRAME 2011-2014 WEBSITE www.eumayors.eu

Transport Projects under TRACECA programme WEBSITE www.traceca-programme.eu

Civil aviation safety and security BUDGET €5 million TIMEFRAME 2008-2011

International Logistical Centres BUDGET €3.5 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2011

Land transport safety and security BUDGET € 3 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2011

Maritime safety – Black Sea and Caspian Sea BUDGET €3.5 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2011

Motorways of the Seas - Black Sea and Caspian Sea BUDGET €2.5 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2011

Strengthening of transport training capacity BUDGET €2 million TIMEFRAME 2008-2010

Transport dialogue and networks interoperability BUDGET €6.6 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2012

Environment

Air Quality Governance in the ENPI East Countries (AIR-Q-GO Project) BUDGET €7 million TIMEFRAME 2011-2015

Civil Protection (PPRD East) BUDGET €6 million TIMEFRAME 2010-2013 WEBSITE www.enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=211&id_type=10

Co-investment funding in the � eld of water and sanitation BUDGET €10 million TIMEFRAME 2006-2010 WEBSITE www.enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=275&id_type=10

Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) BUDGET €6 million TIMEFRAME 2008-2011 WEBSITE www.enpi-fl eg.org

Support to Kyoto Protocol Implementation, SKPI BUDGET €5 million TIMEFRAME 2008-2011 WEBSITE www.inogate.org

Transboundary river management for the Kura River – Phase II BUDGET €5, 2 million TIMEFRAME 2008-2011 WEBSITE www.kuraarasbasin.net

Border Management EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) BUDGET €12 million plus in-kind contribution from Member States (seconded experts) TIMEFRAME 2009-2011 WEBSITE www.eubam.org

Support to Integrated Border Management Systems in the South Caucasus (SCIBM) BUDGET €6 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2012 WEBSITE www.undp.am/?page=DemocraticGovernance

Social and Human Dimension CIUDAD – Sustainable Urban Development BUDGET €14 million TIMEFRAME 2009-2013 WEBSITE www.ciudad-programme.eu/index.php

Eastern Partnership Culture Programme – Parts I and II BUDGET €12 million TIMEFRAME 2010-2013 WEBSITE www.enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=286&id_type=10

Erasmus Mundus II – Action 2 Partnerships BUDGET €29 million (East and South) TIMEFRAME 2009-2010 WEBSITE http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/extcoop/call/index.htm

Tempus IV - Higher Education BUDGET approx € 35-39 million per year (East and South) TIMEFRAME 2008-2013 WEBSITE http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/tempus/index_en.php

Regional Information & Communication Programme BUDGET €19 million TIMEFRAME 2008-2011 WEBSITE http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/index_en.htm

In Practice

E Reform of forestry law and practice

E Sustainable urban development

E Judicial reform

E City to city partnerships

E Culture

E Increased investment

E Solid waste management

E Maritime and aviation safety and security

E Confl ict resolution

E Harmonizing policies and legislation