Albania The European Union and the Western Balkans Croatia former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia...

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Albania

The European Union and the Western Balkans

Croatia

former Yugoslav Republic of

Macedonia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Serbia andMontenegro

The European Union

> 494 million citizens from May 2004*

> 25 Member States from May 2004

> GDP of € 8,524.38 million*

> Single currency, the euro, since 2002 for 12 members

> Committed to closer political and economic integration

*Eurostat 2002

The EU in the Western Balkans

Recognising the importance of the Western Balkans the EU has:

> Promoted stability in the region through its assistance programmes

> Supported democracy through political dialogue

> Launched in 1999 the Stabilisation and Association process (SAp)

Stabilisation and Association process (SAp)

The SAp is the framework policy of

the EU in the region serving to:

>Promote European values and principals

>Act as an anchor for reforms

>Open the way for eventual membership of the EU

SAp objectives

The SAp aims to:

>Bring peace and stability to region

>Promote stable democratic institutions

>Ensure rule of law prevails

>Develop and sustain prosperous, open economies

SAp instruments

The process has three main instruments

for support:

>Trade

>Stabilisation and association agreements

>Financial assistance

>EU is the largest trade partner for region

>EU will account for over 70% of total trade*

>Most goods now enter EU duty free

>Regional network of free trade agreements in place

*Post Enlargement

Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA)

SAA is a formal agreement providing a framework for:

>Closer political dialogue

>Establishment of free trade area

>Enhanced regional cooperation

>Harmonisation of legislation

Financial Assistance

>€ 4, 65 billion has been allocated to the CARDS programme for 2000-2006

>Assistance to the region since 1991 totals more than € 6 billion

Financial Assistance II

Country 2000-2004 (€ m)

Albania...................................................€ 214.2

Bosnia and Herzegovina.......................€ 395.4

Croatia...................................................€ 267.3

fYR Macedonia......................................€ 239.5

Serbia and Montenegro....€ 1,105.5 (+ € 832.4*)

Regional programmes..............................€ 80

*Kosovo

What is CARDS?

> CARDS - European Union’s assistance programme to the region

> Adopted by Council Regulation 2666/2000

> Rationalised most assistance under one programme (Obnova, Phare)

> Underpins Stabilisation and Association process

CARDS objectives

> Reconstruction and democratic stabilisation

> Institutional and legislative development, including harmonisation with EU norms

> Sustainable economic and social development

> Promotion of closer relations and regional cooperation

CARDS programming

A Country Strategy Paper (CSP) outlines in general terms:

>Policy response

>Cooperation objectives

>Programme priorities

CARDS programming II

Annual programmes for each country detail:

>Summary of situation

>Budget allocation per sector

>Project outline for budget year

CARDS Management

National programmes are managed by:

> Commission delegations in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania

> European Agency for Reconstruction in Serbia Montenegro & fYR Macedonia

> Headquarters for regional programmes, Tempus and CAFAO

CARDS sectors

There are five priority sectors:

>Justice and home affairs

>Administrative capacity building

>Economic and social development

>Democratic stabilisation

>Environment and natural resources

Justice and home affairs

Priority sectors include support for:

> Reform of the judiciary and police

> Migration and asylum policy

> Integrated border management

> The fight against organised crime

Administrative capacity building

> Public administration

> Taxation

> Customs systems

Economic and social development

> Economic reform

> Social cohesion

> Local infrastructure development

> Education

Democratic stabilisation

> Civil society development

> Refugee return

> Media reform

Environment and natural resources

> Institution strengthening

> Monitoring

> Urban and rural planning

Albania

> Capital: Tirana> Population (WB 2002): 3.19 million > GDP per capita (2002): € 4,500*> CARDS assistance (2000-2004): € 214.2m> Negotiations on SAA opened in 2003

*World Fact Book 2002

Albania

Priority sectors under CARDS include:

> Judicial reform and the fight against crime

> Strengthening public administration

> Economic & social development

> Pollution monitoring and urban planning

> Democratic stabilisation

Albania(2002-2004)

*European Commission

> Capital: Sarajevo

> Population (WB 2002): 4.1 million

> GDP per capita (2002): € 1,600*

> CARDS assistance (2000-2004):

€ 395.4m

> Feasibility study completed for SAA

> Refugee return and media reform

> Support to institutions (tax, customs)

> Economic development & social cohesion

> Policing, asylum and migration

> Environment and natural resources

Bosnia and Herzegovina(2002-2004)

Croatia

> Capital: Zagreb

> GDP per capita (2002): € 7,800*

€ 267.3m

> SAA signed in October 2001

> Applied for EU membership in 2003

Croatia

> Refugee return

> Trade, investment climate and social cohesion

> Policing and organised crime

> Public administration reform

> Environment and natural resources

Croatia (2002-2004)

*European

Commission

former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

> Capital: Skopje

> GDP per capita (2002): € 4,430

€ 239.5m

> SAA signed in April 2001

> Customs and taxation

> Public administration reform

> Energy, transport and the environment

> Enhancing regional cooperation

> Vocational education and higher education

former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

(2002-2004)

Serbia and Montenegro

> Capital: Belgrade

> GDP per capita (2002): € 2,100*

€ 1,106.4m, (+ € 831.5 Kosovo)

> Feasibility study underway for SAA (09/03)

Serbia and Montenegro

Priority sectors under CARDS include:> Interethnic relations and civil society

> Trade and private sector development

> Infrastructure development

> Reform of the judiciary

> Immigration and asylum

> Fight against crime

Serbia and Montenegro (2002-2004)

Kosovo (2002-2004)

Regional programmes

> Institution building for SAp

> Regional cooperation

> Development of regional infrastructure

> Civil society development

Regional(2001/2003)

Projects

> External aid delivered via service contracts or grants

> Contracts awarded on basis of open competition (tenders)

> Published on the EuropeAid web site

> Open to 25 EU member states, Candidate and CARDS countries.

European Union Police Mission (EUPM) in Bosnia started in January 2003:

> Took over from International Police Task Force (UN)

> Budget: € 38 million

> 500 police officers from more than 30 countries

Security in the region

Objectives:

> Help Bosnian authorities develop local police forces to EU standards

> Ensure sustainable institutional structures by end of 2005

To contribute to stability and security in the fYR Macedonia:

> Started in December 2003

> EU civil police mission

> Took over from Mission Concordia

> 200 police officers stationed throughout the country

Proxima

Contacts

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/index.htmhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/cards/index_en.htm

> Albania: www.delalb.cec.eu.int> BiH: www.delbih.cec.eu.int> Croatia: www.delhrv.cec.eu.int> FYR Macedonia: www.delmkd.cec.eu.int> Serbia/Montenegro: www.eudelyug.org> EAR www.ear.eu.int

Contacts II

> Speakers Name:

> Office address:

> Email contact:

Albania The European Union and the Western Balkans Croatia former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia...

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