Transcript What is CARDS?

The European Union
and the
Western Balkans
Croatia
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Serbia and
Montenegro
Albania former Yugoslav
Republic of
Macedonia
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
Trade
> 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
CARDS
> € 4, 65 billion has been allocated to
the CARDS programme for 20002006
> 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
Priority sectors include support for:
> Public administration
> Taxation
> Customs systems
Economic and
social development
Priority sectors include support for:
> Economic reform
> Social cohesion
> Local infrastructure development
> Education
Democratic stabilisation
Priority sectors include support for:
> Civil society development
> Refugee return
> Media reform
Environment and
natural resources
Priority sectors include support for:
> 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
Bosnia and Herzegovina
> 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
*World Fact Book 2002
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Priority sectors under CARDS include:
> Refugee return and media reform
> Support to institutions (tax, customs)
> Economic development & social
cohesion
> Policing, asylum and migration
> Integrated border management
> Environment and natural resources
Bosnia and Herzegovina
(2002-2004)
*European
Commission
Croatia
> Capital: Zagreb
> Population (WB 2002): 4.37 million
> GDP per capita (2002): € 7,800*
> CARDS assistance (2000-2004):
€ 267.3m
> SAA signed in October 2001
> Applied for EU membership in 2003
*World Fact Book 2002
Croatia
Priority sectors under CARDS include:
> Refugee return
> Trade, investment climate and
social cohesion
> Policing and organised crime
> Integrated border management
> Public administration reform
> Environment and natural resources
Croatia
(2002-2004)
*European
Commission
Commission
former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia
> Capital: Skopje
> Population (WB 2002): 2.04 million
> GDP per capita (2002): € 4,430
> CARDS assistance (2000-2004):
€ 239.5m
> SAA signed in April 2001
*World Fact Book 2002
former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia
Priority sectors under CARDS include:
> 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)
*European
Commission
Serbia and Montenegro
> Capital: Belgrade
> Population (WB 2002): 10.7 million
> GDP per capita (2002): € 2,100*
> CARDS assistance (2000-2004):
€ 1,106.4m, (+ € 831.5 Kosovo)
> Feasibility study underway for SAA
(09/03)
*World Fact Book 2002
Serbia and Montenegro
Priority sectors under CARDS include:
> Interethnic relations and civil society
> Trade and private sector
development
> Infrastructure development
> Reform of the judiciary
> Integrated border management
> Immigration and asylum
> Fight against crime
Serbia and Montenegro
(2002-2004)
*European
Commission
Kosovo
(2002-2004)
*European
Commission
Regional programmes
Priority sectors under CARDS include:
> Integrated border management
> Institution building for SAp
> Regional cooperation
> Development of regional infrastructure
> Civil society development
Regional
(2001/2003)
*European
Commission
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.
Security in the region
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
EUPM
Objectives:
> Help Bosnian authorities develop
local police forces to EU standards
> Ensure sustainable institutional
structures by end of 2005
Proxima
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
Contacts
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/index.htm
http://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: