Albania

1
Albania

• The European Union and the
• Western Balkans

Croatia
Serbia andMontenegro
Bosnia and Herzegovina
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
2
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
3
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)

4
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

5
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

6
SAp instruments

• The process has three main instruments
• for support
• Trade
• Stabilisation and association agreements
• Financial assistance

7
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
8
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

9
Financial Assistance

• CARDS
• 4, 65 billion has been allocated to the CARDS
  programme for 2000-2006
• Assistance to the region since 1991 totals more
  than 6 billion

10
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
11
What is CARDS?

• CARDS - European Unions assistance programme to
  the region
• Adopted by Council Regulation 2666/2000
• Rationalised most assistance under one programme
  (Obnova, Phare)
• Underpins Stabilisation and Association process

12
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

13
CARDS programming

• A Country Strategy Paper (CSP) outlines in
  general terms
• Policy response
• Cooperation objectives
• Programme priorities

14
CARDS programming II

• Annual programmes for each country detail
• Summary of situation
• Budget allocation per sector
• Project outline for budget year

15
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

16
CARDS sectors

• There are five priority sectors
• Justice and home affairs
• Administrative capacity building
• Economic and social development
• Democratic stabilisation
• Environment and natural resources

17
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

18
Administrative capacity building

• Priority sectors include support for
• Public administration
• Taxation
• Customs systems

19
Economic and social development

• Priority sectors include support for
• Economic reform
• Social cohesion
• Local infrastructure development
• Education

20
Democratic stabilisation

• Priority sectors include support for
• Civil society development
• Refugee return
• Media reform

21
Environment and natural resources

• Priority sectors include support for
• Institution strengthening
• Monitoring
• Urban and rural planning

22
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
23
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

24
Albania(2002-2004)
European Commission
25
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
26
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

27
Bosnia and Herzegovina(2002-2004)
European Commission
28
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
29
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

30
Croatia (2002-2004)
European Commission
European Commission
31
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
32
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

33
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(2002-2004)
European Commission
34
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
35
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

36
Serbia and Montenegro (2002-2004)
European Commission
37
Kosovo (2002-2004)
European Commission
38
Regional programmes

• Priority sectors under CARDS include
• Integrated border management
• Institution building for SAp
• Regional cooperation
• Development of regional infrastructure
• Civil society development

39
Regional(2001/2003)
European Commission
40
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.

41
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

42
EUPM

• Objectives
• Help Bosnian authorities develop local police
  forces to EU standards
• Ensure sustainable institutional structures by
  end of 2005

43
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

44
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

45
Contacts II

• Speakers Name
• Office address
• Email contact