CBIB

1. CBIB The European Union's CARDS Regional Programme Cross - Border Cooperation A Tool for Regional Integration Natasa Gospodjinacki Team Leader CBIB - Cross Border Institution Building Becici, Montenegro 07/02/2007

2. Is Cross–Border Cooperation (CBC)– A Tool for Regional Integration? CBC Regional co-operation is an essential element of the Stabilization and Association process; The capacity and readiness of an individual Western Balkan country to fully and constructively engage in regional co-operation is a key indicator of its ability to cope with European obligations and to eventually join the European Union; The European Partnerships with the Western Balkan countries, adopted in 2004, set the reform agenda for the countries of the region and indicate the main priority areas in which concrete steps need to be taken, including in the context of regional cooperation.

3. Objectives CBC • Promoting sustainable economic and social development in the border areas; • Addressing common challenges affecting both sides of the border; • Ensuring efficient and secure borders facilitating trade and crossings; • Contributing to the consolidation of democracy at grass root level; • Developing capacity at local and regional level; • Promoting local, “people-to-people” type actions.

4. IPA PHARE ISPA Turkey Instruments CARDS SAPARD Post - 2006IPA - Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance Until January 2007 co-operation on the external and future external borders of the European Union was supported by a variety of instruments such as INTERREG, PHARE, CARDS, SAPARD and Turkey Instruments. IPA supersedes the five previously existing pre-accession instruments thus uniting under a single legal basis all pre accession assistance. IPA has also been designed to better adapt to the different objectives and progresses of each beneficiary providing a targeted and effective support according to their needs and evolution. IPA

5. IPAInstrument for Pre-accession Assistance IPA – The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance addresses: Current candidate countries: Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey; Potential candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia including Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244); In order to achieve each country’s objectives in the most efficient way, IPA consist of five different components: Transition Assistance and Institution Building Cross-border Cooperation (CBC) Regional Development Human Resources Development Rural Development IPA

6. CBIB Project Cross Border Institution Building • CBIB Project is financed by EU CARDS 2003 Regional Programme • CBIB Project was launched in June 2006 • Objective – to strengthen the capacities of Western Balkans Countries to prepare and implement cross border cooperation projects under IPA CBC programmes. CBIB

7. Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Montenegro Serbia including Kosovo (under the UNSCR 1244) The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Albania CBIB Beneficiaries CBIB operates from the four project offices located in Belgrade, Tirana, Skopje, and Sarajevo and covers six beneficiary countries: CBIB

8. Enhance Project Preparation Capacity Strengthen Institutional Capacity for IPACBC National Authorities Regional/Local Authorities JMS Basic training PCM Training Project proposals Project pipe-line What do we need to achieve ? CBIB • Promote Cross Border Cooperation Activities • Effective use of IPA CBC Funding

9. Who can support ? National Authorities in charge of CBC programme Regional and Local Government CBIB Joint Management Structures

10. Potential End Beneficiaries of CBIB Support • Government institutions; • Government agencies (local government offices separately); • Government or non-profit educational institutions; • Universities and research institutions; • NGO-s operating in environmental protection, development of entrepreneurship, and in promoting SME associations; • Associations of entrepreneurs; • SME agencies; • Chambers of commerce; • Public utility companies. • SMEs Approach

11. 24% 34% 42% Central Government Local government NGOs Needs AssessmentMethodology The NAA was carried out according to the specific country situation. The information was gathered through: • Face-to-face semi-structured interviews • Questionnaires More than 500 samples distributed out of which 391 returned. Approach

12. Needs Assessment Institutional capacity and funding • The National Authorities are mainly involved in programme activities at their “external” borders; • National and Regional authorities are understaffed and are lacking sufficient know-how on managing CBC programmes; • Guidelines for implementation of IPA CBC and consequently cross border programmes at the “internal borders” do not exist; • In the absence of cross border programmes both central and regional authorities have been reluctant to dedicate the resources needed to establish JMSs; • EC or bilateral assistance funding allocated to internal borders is not sufficient and disparity between internal and external borders is significant; • Funding disparity between internal and external borders will continue under future IPA CBC programmes. Approach

13. Needs Assessment Awareness Information on IPA exists only in the central government administration • No knowledge on IPA implementation rules exists Approach

14. Needs Assessment Project preparation • Weak capacities to participate in the IPA CBC programmes • Low capacities to develop quality project proposals, especially at the regional and local levels • Participation in the CfP hindered by various reasons: • Difficulties to establish contacts on the other side of the border • Lacking source of information and clarity • Shortage of funds to cover beneficiary’s contribution • Relatively high cost of application • Language problems in preparation of project proposals in English • Difficulties in obtaining border entrance-visas Approach

15. Needs AssessmentFindings NAA findings confirmed the objectives stated in the ToR: • Strengthening institutional capacity of National, Regional and Local Authorities in managing IPA CBC programmes; • Supporting NA and local authorities through TA in the programming activities and establishment of JMSs; • Intensive awareness campaign on IPA CBC activities at the “internal borders”; • Capacity building in project preparation Approach

16. Programme Implementation Process Call for proposals Technical Assistance Approach IPA Cross border programmes CBIB Project pipeline Increasecooperation Setting up JMS

17. How it will be achieved ?Institutional Capacity Programme Management established Support provided to new managers in the partner countries; Effective coordination mechanism established at the central level; Joint management structures established and operational for each programme/border; Staff in the JMS and NA trained in programme management and monitoring. Approach Programme Content developed 1. Cross border programmes drafted.

18. How it will be achieved ?Project preparation capacity Regional Cooperation increased General cross border project awareness related to IPA CBC raised; (6 WS on national level) 2. Awareness of CBIB role in preparation of cross border programmes and JMSs ensured; (9 WS on regional level) Awareness about the project preparation process ensured; (9 WS for each border) Level of regional cooperation increased (4 Regional forums established). Approach Project Pipeline prepared Increased quality of project proposals (14 training modules on PCM); 2. Increase in number of projects in pipeline (60 projects).

19. CBIB Progress • Most of bilateral meetings held • Operating structures established • Task Forces proposed • Eligible areas proposed • Tasks for Drafting teams prepared • All CBIB promotional material prepared • Web site created • Data bases prepared Progress

20. CBIB ProgressCross border programmes Progress

21. CBIB Plansfor period January – May 2007 Plans

22. Conclusion • CARDS has already achieved certain amount of regional integration on the external EU borders; • IPA CBC is a new driver of regional integration of the Western Balkan Region; • Joint cooperation of all National and Regional authorities along with final Beneficiaries with support of CBIB project will enhance IPA CBC in the region that could lead to increased regional integration and economic growth. Conclusion

23. CBIB The European Union's CARDS Regional Programme Sarajevo Office: Mis Irbina 3, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Phone: + 387 33 555 005 Fax: + 387 33 555 006 Belgrade Office: Knez Mihailova 2-4/VII 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Phone: + 381 11 26 27 456 Fax: + 381 11 26 21 975 office@cbib-eu.org Skopje Office: Dositej Obradovic 1/8 1000 Skopje, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Phone/Fax: + 389 2 27 71 378 Tirana Office: Rr. "Donika Kastrioti" Business Center " Kotoni" 3d. Floor, Office Nr. 5 Tirana, Albania Phone/Fax: + 355 4 272 170 www.cbib-eu.org

24. CBIB The European Union's CARDS Regional Programme Thank you! www.cbib-eu.org