Republic of Albania Ministry of European Integration MEI
Republic of Albania Ministry of European Integration (MEI) Presentation WG 2 Managing EU Funds on the Regional Level Regional Conference EU Perspectives and Current Standing of the Countries in the Region in the SAP Belgrade, 7 -8 th December 2005
I. Neighbourhood Programmes in Albania (An Overview)
Cross-border programmes (strand A): • Greece – Albania • Italy – Adriatic (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia & Montenegro, Albania) • Italy - Albania Transnational programmes (strand B): • CADSES (Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia & Montenegro, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) 3
Greece-Albania Funding (2000 -2006) EUR 90 m ERDF EUR 6, 6 m CARDS EC approval of NP: 24 February 2005
Greece-Albania Cross-border Programme PRIORITIES • Transport Infrastructure: road and port infrastructure, customs facilities & border control and security installations • Economic Development & Promotion of Employment: measures to encourage cooperation between SMEs, universities, protect and improve the natural environment, the quality of public health services and promotion of new employment opportunities by introducing new technologies
Italy-Adriatic Funding (2000 -2006) EUR 50, 5 m ERDF EUR 6 m CARDS EC approval of NP: 22 December 2004
Italy-Adriatic Cross-border Programme PRIORITIES • Protection, promotion and exploitation of environment, culture & Infrastructure of the cross border territory • Economic Integration of the cross-border Productive systems: interventions of predominantly private interest, competitiveness & strengthening of the SME industry, handicraft, tourism, agriculture and fishing • Actions to strengthen cooperation: intervention of systems to strengthen the institutions, harmonisation of systems, promotion of democracy, employment, security, social integration & human resources
Italy-Albania Funding (2000 -2006) EUR 33, 2 m ERDF EUR 3 m CARDS NP not approved yet by EC
Italy-Albania Cross-border Programme PRIORITIES • Transport, Communication & Security: improvement of infrastructures, security systems and social assistance services • Environment & Health care: protection, and management of marine & aquatic sensitive ecosystems, sustainable development of natural protected areas • Economic development & Employment: SMEs, cooperation between universities & research centres and in the agriculture sector • Tourism, Cultural heritage & Institutional cooperation
CADSES Funding (2000 -2006) EUR 161 m ERDF EUR 4, 8 m CARDS EUR 5 m TACIS ~8 m PHARE EC approval of NP: 17 December 2004
CADSES Transnational Programme PRIORITIES • Promotion of Spatial Development approaches & actions for Social & Economic cohesion • Efficient & sustainable Transport systems & Access to the Information Society • Promotion & management of Landscape, Natural & Cultural heritage • Environment protection, Resource management & Risk prevention
II. Institutional aspects/ Management structures/ Programme Implementation 12
Neighbourhood Programmes INTERREG – Cards NP Responsible Authorities: • EU Member States: Managing Authority (Greece and Italy) • CARDS: Programme Co-ordination Unit (Ministry of European Integration), Contracting Authority (EC Delegation) 13
Neighbourhood Programmes INTERREG - Cards NP Management Structures: Joint programmes, joint management structures • Joint Monitoring Committee • Joint Selection Committee • Joint Technical Secretariat 14
Neighbourhood Programmes INTERREG - Cards Implementing Rules: • Neighbourhood Programme 2004 -06 Implementing Guidelines for INTERREG-CARDS/TACIS borders issued by the Commission on 11 June 2004 • Single call for projects, single application, single selection process, joint projects • Formal contracting process remains separate for internal and external elements 15
III. Managing EU Funds on the Regional Level in Albania Problematic
Main Objective: Ensure widespread involvement at local level/ building of ownership What has been done? • Set up of national structures in central level and TA requested for strengthening this structure and supporting them in their role. • Dissemination of information through Info-Days, web site in the Ministry of EI, materials in written etc. • Establishment of a database on potential project partners • Assistance upon request to the interested beneficiaries 17
Problems faced • Lack of knowledge on project development in general and specifically on these programmes procedures (complexity etc) • Insufficient number of personnel working on national (coordination) and local level. • Lack of necessary infrastructure for establishing networking and communication • Lack of information during application phase • Lack of continuous exchange of information among the national structures in the respective participant countries
Recommendations • More intensive assistance with regard to select credible, effective, genuine cross-border and transnational co-operation projects • Strengthening of the structures with regard to training, personnel, infrastructure etc. • Establishment of an effective collaboration between the partner countries (management structures) on organisational, functioning and information on Programme implementation • Better coordination between sources of financing (state budget and other donors)
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