WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/W/303 
9 December 2008 
 (08-5862) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES IN THE TBT FIELD 
(EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND EU MEMBER STATES 
FUNDED ACTIVE PROJECTS IN 2006-2007) 
 
Submission by the European Communities
 
 
   
  G/TBT/W/303 
Page 2 EC FUNDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS/P ROGRAMMES IN THE TBT FIELD IN 2006-2007 
 
Regional Country/ 
Regional Programme/Project 
name Project Objectives EUR Start 
date Completion 
date 
ACP Caribbean Regional integration 
project (CARICOM action plan), support 
to trade negotiating 
machinery, statistics Policy, strategic, legal, institutional and capacity issues arising out 
of the Region's work to create a Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).  The programme will provide assistance to 
advance the CSME in certain priority areas.  The CARICOM 
Secretariat itself needs more staff and capacity building, as well as more logistical resources.  The programme will provide capacity building within CARICOM, including in the fields of ICT and statistics, and externally thr ough its support to CARTAC. Support 
to the CRNM and to the OECS Geneva office will also 
complement the Region's efforts to coordinate its position at the WTO. 37,000,000 2006 2011 
ACP Mozambique Business 
environment support and trade facilitation project To support locally the IF process in Mozambique.  The main areas 
to be covered include SPS, TBT, Trade Facilitation, competition, trade related education and negotiating capacity building. 5,750,000 2007 2012 
ACP Southern 
Africa/SADC Support for 
Standards, Quality, Accreditation, Metrology (SQAM) The overall objective of the SADC SQAM Programme will be to 
support trade and investment, enhan ce the protection of consumers, 
and improve the competitiveness of suppliers of products and services of SADC Member States.  The project purpose is to 
contribute to the development a nd implementation of a regional 
policy on technical regulations, and the establishment of a more effective, efficient and functioning trade related SQAM support infrastructure. 14,200,000 2006 2011 
Latin America Guatemala Economic 
cooperation To improve the integration of Guatemala into regional and 
international markets and stimulate productive activity, strengthening the institutional framework so that the Ministry of the Economy becomes the entity responsible for economic and 
trade policy, and providing the tools to facilitate foreign trade;  to 
promote exports, stimulate business sector investment and encourage the growing participation of foreign capital in production programmes;  and to st rengthen levels of competition 
and competitiveness in the economy, as part of the Central 
American integration process. 10,000,000 2006 2011  
   G/TBT/W/303
 Page 3Regional Country/ 
Regional Programme/Project 
name Project Objectives EUR Start 
date Completion 
date 
Latin America Paraguay Support for the 
economic integration of Paraguay The project will seek to strengthen Paraguay's institutional 
capacity to deal with the challenges of globalisation and increase external trade through the adoption of simplified Customs procedures, providing assistance to overcome TBTs, and increase the capacity of private companies to address external trade 
requirements – in particular a pplication of Paraguay's Customs 
code, enhancing innovation and the implementation of 
ISO standards and integration of project activities and results into government policies and initiatives through coordination. 6,000,000 2007 2012 
Asia All Asia ASIA Invest 
Programme III The objectives of the Programme is to foster direct business 
cooperation between economic opera tors in the EU and Asian 
countries eligible under the ALA Re gulation, with a focus on small 
and medium-sized enterprises, and to support a dynamic private 
sector in Asia to seize new business opportunities and foster 
development.  This is to be complemented with a reinforcement of the institutional framework, netw orking and dialogue, including 
initiatives promoting the achievement of multilateral agreements, to enhance the business environm ent and unlock new trade and 
investment opportunities between the two regions. 25,000,000 2006 2011 
Asia All Asia SWITCH I Promoting Sustainable consumpti on and Production through calls 
for proposal. 25,000,000 2007 2012 
Asia Cambodia Trade SWAP Support the RGC in developing and implementing a more detailed 
and coherent trade policy that contributes to the broad-based and 
sustainable economic development of Cambodia (within the 
broader framework of the NSDP). 7,400,000 2006 2011 
Asia Cambodia Support to National 
Strategic 
Development Plan Provide better harmonized and ali gned aid, based on a high-level, 
multi-donor policy dialogue for RG C to deliver key reforms and 
tackle key governance limitations, including those constraining growth and poverty reduction in Cambodia. 23,100,000 2007 2012 
Asia India Action Plan Support 
Facility Further development of EU-India sector dialogues, and the 
implementation of actions identified under the Joint Action Plan endorsed at the EU-India Summit in September 2005. 8,000,000 2006 2011 
Asia Laos Trade Related 
Facility for Institutional Capacity Building Support institutional development through implementation of 
activities recommended under the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study of the IF. 4,200,000 2007 2011  
  G/TBT/W/303 
Page 4 Regional Country/ 
Regional Programme/Project 
name Project Objectives EUR Start 
date Completion 
date 
Asia Mongolia Sustainable 
Livelihoods Programme Originally included intention to suppor t exports – SPS measures. 10,000,000 2007 2011 
Asia Nepal WTO Assistance Support implementation of WTO commitments – SPS, TBT, 
support to private sector to enhance exports. 2,000,000 2006 2010 
Asia Philippines Trade Facility Support in complying with WTO obligations and export 
requirements for key products, export diversification. 6,500,000 2007 2011 
Asia SAARC  EC-SAARC 
programme of economic cooperation Support to SAFTA implementation. 2,587,095 2007 2011 
Asia Thailand Trade Development 
Facility Support business adapt to export requirements. 3,500,000 2007 2011 
Asia Viet Nam MUTRAP III Integration of VN into the International economy, by assisting 
reform towards a market oriented economy, and Viet Nam's integration into world and regional economic structures. 10,000,000 2007 2011 
Asia Viet Nam MUTRAP III Integration of VN into the International economy, by assisting 
reform towards a market oriented economy, and Viet Nam's integration into world and regional economic structures. 10,000,000 2007 2010 
Mediterranean 
and Middle East Jordan Support to the A.A. 
(SAPP II) Support the Jordanian administration in the implementation of the 
EU Jordan AA and the ENP, requiring legislative and regulatory alignment and the upgrading of Jordanian institutions to carry out these reforms. 15,000,000 2006 2011 
Mediterranean 
and Middle East Syria Quality ManagementContribute to the increase of tr ade with the European Union 
through harmonisation of technical legislation and alignment of the 
quality infrastructure in priority sectors so as to enable Syria to
– Make maximum use and profit of  the existing trade agreements 
(GAFTA,Turkey) – Open negotiations on ACAAs with the EC– Access WTO. 12,000,000 2006 2011 
Mediterranean 
and Middle East Syria Trade Enhancement 
Programme Assist Syria to take advantage of globalisation, to facilitate trade 
flows by enhancing the administrative and legislative procedures, thereby improving Syria's macro-economic situation, create jobs and alleviate poverty. 15,000,000 2007 2012 
Central Asia TurkmenistanPolicy Advice 
Programme Support development of trade policy incl uding accession to WTO. 2,500,000 2007 2010  
   G/TBT/W/303
 Page 5Regional Country/ 
Regional Programme/Project 
name Project Objectives EUR Start 
date Completion 
date 
Eastern 
Europe Georgia TACIS 2006 
Georgia Action Programme: Support to the PCA implementation, 
particularly art. 51 
and 55 The project will have a three-fold objective:  (i) promoting PCA 
implementation and legal approximation;  (ii) support to the legislative and institutional frame work for the Georgian Quality 
Management System, to set up the standardization and accreditation system, legislation on permits and licences through 
TA and supply of equipment;  (iii) strengthen capacity of the 
Ministry of Agriculture and the food safety control agency to improve the quality of veterinary and food safety system, including the legislative and institutional framework and its enforcement. 4,100,000 2006 2008 
Eastern 
Europe Russia Approximation of 
the technical regulation standardization and 
certification systems Component 1 – Approximation of the legal and regulatory 
framework;  Component 2 – Implementation and enforcement of the technical regulation and standardization system;  Component 3 – Development of EU-Russia c ooperation between representatives 
of professional bodies. 3,000,000 2006 2009 
Eastern 
Europe Ukraine Support to ENP 
Action Plan 
implementation Competition policy (5 million);  Agriculture and rural development 
(9 million);  Preparation to ex-ante decentralisation (2,5 million); 
Twinning projects (9 million).  The focus of the sector-wide programme will be concentrated on two core areas:  food safety 
and removal of trade barriers, including the full application of WTO sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and EU food quality standards (including setting up a network of appropriately 
equipped reference laboratories);  logistical infrastructure, with a 
view to checking the "spontaneity" of Ukraine's unorganized agricultural market.  Hereunder, the agriculture component will 
support Ukraine to design and implement quality approach (certification process) for sanitary and phyto-sanitary products and 
processes, driving towards accession to WTO and integration in 
the EU Internal Market and to design policy schemes on rural development. 25,500,000 2006 2010 
South Eastern 
Europe Albania CARDS 2006 
Albania Action Programme: Improving the trade climate Support to quality & standards infrastructure;  strengthening the 
performances of livestock sector;  creation of Albanian wine cadastre;  copyright protection and industrial patent support 
4.000.000 NA x  2006  2011. 4,000,000 2006 2001  
  G/TBT/W/303 
Page 6 Regional Country/ 
Regional Programme/Project 
name Project Objectives EUR Start 
date Completion 
date 
South Eastern 
Europe Serbia CARDS 2006 Serbia 
Action Programme:  Trade and  Agriculture EU support will support actions c onducive to trade development 
by:  (i) twinning support to participate effectively in the process of negotiating trade-related aspects of the SAA/acquis communautaire and the WTO principles;  (ii)  support to use Trade Defence Instruments;  (iii) strengthening Quality Standards 
Institutions;  (iv) implementati on and enforcement of the bovine 
animal identification by animal keepers and the Veterinary Directorate;  (v) an action plan for the extension of animal identification and registration to other species prepared and under implementation;  (vi) construct stabling facilities and ancillary 
connections to support live an imal trade at Presevo border 
crossing. 7,500,000 2006 2011 
South Eastern 
Europe Bulgaria 2006 PHARE 
National Programme 
Bulgaria (Part I):  Support for Increasing the Competitiveness of 
Bulgarian 
Enterprises To increase the competitiveness of Bulgarian productive sector 
SMEs and prepare them to cope with the competitive pressure 
within the EU through targeted support in accession-related aspects of their development, e.g. achieving compliance of manufacturing processes with EU environmenta l standards and occupational 
safety & health (OSH) requirements, introducing Quality 
Management Systems, Good Laboratory Practices and Good 
Manufacturing Practices, increasing energy efficiency, enhancing the capacity for innovations and Research & Development (R&D), and promoting the sustainable deve lopment of SMEs with growth 
potential. 6,000,000 2006 2011 
South Eastern 
Europe Croatia IPA National 
Programme for Croatia under The 
IPA-Transition 
Assistance:  HR2007/3/9:  Customs Laboratory Development The activities under this project will contribute to the development 
of Customs Laboratories resulting in improved management policies, analytical equipment, analytical methods, training 
programmes and working methods. 2,275,000 2007 2012  
   G/TBT/W/303
 Page 7Regional Country/ 
Regional Programme/Project 
name Project Objectives EUR Start 
date Completion 
date 
South Eastern 
Europe Montenegro IPA National 
Programme for Montenegro:  Development of Quality 
Infrastructure in 
Montenegro To accelerate legal, regulatory and in stitutional reforms in the area 
of quality infrastructure in Montenegro in compliance with the acquis communautaire and WTO membership requirements. 2,000,000 2007 2012 
South Eastern 
Europe Bosnia and 
Herzegovina IPA Annual 
Programme for Bosnia and Herzegovina under the IPA Transition Assistance:  
Strengthening of the 
Accreditation System Establishing the conditions for futu re international recognition of 
BiH tests, calibration results, and certification and preparing the BiH Accreditation Institute for signing multilateral agreements with European cooperation for Accreditation. 1,000,000 2007 2012 
South Eastern 
Europe Bosnia and 
Herzegovina IPA Annual 
Programme For Bosnia and Herzegovina under the IPA Transition 
Assistance:  
Strengthening of the Metrology System Development of the distributed metrology system according to the 
existing model in some EU member states and strong demands for internationally recognized quality of metrology services within framework of national metrology infrastructure, as well as to start preparation of Institute for Metrology of Bosnia and Herzegovina 
for its future full membersh ip in EUROMET, EUROCHEM, 
WELMEC, OIML and Meter Convention 1.700.000 15140 x  2007  2012. 1,700,000 2007 2012 
South Eastern 
Europe Bosnia and 
Herzegovina IPA Annual 
Programme for Bosnia and Herzegovina under the IPA Transition 
Assistance:  Safety 
Infrastructure To develop the capacity for legal drafting and implementation of 
the technical regulations in line Ministries, and to provide technical assistance in transposition of priority technical regulations in compliance with corresponding EU New Approach Directives and establishment of conformity assessment system.  To further 
develop the capacity of the market surveillance system in BiH 
regarding its task to guarantee the safety and compliance of technical products in accordance with EU market surveillance 
good practice. 1,700,000 2007 2012 
   Total commitments European Community 2006-2007 313,512,095     
  
  G/TBT/W/303 
Page 8 MEMBER STATES FUNDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PR OJECTS/PROGRAMMES IN THE TBT FIELD IN 2006-2007 
 
Regional Country/Regional Programme/Project name EUR Start 
date Completion 
date Member State 
Multi-Country Multi-Country World Trade, Conformity Assessment and Quality 
Infrastructure Development, New title Quality Infrastructure Development and support of 
International Trade, International training programmes 235,450 yearly yearly Sweden 
 Multi-Country Standard, Societal Security 93,973 2006 2007 Sweden 
 Multi-Country ISO Supporting the Implementation of the ISO Action 
Plan for Developing Countries 1,798,275 2007 2010 Sweden 
 Multi-Country ISO 26 000, Enhancing par ticipation of Developing 
Countries in ISO work 18,000 2005  Sweden 
 Multi-Country Standardization – Management  and Techniques 205,880 yearly yearly Sweden 
 Multi-Country Programme on Environment in Developing Countries:  
eco-labels 1,797,000 2006 2009 Germany 
 Multi-Country Standards and trade developm ent facility 2,000,000 2005 2009 United Kingdom 
Africa Africa ASRO – Capacity building 330,000 2004 2007 Sweden 
 Africa ARSO – Dev Training Capacity 450,000 2006 2007 Sweden 
 Africa Program promotion of quality infrastructure in Africa 600,000 2007 2009 Germany 
 East-African 
Community Establishment of a regional MSTQ architecture in the 
East African Community (EAC) 2,000,000 2007 2010 Germany 
 Ethiopia Support in the development of a customer-oriented 
quality infrastructure in Ethiopia 600,000 2006 2009 Germany 
 Ethiopia Capacity Building for Econom ic Development 7,000,000 2005 2008 Germany 
 Ghana Quality assurance of agricultural products through 
metrological and testing services 900,000 2007 2011 Germany 
 Maghreb Regional cooperation in the field of quality 
infrastructure in Maghreb 800,000 2006 2009 Germany 
 West Africa Promotion of metrology and testing in West African 
Countries 1,000,000 2004 2009 Germany 
 Southern African 
Development Community (Sadc) Support to SADC in implementing the 
SQAM-Program 500,000 2007 2009 Germany 
 Ivory Coast Sustainability Certification of the use of forest 
products from state forests 200,000 2006 2009 Germany  
   G/TBT/W/303
 Page 9Regional Country/Regional Programme/Project name EUR Start 
date Completion 
date Member State 
 Southern Africa Regional Standards Pr ogramme 5,330,000 2006 2009 United Kingdom 
Asia Sri Lanka Strengthening the Quality Infrastructure/SLSI/Phase II 440,000 2001 200X Sweden 
 Sri Lanka SriLac-Swedac, Accreditation body 385,000 2001 200X Sweden 
 Sri Lanka Accreditation SLAB 855,524 2006 2009 Sweden 
 Asia Promotion of the regional cooperation in South-East 
Asia for the establishment of MSTQ structures 1,500,000 2001 2009 Germany 
 Afghanistan Programme "Economic Recons truction and TVET" 1,000,000 2002 2007 Germany 
 China Promoting Chinese tea exports through improved 
quality management 15,000 2005 2007 Germany 
 India Promotion of the Regional Econom y Uttaranchal 2,000,000 2006 2012 Germany 
 Nepal Support of Nepal in the field of  quality infrastructure 600,000 2007 2011 Germany 
 Philippines Consultation for the development of service offers in 
the field of quality infrastructure 600,000 2006 2009 Germany 
 Syria Support of the quality infrastructure 1,000,000 2005 2010 Germany 
 Thailand Promotion of the Thai calib ration service 2,300,000 2003 2008 Germany 
 Thailand Consultation for the development of quality 
infrastructure with emphasis on agricultural products 700,000 2006 2009 Germany 
 Thailand Programme: Strengthening of Competitiveness and 
Improvement of Services and introduction of Eco efficiency 6,000,000 2003 2011 Germany 
 Viet Nam Programme on SME Promotion 2,000,000 2004 2009 Germany 
 Philippines Transcending Food Safety Barriers 388,800 2006 2007 Germany 
Mediterranean 
and Middle East States Med International training in world trade, conformity 
assessment, and quality infrastructure development New title Quality Infrastructure Development and support of International Trade, International Training Programme 35,000 yearly yearly Sweden 
 Egypt Enhancing craft exports from Egypt through training in 
product development and marketing 100,000 2007 2008 Germany 
 Egypt Programme on the Promotion of SME 1,000,000 2005 2009 Germany 
 Morocco Promotion of the Competitiveness of the Moroccan 
Economy 1,800,000 1999 2008 Germany 
 Syria Support of the quality infrastructure 1,000,000 2005 2010 Germany  
  G/TBT/W/303 
Page 10 Regional Country/Regional Programme/Project name EUR Start 
date Completion 
date Member State 
Latin America Latin America Support of Decentralized Structures in the Application 
of Quality Criteria in the Environment and Food Sectors 750,000 2002 2008 Germany 
 Caribbean Harmonized regional quality infrastructure for 
improving market access and competitiveness 200,000 2006 2009 Germany 
 Central America Accreditation and in-plant environmental management 
in Central America 2,000,000 2002 2008 Germany 
 Brazil Creation of a regional cooperation network of 
automotive suppliers in Bahia 581,000 2004 2007 Germany 
 Central America Sustainable Econom ic development 350,000 2006 2009 Germany 
 Chile Establishment of a metrol ogy network 2,100,000 2001 2008 Germany 
 El Salvador Programme Business and Employment Promotion 
Fortalece 3,500,000 2001 2010 Germany 
 Latin America Trilateral cooperation natural gas metrology in Latin 
America 500,000 2007 2010 Germany 
 Latin America And 
The Caribbean Support of the quality infrastructure in Latin America 
and the Caribbean 400,000 2007 2010 Germany 
 MERCOSUR Strengthening of the technical infrastructure in the 
fields environment and food in MERCOSUR 600,000 2006 2008 Germany 
 Nicaragua Strengthening small enterprise compliance with 
international regulations and standards 245,000 2004 2007 Germany 
 Peru Improvement and assurance of the quality and of 
consumption measurement in the drinking-water sector 600,000 2006 2009 Germany 
 Nicaragua Strengthening small enterprise compliance with 
international regulations and standards 245,000 2004 2007United Kingdom 
Germany 
Commonwealth 
of Independent 
States Azerbaijan Programme for the Promotion of the Private Sector 2,000,000 2004 2010 Germany 
 Central Asia Programme Promotion of Regional Economic 
Cooperation in Central Asia II  500,000 2007 2010 Germany 
 Ukraine Harmonization of the Ukrainian explosion protection 
for electrical equipment with Directive 94/9 EC 300,000 2007 2010 Germany 
South East 
Europe Albania Integrated Business and Employment Promotion 600,000 2006 2009 Germany  
   G/TBT/W/303
 Page 11Regional Country/Regional Programme/Project name EUR Start 
date Completion 
date Member State 
 Bosnia And 
Herzegovina Business and Employment Promotion 1,400,000 2003 2007 Germany 
 Montenegro Business and Employment Promotion 600,000 2004 2010 Germany 
 South-East Europe Promotion of the regional cooperation of the countries 
in South-East Europe in the field of quality 
infrastructure 300,000 2006 2009 Germany 
 Georgia Support of the quality infrastructure in Georgia with 
special emphasis on metrological services 300,000 2007 2010 Germany 
New Member 
States and 
Candidate 
Countries Bulgaria Promotion of metrology in Bulgaria, phase III 800,000 2002 2008 Germany 
 Coomet Support of regional cooperation of member states in 
regional metrology organisations (COOMET) 500,000 2007 2010 Germany 
 Romania Promotion of metrology in Romania, phase II 500,000 2002 2008 Germany 
 Romania Strengthening of Competitiveness and Reduction of 
TBT 400,000 2005 2008 Germany 
 Turkey Business Promotion in Anatolia 700,000 2002 2007 Germany 
 Macedonia Integration of selected Technical EU Regulations into 
the Macedonian Legal System 360,000 2005 2009 Germany 
 Macedonia Strengthening of Consumer Protection on Municipal 
Level 200,000 2005 2007 Germany 
  TOTAL Member States 71,108,902  
 
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