WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/W/228
15 October 2003
(03-5458)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY TBT RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Submission from the European Communities
I. INTRODUCTION
1. Following a number of requests from developing countries, and with a view to further
enhancing transparency, this document provides information about the programming of TBT related
assistance by the European Commission and possibilities for obtaining such assistance. It also aims to
help developing countries understand the European Community’s (EC’s) system.  EC Member States
also fund TBT related technical assistance. Information about that can be obtained directly from eachMember State.
2. The link between trade and development has been designated as one of the priority areas for
the EC’s development co-operation. The trade dimension is taken into account in all the relevant
levels of decision making on how to allocate funds for assistance - thus providing a possibility of
developing countries to benefit from EC development aid for TBT purposes.
3. As part of its efforts to respond to technical assistance needs in the TBT field, the EC is
funding a number of projects around the world. An updated list of European Commission and
EU Member States’ technical assistance activities in the TBT field is attached.
II. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMING WITHIN THE EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
4. The majority of EC development co-operation programmes are carried out in accordance with
various agreements between the EC and developing countries.
5. The development co-operation cycle starts with the programming phase that leads to the
development and adoption of multiannual (typically five year) Country and/or Regional Strategy
Papers  (CSPs and/or RSPs). CSPs provide a fram ework for co-operation programmes based on a
number of factors, including the partner country government policy agenda, an analysis of the partner
country’s situation and the activities of other major partners. RSPs provide a similar framework forregions. The strategy papers point to where EC assistance should be directed, including a description
of the priorities pursued and the focal sectors. The papers also highlight how EC activities integrate
with the activities of other donors and contain an ou tline of the specific EC contribution to the agreed
co-operation goals.
6. There are presently 120 CSPs and 15 RSPs. Information about the CSPs and RSPs can be
found on the Internet sites:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/csp_rsp/csp_en.cfm and
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/sp/index.htm.G/TBT/W/228
Page 2
7. National and Regional Indicative Programmes  are management tools that are included in
the CSPs and RSPs. They define in more detail the selected areas/sectors of co-operation to be
financed and appropriate measures and action for attaining the set objectives. Where appropriate,
these programmes include an indicative resource allocation.
8. The next steps are programme/project identification, preparation and appraisal . This
includes discussions with the partner country to determine the intervention network, one or more
identification missions, and the drafting and finalisation of both a project identification sheet and a
financing proposal. The partner country is closely involved throughout this process.
9. The following phase is the implementation of the programmes/projects.  The
implementation and its follow up are generally managed by the responsible European Commission
Delegation in the partner country in co-operation with the European Aid Co-operation Office of the
European Commission in Brussels.  The beneficiar y government or regional organisation in close
co-operation with the delegation draws up terms of reference, carries out tendering and contracting of
the projects/sub-projects and proposes revisions or modifications in the programme/project when
required. The projects are usually contracted to organisations outside the European Commission,
including such in the EC Member States. The Member States also implement own nationally financed
programmes/projects.
10. The final step is evaluation , which feeds back into the overall programming. Strategy papers
and indicative programmes are regularly reviewed and can be adjusted in view of needs and
performance.  The review process is the occasion to assess or reassess the coverage of specific themes
such as trade development in general or assistance in the TBT area.
III. INFORMATION ABOUT EC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
11. Further information about EC trade related assistance can be found on the Internet sites:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/index_en.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/global/development/trta/index_en.htm
12. It is also possible to ask for information from the European Commission Delegations in
partner countries.  A list of the EC Delegations is available on the Internet site:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/index.htm. In countries to which no Delegation
is accredited, the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels should be contacted.
13. A list of EC Member State agencies working in the development field is available at the
Internet site:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/organisation/dev_links_en.cfm.  These agencies
could provide contacts to organisations providing TBT related technical assistance in their
respective countries.
14. The EC also provides various types of assistance to countries that have applied to become
members of the European Union. The assistance is based on the priorities identified in AccessionPartnership Agreements with these countries. Information about these EC programmes/projects can be
found on the Internet site:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/fiche_projet/G/TBT/W/228
Page 3ANNEX
Country/Countries Program/Project name Contribution
(Euro)Start
DateCompletion
dateSource of funding (EC
Member State / European
Commission) *
GLOBAL
Multicountry World Trade, Conformity Assessment and Quality Infrastructure
Development, International training programmes245300 yearly  Sweden
Multicountry ISO 14 000, Environmental  Management, International training
programmes204600 yearly  Sweden
Multicountry Support for MSTQ 1728000 1998 2005 Germany
Multicountry Standardisation - Management and Techniques 215000 yearly  Sweden
ACP
ACP Centre for the development of Enterprises 18200000 2003 2003 Commission
ACP Programme initiative on pesticides 29122000 2001 2006 Commission
ACP Support for the integration of the ACP states into the multilateral trading
system of the WTO10000000 2001 2005 Commission
 
AFRICA  
AFRICA Support for MSTQ in African and Arabian Countries 1772584 1998 2007 Germany
AFRICA ARSO - Survey on the value of ARSO as perceived by its stakeholders 33000 2003 2003 Sweden
AFRICA Trade an opportunity for reducing pover ty in Africa: promoting exports
through a quality and product safety infrastructure66000 2002 2003 Sweden
BOTSWANA Promotion of the National Quality System 3400000 2002 2003 Germany
BURKINA FASO Private sector development programme 6000000 2001 2004 Commission
COMESA Standards, quality, metrology and testing support programme 1998000 1997 2003 Commission
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY Quality Management in Industrial Production 1500000 2003 2006 Germany
GHANA Technology industrial serv ices (phase 3) 4350000 2000 2005 Commission
MAURITIUS SME support programme 7000000 2000 2004 Commission
MOZAMBIQUE Standard Institute, INNOQ - Preliminary support 935000 2001 2004 Sweden
NAMIBIA Trade and investment development programme 3600000 2000 2003 Commission
NAMIBIA National Quality Infrastructure, 1210000 2001 2004 Sweden
NIGER SME support programme 1000000 2000 2004 Commission
SOUTH AFRICA Policy support to the Department of Trade and Industry 2360000 2000 200X Commission
SOUTH AFRICA Trade and investment development programme 8900000 2000 200X Commission
SOUTH AFRICA SME support programme 11000000 1996 200X Commission
SOUTH AFRICA Technology support for SMEs 5400000 1999 200X Commission
SADC Support for a Regional MSTQ-System 1500000 2003 2006 GermanyG/TBT/W/228
Page 4SWAZILAND Private sector development programme 5900000 2001 2004 Commission
TANZANIA Tanzania Standard Institute, laboratories, testing, marketing 357500 2000 2003 Sweden
WEST AFRICA UEMOA (Western African Monetary and Economic Union) - private
sector development15000000 2001 2006 Commission
WEST AFRICA Promotion of Metrology and Test ing in West African Countries 1022583.76239244 2001 2004 Germany
ZAMBIA Export development programme 6500000 2000 2004 Commission
 
CARIBBEAN
CARIFORUM Regional trade development programme 1470000 2002 2003 Commission
JAMAIKA Trade development programme 6000000 2000 2004 Commission
TRINIDAD&TOBAGO Support to Caribbean Busi ness Services Ltd 1983000 2003 2007 Commission
LATIN AMERICA  
ANDEAN Co-operation and technical assistance programme (UE-Grupo Andino en
Materia de Calidad)2300000 2002 2005 Commission
ARGENTINA Promotion of legal metrology  and calibration services 2400000 1995 2004 Germany
ARGENTINA Advice on the establishment of a national quality system 1300000 1999 2004 Germany
BOLIVIA Build-up of the Bolivian System of Standardization, Metrology,
Accreditation and Certification2000000 1998 2005 Germany
BOLIVIA Trade decelopment, including strengt hening standardisation, metrology,
accreditation and certification6300000 2002 2007 Commission
BRAZIL Establishment of a Calibration Laboratory 1700000 1993 2003 Germany
BRAZIL Amelioration of Preconditions for Certification 600000 1995 2003 Germany
BRAZIL Creación de un Centro de Excelencia en tecnología de la carne 95080.97 2001 2003 Spain
CHILE Harmonisation of norms and customs policies 1400000 2000  Commission
CHILE Establishment of a Metrology Network 2045167 1997 2004 Germany
COLOMBIA National accreditation and certification system 700000 1999 2003 Germany
LATIN AMERICA Accreditation and In-plant Environmental Management in Central
America1032809 2000 2003 Germany
LATIN AMERICA Support of Decentralized Structures in the Application of Quality Criteria
in the Health and Environment Sectors750000 2002 2005 Germany
LATIN AMERICA Al-invest, including promotion of vEU standards and norms 46000000 2002 2007 Commission
MERCOSUR Co-operation in Technical Standards - Proyecto de Cooperación en
Materia de Normas Técnicas4700000 1994 2003 Commission
MEXICO Facilitation of the EU/Mexico Free Trade Agreement 8000000 2002 2007 Commission
MEXICO Cooperation in Metrology 2035248.46228967 1989 2003 Germany
PERU Red de Centros de Innovación Tecnológ ica en sectores priorizados para
el desarrollo de la competitividad de las Pymes1851837.15 1999 2004 Spain
SOUTH AMERICA TBT and standards support 4000000 2003 Commission
VENEZUELA Support of the National MSTQ-Services 2091695.08597373 1989 2003 Germany
 G/TBT/W/228
Page 5ASIA  
ASEAN Economic Co-operation Programme on Standards, Quality and
Conformity assessment9000000 2003 2006 Commission
ASIA Support of MSTQ in South-East Asian Countries and Furthering Their
Regional Cooperation1533875.64358866 2001 2005 Germany
ASIA Training Consumer Representat ives in Developing Countries and
Enhancing their Participation in National and International
Standardisation63000 2003 2003 Sweden
ASIA SOUTH Standards 1000000 2000  Commission
BANGLADESH Trade co-operation and economic policy in South Asia 950000 2002  Commission
BANGLADESH TRTA projects foreseen in nati onal indicative programme 49000000 2002 2005 Commission
BHUTAN Technical assistance for WTO  accession 200000 1999  Commission
BHUTAN Multilateral trade policy assistance programme 500000 2002 2003 Commission
CAMBODIA Institutional support programme 4500000 2001 2004 Commission
CAMBODIA Assistance to fulfil WTO commitments etc. 2080000 2003 2005 Commission
CHINA WTO I, support to accreditation 3600000 1998 2003 Commission
CHINA WTO II related co-operation programme 15000000 2002 2007 Commission
INDIA Standards and Quality Assessment 2000000 2000  Commission
INDIA EC – India Trade and Investment Development Programme 15000000 2003 2006 Commission
INDONESIA Economic Co-operation and TRTA 8500000 2003 2007 Commission
LAOS Assistance to fulfil WTO commitments etc. 1080000 2003 2007 Commission
MONGOLIA Support to Trade Policy/WTO-Negotiations 1500000 1999 2003 Germany
PAKISTAN Trade related technical assistance projects 5000000 2004 2006 Commission
PHILIPPINES Assistance to WTO accession 2000000 2003  Commission
SRI LANKA Standards 500000 2000  Commission
SRI LANKA Multilateral trade policy assistance programme 500000 2002  Commission
SRI LANKA TRTA 1000000 2003 2005 Commission
SRI LANKA Strengthening the Quality Infrastructure/SLSI/Phase II 440000 2001  Sweden
SRI LANKA SriLac-Swedac, Accreditation body 385000 2001  Sweden
THAILAND Amelioration of Legal Metrology 2147425.90102412 1993 2004 Germany
THAILAND Industrial Metrology 2278229 1999 2006 Germany
THAILAND Trade development 5000000 2004 2006 Commission
VIETNAM Multilateral trade policy assistance programme, including measuring,
standardisation, testing and quality, WTO accession3100000 1998 2003 Commission
VIETNAM Part II of Multilateral trade policy assistance programme, including
measuring, standardisation, testing and quality, WTO accession5517400 2003 2006 Commission
 G/TBT/W/228
Page 6MEDITERRANEAN AND MIDDLE
EAST STATES    
EGYPT Trade Enhancement programme Egypt 60000000 2001 2004 Commission
EGYPT Support to the Quality Infrastructure 4500000 2003 2005 UK
JORDAN Promotion of a National System of Metrology, Standardization, Testing
and Quality Management3885818.29709126 1990 2003 Germany
JORDAN Increase capacity for free trade (free trade, legislative framework,
insttution strengthening)20000000 2002 2007 Commission
LEBANON Increase capacity for free trade (free trade, legislative framework,
insttution strengthening)12000000 2003 2006 Commission
LEBANON Quality programme 15000000 2003 200X Commission
MED Quality for SMEs 7500000 2000 2006 Commission
MED Technical assistance in Standards and Metrology to AIDMO (Arab
Industrial Development and Mining Organisation)1698000 2000 200X Commission
MED Promotion of Euro-Med Market Instruments and Mechanisms 9900000 2000 2006 Commission
MOROCCO Technical assistance to technology cent res and metrology laboratories 2000000 2003 2005 Commission
MOROCCO Strengthening the International Competitiveness of  Moroccan Industry 11068000 1999 2010 Germany
MOROCCO Qualité, certification agroalimentaire 90000 2003 2003 France
TUNISIA Qualité 3100000 2002 2003 Commission
TUNISIA Support to Small and Medium Enterprises with regard to National and
International Market Liberalization4000000 1997 2004 Germany
TUNISIA Implementation of the Association Agreement (free trade, legislative
framework, institution strengthening)20000000 2003 2007 Commission
WESTBANK AND GAZA National Quality Infrastructu re, Ministry of Industry 44000 (715.000) 1998 (2001-2004) Sweden
YEMEN WTO accession study Yemen 200000   Commission
YEMEN WTO Accession support/Yemen 4500000   Commission
 
COMMOMWEALTH OF
INDEPENDENT STATES 
ARMENIA Armenia-Europe Policy and Legal Advice Center (Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement implement ation/WTO accession) phase III1300000 2002 2005 Commission
AZERBAIJAN Implementation of Partnership and Cooperation Agreement 2000000 2002 2005 Commission
GEORGIA Georgian-Europe Policy and Legal Advice Centre (Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement Implementation) phase IV1300000 2002 2005 Commission
MOLDOVA Harmonisation of Moldova's s ystem of standardisation 1400000 2003 2005 Commission
MOLDOVA Support for Partnership and Co-operation agreement and WTO
agreement implementation4000000 2003 2006 Commission
MULTICOUNTRY Support for WTO accession to countries in Central Asia 1000000 2003 2006 CommissionG/TBT/W/228
Page 7RUSSIA Cooperation with the Russian Trade and Industry Administration 295000 1999 200X Finland
RUSSIA Cooperation between plant quarantine authorities of Finland and the
Carelian Republic84000 2000 2003 Finland
RUSSIA Science and Technology Cooperation in the field of Building Trade 47000 2000 2003 Finland
RUSSIA Certification of forest production acco rding to international standards 550000 2000 2004 Sweden
RUSSIA WTO accession assistance 2000000 2001 2004 Commission
RUSSIA Regulation, accreditation, standardi sation, participation in international
standardisation3500000 2003 2005 Commission
RUSSIA Harmonisation of environmental standards 2000000 2002 2005 Commission
RUSSIA Development of environmental and quality management systems in the
Carelian industry327000 2002 2005 Finland
TAJIKSTAN Support to implementation of Trade and C0-operation Agreement 500000 2002 2005 Commission
UKRAINE Establishing an agricultural standards certification system and control in
line with WTO requirements2000000 2003 2005 Commission
UKRAINE Assistance in the preparation of a project regarding the application of a
foreign trade regime – Standards, te chnical regulations and conformity
assessment1400000 2003  Commission
UZBEKISTAN Implementation of the Partnersh ip and Cooperation Agreement 3300000 2001 2004 Commission
UZBEKISTAN Implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement,
continuation1000000 2003 2006 Commission
UZBEKISTAN Bringing key trade and investment related legislation into line with EU law 1000000 2002 2003 Commission
 
SOUTH EAST EUROPE  
ALBANIA Standards and certification 2000000 2001 2004 Commission
ALBANIA Trade regulation and promotion, WTO implementation 2000000 2002 2005 Commission
ALBANIA Support to standards, certification and accreditation, metrology, market
surveillance systems etc.7500000 2003 2006 Commission
ALBANIA Standards and Certification 220000 2003  Spain
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Creation of a si ngle economic space 11000000 2002 2005 Commission
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Support to development of an environmental regulatory network 1700000 2003  Commission
CROATIA Industrial standards 3000000 2001 2004 Commission
CROATIA Technical assistance to the State offi ce for standardisation and metrology 765000 2003 2004 Commission
CROATIA Development of accreditation systems and support to national  testing
and calibration laboratories2500000 2003 2006 Commission
MULTICOUNTRY Quality infrastructure 1500000 2002 2004 Commission
MULTICOUNTRY UNECE - "Balkan R egulatory Convergence" 55000 2003 2004 Sweden
SERBIA Technical assistance in support to  the regulatory framework of the
pharmaceutical sector2000000 2002 2003 Commission
SERBIA Equipment for national food safety laboratories 6000000 2002 2005 Commission
SERBIA-MONTENEGRO and
BULGARIAFormation d'experts, qualité, normalisat ion et certification 356000 2003 2006 FranceG/TBT/W/228
Page 8CANDIDATE COUNTRIES     
BULGARIA Establishment of a conformity assessment system 3000000 2000 2003 Commission
BULGARIA Strengthening the regulatory framew ork for telecommunications 2450000 2000 2003 Commission
BULGARIA Introduction of quality management systems 5000000 2000 2003 Commission
BULGARIA Strengthening the national confor mity assessment system 4900000 2003 2005 Commission
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, BULGARIA,
CROATIA, FRY, HUNGARY, POLAND,
ROMANIA etc.Programa de Formación de funcionarios para la Armonización d las
políticas y su adaptación al acervo comunitario460000 2003 2003 Spain
CYPRUS Capacity building for the implementation of the EU acquis in legal
metrology400000 2002 2003 Commission
CYPRUS Upgrading of the stale laboratories 1830000 2002 2004 Commission
CYPRUS Upgrading of the state general laboratory 700000 2003 2004 Commission
CYPRUS Capacity building for accreditation in the new approach areas 600000 2002 2004 Commission
CYPRUS Assessment and Administration Capacity Building for the Harmonization
with the New Approach Directives500000 2003  Spain
CZECH REPUBLIC Strengthening Market Survei llance of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal
Products1500000 2002 2004 Commission
CZECH REPUBLIC Strengthening market surveillance 820000 2003 2005 Commission
ESTONIA Development of Conformity Assessment Infrastructure in the field of
Metrology2500000 2002 2004 Commission
ESTONIA Market Surveillance 1700000 2000 2003 Commission
ESTONIA AND LATVIA Veterinary Treatment and Quality of Food Products 346000 1999 2004 Finland
HUNGARY Strengthening market surveillance 2000000 2002 2004 Commission
LATVIA Integration with the internal market quality assurance 2000000 2001 2004 Commission
LATVIA Market surveillance system in the non-food area 1550000 2003 2005 Commission
LATVIA Twinning light projects 400000 2002 2003 Commission
LATVIA Food Production in Latvia: Quality Control and EU Counselling 245000 2000 2004 Finland
LITHUANIA Strengthening capacity to promote the free movement of goods 2750000 2001 2003 Commission
LITHUANIA Strengthening of the national capacity of the National Standards Body 2230000 2003 2005 Commission
LITHUANIA Developing and strengthening Accreditation-system 248600 2002 2004 Sweden
MALTA Establishment and Operation of the Mark et Surveillance Directorate 200000 2002 2004 Commission
MALTA Support for the capacity building at the Malta Standards Authority 1350000 2001 2004 Commission
MALTA Support for setting up theMalta M edicines Authority 908000 2002 2005 Commission
MULTICOUNTRY Internal market qua lity infrastructure 1680000 2002 2005 Commission
POLAND Integration with the internal market,certification 7000000 2000 2003 Commission
POLAND Conformity assessment and standardisation 5495000 2002 2004 CommissionG/TBT/W/228
Page 9POLAND Metrology 2000000 2002 2004 Commission
POLAND Medicines and Medical Directives 4000000 2002 2004 Commission
POLAND Chemical Directive and Administration 2000000 2002 2004 Commission
POLAND Medical products surveillance and registration system 2000000 2003 2005 Commission
POLAND Market surveillance 2700000 2003 2005 Commission
POLAND Réglementation technique, Eval uation de la conformité Directives
Nouvelle Approche1500000 2001 2003 Commission
POLAND Development of legislation on foodstuffs 4000000 2001 2003 Commission
POLAND Jumelage II: normalisation, cert ification, formation d'organismes
d'évaluation de la conformite * *200000 2001 2003 France
POLAND Jumelage III: normalisation, certification, formation d'organismes
d'évaluation de la conformite * *300000 2002 2004 France
ROMANIA Development of quality infrastructure 4400000 2000 2004 Commission
ROMANIA Strengthening market surveillance and consumer protection 2000000 2003 2005 Commission
ROMANIA Technical Assistance for the Romanian Standards Association (ASRO) 265000 2002 2003 Commission
ROMANIA Formation à la normalisation 15000 2002 2003 France
SLOVAK REPUBLIC Strengthening the Institute for Standardisation 1000000 2000 2003 Commission
SLOVAK REPUBLIC Support for market surveillance 2200000 2002 2004 Commission
SLOVAK REPUBLIC Application of the Act on technical requirements for products and on
conformity assessment and technical assistance in the process of the
adoption of the Acquis Communautaire in the area of free movement of
goods560000 2002 2003 Commission
SLOVENIA Development of market surveillance, conformity assessment and
standardisation2000000 2000 2004 Commission
SLOVENIA Support to official market su rveillance laboratories 400000 2002 2004 Commission
SLOVENIA Conformity assessment and Accreditation 1600000 2002 2005 Commission
SLOVENIA Support to the standardisation work 150000 2003 2005 Commission
SLOVENIA Technical legislation and enf orcement in the harmonised and non-
harmonised area400000 2003 2005 Commission
TURKEY Support to the quality infrastructure in Turkey 13000000 2002 2005 Commission
TURKEY Support for market surveillance 2250000 2003 2004 Commission
TURKEY Institution building for the Telecommunication authority 2260000 2002 2005 Commission
TURKEY Support for the Establishment of a National Accreditation System 1022583.76239244 2000 2005 Germany
* The Commission funded projects are usually implemented  by organisations outside the Commission
** These are the French parts of two projects financed jointly by the Commission and France. The Commission part of the financi ng in both projects is 1,5 million and is included in Co mmission financed Poland projects mentioned in this list
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