Council of Europe regional EaP 2019 - 2023 Europarådet regionalt ÖstP 2019 - 2023 Den föreslagna insatsen stödjer genomförandet av Europarådets strategiska handlingsplaner i sex länder inom det Östliga Partnerskapet: Armenien, Azerbaidzjan, Georgien, Moldavien, Ukraina och Belarus, under perioden 2019-2023.

Den föreslagna insatsen bygger på resultat av tidigare samarbete och på dialog med respektive svensk ambassad. Budgetanslaget till respektive handlingsplan tar också hänsyn till det totala beloppet som tillhandahålls av andra givare, bland annat EU, Norge och Danmark. Den svenska regeringens ökade fokus på demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter har gjort det möjligt för ett mer generöst budgetanslag till Europarådet än vad som tidigare planerats.  

Den föreslagna insatsen stödjer genomförandet av följande strategiska handlingsplaner:

Europarådets handlingsplan för Armenia 2019-2022;
Europarådets handlingsplan för Azerbaijan 2018-2021;
Europarådets handlingsplan för Belarus 2019-2021; 
Europarådets handlingsplan för Georgia 2016-2019 (2020-2023);
Europarådets handlingsplan för the Republic of Moldova 2017-2020;
Europarådets handlingsplan för Ukraine 2018-2021.

Handlingsplanerna har tagits fram i nära samarbete med nationella myndigheter och intressenter inom civila samhället. Aktuella områden ligger i linje med de svenska målen för reformsamarbetet i Östeuropa och utgör, tillsammans med Europarådets mervärde, en grund för strategiskt samarbete mellan Sida och Europarådet.

Även om prioriteringarna varierar från land till land, avser handlingsplanerna att främja mänskliga rättigheter och värdighet, säkerställa sociala rättigheter, säkerställa rättvisa, stärka rättsstatsprincipen, motverka hot mot rättsstatsprincipen, stärka den demokratiska styrningen, främja innovation samt främja deltagande och mångfald. Handlingsplanernas inriktning stöder främst revideringen av lagstiftnings- och institutionella ramar i linje med Europarådets standarder och effektiviteten hos reformerade och nyetablerade demokratiska institutioner som bidrar till genomförandet av Europakonventionen om mänskliga rättigheter och andra CoE standarder. The Sida funded programme will support the CoEs country Action Plans in the EaP region, i.e.  Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The suggested budget totals 79 MSEK, during the period 2019-2023. The allocations for respective country are as follows: Ukraine 29 MSEK; Georgia 20 MSEK; Armenia 20 MSEK; Moldova 5 MSEK; Azerbaijan 3 MSEK; and Belarus 2 MSEK. 

The suggested new framework agreement is based on positive results of previous cooperation and dialogue with respective Swedish embassy as to the relevance of the CoE in respective country. The total Sida budget allocations made to the respective Action Plan also considers the total amount provided by other donors, among others EU, Norway and Denmark. The increased focus on democracy and human rights by the Swedish government has allowed for a more generous budget allocation to the CoE than previously foreseen. 

The suggested programme with CoE supports the implementation of the following strategic programming documents and respective new Action Plan under preparation:

The Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2019-2022;
The Council of Europe Action Plan for Azerbaijan 2018-2021;
The Council of Europe Action Plan for Belarus 2019-2021; 
The Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2016-2019 (2020-2023);
The Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2017-2020;
The Council of Europe  Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2021.

The key sectors included, although priorities vary for each country, are promoting human rights; promoting human rights and dignity; ensuring social rights; ensuring justice; strengthening the rule of law; countering threats to the rule of law; strengthening democratic governance and fostering innovation; promoting participation and diversity. The focus of the Action Plans primarily supports the revision of legislative and institutional frameworks in line with the CoE standards and the efficient functioning of reformed and newly established democratic institutions contributing to the implementation of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and of other CoE standards. The Sida funded programme will support the Council of Europe's (CoEs) country Action Plans in the Easter Partnership (EaP) region, i.e.  Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine with a total suggested budget of 75 MSEK during the period 2019-2023. These Action Plans are strategic instruments which aim, through co-operation, to accompany countries in their efforts to bring legislation, institutions and practice further into line with European standards in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and democracy thus supporting countries in meeting their obligations.
The intermediate outcomes expected are:
1. Eastern Partnership countries legislation, institutions and practices were further brought in line with European standards in the areas of human rights, rule of law and democracy.
2. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine made further progress in meeting their obligations as Council of Europe member states.
Immediate outcomes:
1.1 Human rights: Human rights protection and equality are enhanced through the well-structured and coordinated implementation of human rights standards, including those on gender equality, and an improved effectiveness of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) system.
2.1 Rule of law: Democratic security is strengthened by an enhanced implementation of the existing legislation and European standards, the development of an enabling legal and institutional framework for a democratic and an improved quality of justice and efficiency in combating corruption.
3.1 Democracy: The democratisation of society is fostered through electoral integrity, strengthened local democracy and increased participation of young people in the democratic process.
The focus of the Action Plans is to support: the revision of legislative and institutional frameworks in line with the CoE standards; the efficient functioning of reformed and newly established democratic institutions contributing to the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and of other Council of Europe standards.