Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)
Date: 2005-04-14
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: Community budget, EU aid, accession to the European Union, pre-accession strategy

20.9.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 231/67

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing an
Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)

(2005/C 231/09)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

Having regard to the Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assis-
tance (IPA) (COM(2004) 627 final — 2004/0222 (CNS));

Having regard to the decision of the European Commission of 29 November 2004 to consult it on this
matter, under the first paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to the decision of its Bureau of 28 September 2004 to instruct the Commission for External
Relations to draw up an opinion on this subject;

Having regard to the whole package revising the external aid framework adopted by the European
Commission on 29 September 2004 including in addition to the instrument for pre-accession assistance:
1) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council laying down general provisions
establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (COM(2004) 628 final — COD
2004/219); 2) Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a finan-
cing instrument for development cooperation and economic cooperation (COM(2004) 629 final); 3)
Proposal for a Regulation of the Council establishing an Instrument for Stability (COM(2004) 630 final —
CNS 2004/223);

Having regard to the decision by the European Council on 16-17 December 2004 to open negotiations
with Turkey;

Having regard to the conclusions reached by the European Council in 17-18 June 2004, to the effect that
Croatia is a candidate country for membership; to the presidency conclusions of the European Council of
16 and 17 December 2004 on opening accession negotiations with Croatia; and on the decision of the
Council of the European Union of 16 March 2005 that the commencement of accession negotiations has
been postponed until such time as full cooperation with the ICTY has been confirmed;

Having regard to its opinion on the financial perspectives: Communication from the European Commission
Building our common Future — Policy challenges and Budgetary means of the Enlarged Union 2007-2013
COM(2004) 101 final, CdR 162/2004 fin, (Rapporteur: Cllr Sir Albert Bore, Birmingham City Council (UK,
PES));

Having regard to the Resolution of the Committee of the Regions of 18 November 2004 on the opening
of negotiations for Turkey's accession to the EU;

Having regard to its draft opinion (CdR 498/2004 rev. 1) adopted on 7 February 2005 by the Commission
for External Relations (rapporteur: Ms Ruth Coleman, Leader of the North Wiltshire District Council (UK/
ELDR);

1)

Whereas, the draft regulation is dependent on an agreement between the Member States on the
financial perspectives (see above);

adopted the following opinion at its 59th plenary session, held on 13 and 14 April 2005 (session
of 14 April).

1. The Committee of the Regions' views

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

Potential Candidate Countries as a means of streamlining
support and enhancing co-ordination between the different
components of support;

1.1
welcomes this Instrument as a response to the demands
for more flexibility and simplicity in the system for pre-acces-
sion assistance and as an improved tool for bridging the gap
between pre-accession and accession;

1.2
recognises that lessons have been learnt from earlier
accession instruments and therefore welcomes the creation of a
single framework for pre-accession assistance to Candidate and

recognises the difference between pre-accession aid and
1.3
traditional development aid,
in that pre-accession aid is (a)
directed towards the goal of accession in the short or medium
term and (b) intended to prepare countries for the time after
accession. The overall objective of pre-accession assistance is
progressive alignment with the standards and policies of the
European Union;

C 231/68

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.9.2005

1.4
welcomes the decision to offer pre-accession assistance
both to Candidate Countries and Potential Candidate Countries:
both groups to have access to the components:

— Transitional Assistance and Institution Building

— Regional and Cross-Border Cooperation;

Candidate Countries to have access in addition to the compo-
nents:

— Regional Development

— Human Resources Development

— Rural Development;

1.5
welcomes the reduction in the number of budget lines
covering pre-accession assistance as this will enable greater
flexibility to meet the needs of Candidate and Potential Candi-
date Countries;

1.6
believes that the proposal that management of assistance
to Candidate Countries may include decentralised management
whereas assistance to Potential Candidates Countries will
continue to be centrally managed is a balanced one;

1.7
welcomes the merge of the budget lines provided by DG
Regio and DG Enlargement for cross-border cooperation. This
will enable a more flexible system with one management
authority;

1.8
welcomes the streamlining and improved coordination
of pre-accession support to Candidate and Potential Candidate
Countries and to the democratic institutions in those countries,
including local and regional government.

Brussels, 14 April 2005

2. The Committee of the Regions' recommendations

2.1
highlights the fact that the scope of the proposed assis-
tance includes many areas in which local and regional govern-
ment has experience and thus could take an important role,
including:

— strengthening democratic institutions

— economic reform

— promotion and protection of human rights and funda-
mental freedoms and enhanced respect for minority rights

— the development of civil society

— regional and cross-border cooperation;

2.2
recommends that local and regional government within
the European Union should offer a wide range of expertise in
the areas for assistance listed in paragraph 1.4 (above), which
information
could be delivered for example by means of
exchange or technical assistance programmes or by assisting in
conferences with the aim of familiarising local/regional govern-
ment in the Candidate/Potential Candidate Countries with the
Community acquis;

2.3
urges local and regional authorities to consider using the
opportunity offered in Article 16 to participate in tenders and
contracts for delivery of the programmes for assistance under
this Instrument;

2.4
suggests conducting regular monitoring and evaluation
of the IPA by the European Commission. Where regional and
local matters are concerned, this should be in cooperation with
the Committee of
the Regions. This would improve the
management of projects to cover the actual needs of both
sides, the EU and candidate or potential candidate countries.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Peter STRAUB