Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council - Thematic Programme on Cooperation with Industrialised and other High-income Countries under the future Financial Perspectives (2007-2013)
Date: 2006-01-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, EU relations, OECD countries, cooperation policy, multiannual financial framework, trade relations

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 25.1.2006 
COM(2006) 25 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND TO THE COUNCIL 

Thematic Programme on Cooperation with Industrialised and other High-income 
Countries under the future Financial Perspectives (2007-2013) 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

2.3. 

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 

Context ......................................................................................................................... 3 

Scope ............................................................................................................................ 3 

Justification for a Thematic Programme ...................................................................... 4 

Existing policy and cooperation framework and past experience................................ 5 

2.3.1.  Non-EU OECD countries............................................................................................. 5 

2.3.2.  Newly industrialised Asian countries and territories ................................................... 6 

2.3.3.  Gulf Cooperation Council countries ............................................................................ 7 

3. 

3.1. 

3.2. 

3.3. 

3.4. 

Main features of the TPIC............................................................................................ 8 

Overall aim................................................................................................................... 8 

Specific objectives ....................................................................................................... 8 

Main priorities.............................................................................................................. 8 

Programming principles ............................................................................................. 10 

ANNEXES................................................................................................................................... 12 

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND TO THE COUNCIL 

Thematic Programme on Cooperation with Industrialised and other High-income 
Countries under the future Financial Perspectives (2007-2013) 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

In  order  to  rationalise  and  simplify  the  current  legislative  framework  governing  external 
actions of the Community, the European Commission has proposed a new framework of six 
instruments  under  the  2007-2013  Financial  Perspectives.  Three  of  the  instruments  (for 
humanitarian aid, for stability and for macro-financial assistance) are horizontal in nature in 
order to respond to particular needs and circumstances. The other three instruments (for pre-
accession assistance, for supporting the European Neighbourhood and Partnership policy and 
for development cooperation and economic cooperation) are designed to implement particular 
policies and have a defined geographical coverage. In future, these instruments will form the 
basic  legislative  acts  for  Community  expenditures  in  support  of  external  cooperation 
programmes,  including  appropriate  thematic  programmes  and  will  replace,  inter  alia,  the 
existing thematic regulations. 

Thematic  programmes  provide  a  distinct  added  value  through  implementing  activities  to 
complement  geographical  programmes,  which  remain 
the  principal  framework  for 
Community cooperation with third countries. 

The  Commission  has  undertaken  to  discuss  the  scope,  objectives  and  priorities  for  each 
thematic  programme  with  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  based  on  formal 
communications  to  both  Institutions1.  The  results  of  this  process  will  provide  the  policy 
orientations  for  the  subsequent  stages  of  programming,  and  in  particular  for  the  thematic 
strategy papers to be drawn up in accordance with the provisions of the above instruments. 

2. 

CONTEXT 

2.1. 

Scope  

The EU has consistently strengthened its bilateral relations with a broad range of developed 
countries  and  newly  industrialised  countries  and  territories  over  the  past  decade  across 
different regions of the world: primarily North America, East Asia and Australasia, but also 
South-East  Asia  and  the  Gulf  region.  The  envisaged  Thematic  Programme  for  cooperation 
with  Industrialised  and  other  High-income  Countries  (TPIC)  lays  down  a  framework  for 
widening and deepening cooperation and engagement with these industrialised countries and 
territories which, despite their geographic spread, structural differences and variable size, are 
committed  to  developing  their  bilateral  relations  with  the  EU.  Cooperation  between  the  EU 

1 

See  Communication  from  the  Commission  to  the  Council  and  the  European  Parliament  on  “External 
Actions  through  Thematic  Programmes  under  the  Future  Financial  Perspectives  2007-2013”  - 
COM(2005) 324, 3.8.2005. 

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
                                                 
and these countries is primarily guided by the EU’s own policy objectives – although pursuit 
of these objectives will produce benefits for all concerned. 

Implemented  under  the  planned  Development  Cooperation  and  Economic  Cooperation 
Instrument2 (DCECI), the TPIC’s main focus will be on those partner countries which share 
similar  political,  economic  and  institutional  structures  and  values  to  the  EU  and  which  are 
important  bilateral  political  and  trading  partners  for  the  EU  as  well  as  major  players  in 
multilateral fora and in global governance. But, it will also address other newly industrialised 
countries and territories with which the Union has a strategic interest in promoting its political 
and economic links and influence. 

The geographical coverage of the TPIC therefore encompasses: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

key  non-EU  OECD  countries3:  the  United  States,  Japan,  Canada,  the  Republic  of 
Korea, Australia and New Zealand; 

certain  Asian  industrialised  countries  and  territories  which  are  excluded  from  the 
DAC4  list  of  ODA  recipients:  Singapore,  Hong  Kong,  Macao,  Brunei  and  Chinese 
Taipei; 

Gulf  Cooperation  Council  countries  which  are  excluded  from  the  DAC  list  of  ODA 
recipients: Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia5. 

In future, the extension of the geographical scope of the TPIC may be considered if and when 
countries or territories covered by the DCECI were to be excluded from the DAC list of ODA 
recipients. The resources allocated to this programme would then be revised accordingly 

2.2. 

Justification for a Thematic Programme 

Relations  and  related  cooperation  programmes  with  TPIC  countries  and  territories  have 
developed  at  different  speeds,  on  the  basis  of  different  legal  bases  and  within  different 
political frameworks6, reflecting inter alia the diversity of the countries concerned – in terms 
of size, culture, population, bilateral economic links and trade flows with the EU.  

There  are  no  bilateral  country  strategies  and  indicative  programmes  for  cooperation  with 
industrialised  countries.  Shared  policy  goals  and  co-operation  objectives  laid  down  in  the 
various  bilateral  instruments  (such  as  framework  agreements,  cooperation  agreements, 
political declarations, cooperation agendas and action plans7) which govern relations between 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 
7 

Commission  Proposal  for  a  Regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  a 
financing  instrument  for  development  cooperation  and  economic  cooperation  -  COM(2004)  629, 
29.9.2004. 
To  date  covered  by  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  382/2001  of  26  February  2001  concerning  the 
implementation  of  projects  promoting  cooperation  and  commercial  relations  between  the  European 
Union  and  the  industrialised  countries  of  North  America,  the  Far  East  and  Australasia  and  repealing 
Regulation (EC) No 1035/1999. 
The  Development  Assistance  Committee  is  the  principal  body  through  which  the  OECD  deals  with 
issues related to co-operation with developing countries. 
Saudi  Arabia  is  expected  to  be  removed  from  the  DAC  list  of  Upper  -  Middle  Income  Developing 
Countries by 2008. Should the provision laid down in the DCECI make it possible, Oman may also be 
included in this third category. 
See Annex 1. 
See Annex 1. 

EN 

4 

   EN 

 
                                                 
the European Union and the partner countries will determine the cooperation initiatives under 
the TPIC. However, these initiatives are designed to complement and reinforce government to 
government  dialogue  between  the  EU  and  these  countries  through  independent  cooperation 
between  a  broad  range  of  actors  on  a  wide  array  of  policy  issues.  Financial  support  for 
cooperation with industrialised countries will essentially be focused on stimulating initiatives 
from, and interaction between economic, social actors and other private and public-law bodies 
in the EU and partner countries, through which bilateral relations will be strengthened. 

This type of cooperation activity between the EU and the TPIC partner countries could not be 
addressed appropriately through geographic programmes8, within the meaning of the DCECI. 
Hence  the  need  for  a  dedicated  Thematic  Programme  to  develop  collaborative  initiatives  in 
pursuit  of  an  agenda  driven  by  the  EU’s  strategic  objectives.  Economies  of  scale,  synergy 
effects,  greater  effectiveness  and  visibility  will  be  achieved  by  organising  the  diversified 
bilateral cooperation initiatives within a single framework. This is all the more likely, as some 
of these initiatives could be of regional nature. 

2.3. 

Existing policy and cooperation framework and past experience 

Bilateral cooperation with the countries and territories targeted by the TPIC has been guided 
in the past by a broad array of legally binding and non-binding instruments, as described in 
Annex  1.  The  main  past  achievements  and  orientations  under  this  framework  are  outlined 
below.  

2.3.1.  Non-EU OECD countries 

The foundation stone for past and future cooperation with the United States, Canada, Japan, 
the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand is the body of initiatives undertaken during 
the  period  2001-2006  under  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  382/2001.  These  reflect  the 
cooperation  agendas  set  out  in  various  bilateral  instruments.  This  institutional  set-up  has 
provided  the  framework  in  which  to  develop  projects  to  support  and  invigorate  the  EU’s 
political  and  economic  relations  with  these  countries.  It  has  also  usefully  complemented 
specific  bilateral  agreements  between  the  Community  and  some  of  these  countries,  for 
instance in the fields of education and science and technology. 

Council Regulation (EC) No 382/2001 covers two overarching themes: a) the development of 
projects aimed at reinforcing bilateral cooperation with all the partner countries across a broad 
range  of  areas,  and,  b)  the  promotion  of  commercial  relations  with  an  exclusive  focus  on 
Japan and Korea. 

In terms of cooperation, the main initiatives that have been carried out are: 

–  the establishment and development of a network of 27 EU Centres9 at universities in the 
six  partner  countries.  These  seek  to  promote,  within  the  partner  countries,  a  better 
understanding  of  the  European  Union,  its  institutions,  its  history,  its  economy  and  its 
policies; 

8 

9 

These  are  essentially  external  assistance  programmes  jointly  endorsed  with  partner  countries  and 
focused on their development needs. 
15 Centres in the US, 5 in Canada, 1 in Australia, 1 in New Zealand and 2 in Japan. The expansion of 
the EU Centre network in Australia (2 more Centres), its rationalisation in the US and its extension to 
Korea (1 Centre) are currently under way. 

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
                                                 
–  support  for  the  New  Transatlantic  Agenda  EU-US  policy  dialogue,  the  European  Union 
and  the  United  States  Initiative  to  Enhance  Transatlantic  Economic  Integration  and 
Growth, and the Trade and Investment Enhancement Agreement with Canada; 

–  development of activities that encourage policy research and debate by various think tanks 

and other organisations in the USA and Canada; 

–  reinforcement  of  people-to-people  links  through  initiatives  such  as  transatlantic  civil 
society  dialogues,  the  EU-Japan  year  of  people-to-people  exchanges,  or  support  for  pilot 
projects in the field of higher education with Australia and New Zealand. There has also 
been a successful cooperation with the US and Japan in the area of employment and social 
policy  with  a  focus  on  demographic  trends,  disability,  equal  opportunities,  health  and 
safety issues. 

In terms of the promotion of commercial relations, the objective of facilitating market access 
for  EU  companies  and  improving  their  business  presence  in  Japan  and  Korea  have  been 
addressed through two main programmes: 

–  a human resource development programme, the “Executive Training Programme in Japan 
and  Korea”,  which  helps  EU  companies  to  develop  Japan  /  Korea  in-house  expertise 
through  language  and  business  training  for  their  key  executives.  To  date,  nearly  1  000 
European executives have participated in this programme; 

–  the EU Gateway to Japan campaign which is a commercial promotion programme aimed at 
assisting EU SMEs in their efforts to develop their business and expand their sales on the 
Japanese market through targeted trade missions. The current Gateway to Japan campaign 
is  expected  to  introduce  some  1 000  EU  SMEs  in  the  Japanese  market  over  the  period 
2002-2006.  

Both of these programmes have been extended to the New Member States. 

The  cooperation  and  the  commercial  activities  altogether  were  the  subject  of  an  external 
evaluation in 200410 which concluded that these initiatives are relevant, effective and have a 
positive impact, and recommended that they should be continued and reinforced. 

2.3.2.  Newly industrialised Asian countries and territories 

The  TPIC  also  includes  newly  industrialised  Asian  countries  and  territories  with  whom  the 
EU  is  engaged  in  long-term  relations:  Brunei,  Hong  Kong,  Macao,  Singapore  and  Chinese 
Taipei.  The  TPIC  will  make  it  possible  to  address  cooperation  needs  with  these  countries, 
which, in the past could not be covered by the Asia and Latin America (ALA) Regulation11 as 
a result of the focus of this instrument on developing countries. 

10 

11 

Evaluation  of  the  Executive  training  programme  and  the  third  Gateway  to  Japan  Campaign  –  JITEX 
Expertise  Technologique  et  Stratégique  –  23  July  2004;  Evaluation  of  the  establishment  and 
development of EU Centres – The Evaluation Partnership – September 2004. 
Council Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 of 25 February 1992 on financial and technical assistance to, and 
economic cooperation with, the developing countries in Asia and Latin America. Macao has previously 
benefitted from co-operation activities financed under the ALA Regulatiuon, but, is no longer eligible 
for such assistance. 

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
                                                 
There is no specific bilateral agreement with Hong Kong. However, in a 1997 communication 
entitled “The EU and Hong Kong: Beyond 1997”, before Hong Kong’s return to China as a 
“Special  Administrative  Region”  under  the  “one  country,  two  systems”  principle,  the  EU 
stated its intention to foster relations with the territory. Since then the Commission undertook 
to have a vigorous and effective engagement with the Hong Kong SAR and to explore ways 
to put trade investment and co-operation relations on a more permanent footing.  

The EU is committed to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations, and to help promote 
Macao as a hub for training and cultural exchanges.  

Relations  with  Chinese  Taipei  are  based  on  respecting  the  one  China  policy.  There  are  no 
diplomatic  or  political  relations,  but  intensive  contacts  take  place  in  the  areas  of  economy, 
trade, science and technology, standards and norms and on a number of other fields.  

The  EC-ASEAN  agreement  provides  the  framework  for  the  institutionalised  dialogue  with 
Brunei and Singapore with a focus on trade, economic co-operation and development. The EU 
is  aiming  to  establish  a  relationship  with  Singapore  based  on  an  up-to-date  policy  agenda 
focusing on a wide range of issues. This is being pursued, inter alia, through a new Bilateral 
Cooperation and Partnership Agreement, currently under negotiation. This agreement reflects 
Singapore’s prominent role in EU-South-East Asian relations in the fields of trade, business, 
education and research. 

2.3.3.  Gulf Cooperation Council countries 

Finally,  the  TPIC  includes  the  countries  of  the  Gulf  Cooperation  Council,  which  were 
previously covered under the ALA Regulation (see above). Thus, Kuwait, Qatar, the United 
Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia also fall under the remit of the TPIC12.  

EU relations with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates 
are governed by the 1989 Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the 
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). 

The  European  Union  is  seeking  to  enhance  cooperation  activities  between  economic,  social 
and  civil  society  actors  in  the  EU  and  in  the  GCC  countries  within  the  framework  of  the 
Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean and the Middle East, which was approved by the 
European  Council  in  June  2004.  The  EU  is  therefore  looking  forward  to  enhancing 
cooperation activities along a small  number of key orientations in order to better reflect the 
strategic nature of the relationship and advance EU interests in the region. 

The GCC is currently the EU's fifth largest export market. Owing to the large quantity of fuel 
shipped  from  the  Gulf  (69%  of  total  EU  imports  from  the  GCC  countries),  the  GCC  is  the 
EU’s fourteenth biggest source of imports.  

The  Commission’s  cooperation  with  the  GCC  is  focused  on  energy  and  economic  issues. 
There  is  a  regular  dialogue  between  experts  on  energy  questions  which  has  resulted  in  the 
launching of seminars, workshops and international conferences. Furthermore, an Economic 
Dialogue  meeting  was  launched  in  2003  with  the  aim  of  facilitating  dialogue  and  better 
understanding  on  areas  of  shared  interest.  This  dialogue  should  provide  for  a  forum  to 
exchange know-how and best practices on issues related to regional integration (e.g. customs 

12 

When activities will have a regional character, these may also include Oman. 

EN 

7 

   EN 

 
                                                 
union, economic and monetary union, competition law) as well as on other areas of interest 
for both parties (e.g. Iraq).  

3. 

MAIN FEATURES OF THE TPIC 

3.1. 

Overall aim 

The  overall  aim  of  the  Thematic  Programme  for  Cooperation  with  Industrialised  Countries 
(TPIC) is to create a coherent framework further to develop relations between the European 
Union  and  the  partner  countries,  and  to  promote  the  Union’s  strategic  interests  in  these 
countries.  Supporting  and  invigorating  the  political  dialogue  and  economic  interaction  with 
these partner countries through a set of practical co-operation actions will help broaden and 
deepen  both  bilateral  and  regional  relations  and  make  the  EU  a  more  recognised,  better 
understood, and more sought-after actor on the international political scene. 

3.2. 

Specific objectives 

The specific objectives of the TPIC are therefore as follows: 

–  to  foster  collaborative  projects,  cooperative  linkages,  economic  partnerships,  people-to-
people exchanges and joint undertakings between actors in the EU and in partner countries; 

–  to  promote  the  development  of  policy  dialogues  and  the  dissemination  of  expertise 
between political, economic and social partners, as well as other civil society and non-state 
actors, in accordance with the overall goals for each partner country;  

–  to promote a better understanding  of the EU (its institutions, its policies,  its  positions on 
global challenges and its economic, social and political integration processes as well as the 
corresponding  implications  for  its  external  relations,)  with  all  parties  in  the  partner 
countries,  including  opinion  formers,  decision  and  policy  makers,  business  circles  and 
professional  associations,  trade  unions,  consumer  associations,  environmental  groups, 
political parties, the media, academia and other multipliers;  

–  to  influence  positively  the  perceptions  of  individuals  and  of  public  and  private 
organizations  in  the  partner  countries  about  the  EU  and  to  encourage  their  greater 
engagement with the EU in support of Community international policy objectives;  

–  to stimulate bilateral trade, investment flows and customs cooperation between the EU and 
partner countries and foster collaborative action to strengthen the social and environmental 
dimension of globalisation. 

When appropriate, in order to foster regional cooperation, these objectives could be pursued 
through a regional approach. 

3.3.  Main priorities 

In order to achieve significant impact, the above objectives will be achieved by focusing on a 
limited number of priorities. Depending on circumstances and opportunities, activities will be 
designed and implemented in the form of country-specific, regional or sectoral initiatives. The 
Commission  will  seek  to  ensure  coherence  between  the  activities  supported  across  the 

EN 

8 

   EN 

 
countries,  as  has  usually  been  the  case  as  regards  past  cooperation  with  non-EU  OECD 
countries. 

In the context of the objectives stated above, the main priorities proposed for the TPIC are:  

–  Public diplomacy in particular through i) the consolidation and expansion of the existing 
network  of  EU  Centres  as  centres  of  excellence  and  the  establishment  of  new  such  EU 
Centres in partner countries where they do not exist, and measures to promote networking 
between EU Centres; ii) the development of activities that encourage policy research and 
debate  by  think  tanks  and  other  organisations  on  themes  relevant  to  the  development  of 
bilateral relations between the EU and the partner countries. 

–  Promotion  of  economic  partnerships,  business  collaboration  and  science  and 
technology cooperation. These could be achieved, inter alia, by helping EU companies to 
build up their capacity to handle more effectively the specific features of the market and 
business  environment  in  the  partner  countries.  In  this  context,  existing  programmes  or 
initiatives  whose  lifecycle  goes  beyond  2006  should  be  continued  (e.g.  the  Executive 
Training Programme to Japan and Korea) or reshaped (e.g. Gateway to Japan Campaign) 
as  appropriate.  Under 
the  Euro-Info 
Correspondence Centres network to selected TPIC partner countries as a means to promote 
business  linkages  will  be  considered,  as  well  as  other  measures  to  support  the 
implementation  of  economic  initiatives  with  partner  countries.  Furthermore,  since  most 
TPIC countries are focused on innovation and competitiveness and are seeking to develop 
a  knowledge-based  economy,  there  would  be  considerable  value  and  common  interest  in 
fostering scientific and research cooperation activities. Although the purpose of the TPIC 
should  not  be  to  fund  R&D  projects,  it  could  support  activities  aimed  at  stimulating  and 
facilitating  the  interaction  between  the  research  communities  in  the  EU  and  the  partner 
countries and their access to funding opportunities under the 7th Framework Programme. 

the  possibility  of  expanding 

this  priority, 

–  People-to-people links including the development of education cooperation with those 
partner countries with which there is no bilateral education cooperation agreement13. Some 
of the TPIC countries are at the forefront of education and vocational policies and systems 
and host world-class higher education institutions. They therefore provide real potential for 
dynamic and mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of education and training. In this 
context,  the  possibility  of  a  regional  Asia-Pacific  higher  education  cooperation  initiative, 
which  would  provide  a  single  framework  for  bilateral,  regional  and,  if  appropriate, 
multilateral cooperation between, on the one hand, the EU and, on the other hand, partner 
countries  in  the  region,  should  be  explored.  This  would  aim  to  promote  joint  curriculum 
development  and  student/faculty  mobility  between  EU  institutions  and  partner  countries’ 
institutions,  fostering  the  dialogue  on  education  policies,  and  other  specific  higher 
education  initiatives.  In  addition  to  the  single  cooperation  framework,  the  potential  for 
cooperation  in  the  field  of  education  in  the  form  of  enhanced  access  to  the  Erasmus 
Mundus  programme  could be explored,  for  instance through an Erasmus Mundus “Asian 
Window”  broadened  towards  East  Asia,  South-East  Asia  and  Australasia,  as  well  as  the 
opening up of a Transatlantic window. The aim of such cooperation would be to stimulate 
the  inflow  of  students  and  academics  from  the  partner  countries  in  Erasmus  Mundus 
Masters’ Courses. The Commission may undertake discussions with the interested partner 

13 

To date such agreements are only in place with the USA and Canada. 

EN 

9 

   EN 

 
                                                 
countries to agree on the procedures and, with a view to achieving a multiplier effect on 
the EU investment, explore with them the scope for matching contributions from their side.  

–  Dialogues  :  in  order  to  complement  the  formal  policy  dialogue  at  government  level,  the 
TPIC will provide support for dialogues activities with and between stakeholders in areas 
of  strategic  importance  for  co-operation  with  the  partner  country  concerned,  such  as 
business;  consumers;  environment;  energy  and  transport;  employment,  social  policy  and 
equal opportunities; the media, including the audiovisual sector etc., as well as actions to 
facilitate  the  exchange  of  information  and  best  practice  in  the  area  of  regulatory 
cooperation.  This  may  also  include  the  development  of  special  visitors’  programmes 
focused on specific target groups (e.g. media professionals, regulators, social partners and 
other appropriate experts). 

–  Outreach  through  targeted  activities  and  events  in  the  partner  countries  to  stimulate 
interest in Europe and the EU, to increase the visibility of the European Union in partner 
countries, to help the public understand what the EU is and what it does, to raise awareness 
about  EU  policies  and  institutions  and  the  EU’s  role  as  an  international  actor  on  the 
economic  and  political  stage,  and  to  advance  specific  current  or  future  cooperation 
objectives. 

In  complement  to  the  main  cooperation  areas  indicated  above,  the  TPIC  should  provide  a 
sufficiently flexible framework to address and support country-specific  areas of  cooperation 
or new cooperation areas which may be identified in the future. 

3.4. 

Programming principles 

Four-year  (2007-2010)  and,  subsequently,  three-year  (2011-2013)  Thematic  Strategy  Papers 
(programming  documents)  will  be  decided  by  the  Commission  following  the  Comitology 
procedures.  The  Thematic  Strategy  Paper  for  industrialised  countries  will  provide  further 
detail on the policy priorities and translate these into planned actions. These documents will 
define  the  eligibility  criteria  for  beneficiaries  and  spell  out  the  type  of  actions  to  be 
undertaken.  Complementarity  with  other  Community  programmes,  particularly  the  other 
Thematic Programmes, as well as national and regional programmes will be sought, bearing 
in mind that, as there are no geographic programmes14 for TPIC countries, the risks of overlap 
or duplication of efforts are limited.  

The  Thematic  Strategy  Paper  will  provide  an  indicative  budget  breakdown  between  (i) 
eligible partner countries and territories, (ii) priorities for action and (iii) bilateral and multi-
country / regional initiatives. It will also provide a breakdown for the financial allocations to 
fund both the operational expenditure and the administrative expenditure (technical assistance 
to  the  EC,  studies  and  evaluations).  On  the  basis  of  this  multi-annual  programming,  the 
Commission  shall  produce  annual  work  plans  which  establish  the  priority  actions  to  be 
supported, specific objectives, anticipated results as well as indicative amounts. 

The  programme  will  be  managed  by  the  Commission  including,  when  appropriate,  through 
deconcentration of management responsibilities to the EC delegations in the partner countries. 

14 

This is without prejudice to the possible involvement of some TPIC countries in regional programmes 
within the meaning of the DCECI. For example, Brunei or Singapore could participate to an ASEAN-
wide programme independently of (but in complementarity with) their participation in the TPIC.  

EN 

10 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Although  it  is  not  possible  to  define  a  mechanical  distribution  key,  resource  allocation  will 
take  into  account,  among  other  things,  the  past  levels  of  Community  financial  intervention 
(see  Annex  2)  as  well  as  the  relative  size  of  countries  and  the  relative  breadth,  depth  and 
magnitude of the political and economic relations between the EU and the partner countries. 
However,  the  need  to  achieve  significant  impact  at  country  level  will  also  be  taken  into 
consideration. 

When  applicable,  the  Commission  will  seek  co-sharing  of  the  cost  of  activities  with  the 
partner countries concerned; however, this will not be a mandatory requirement since, in some 
instances (e.g. public diplomacy), the partner countries may consider the policy objectives of 
the EU to be of an adversarial nature. 

The Commission will prepare regular activity reports and the Commission services will also 
carry out a mid-term review. An external evaluation of the operations during the first three-
year period (2007-2009) will be carried out to provide input to the preparation of the second 
Thematic Strategy Paper (2011-2013). The reports will be transmitted to, and discussed with, 
the Council and the European Parliament. 

EN 

11 

   EN 

 
ANNEX 1 - ESTABLISHED COOPERATION FRAMEWORK 

ANNEXES 

The key legal and policy tools for fostering cooperation with TPIC countries are as follows: 

1. 

OECD MEMBER COUNTRIES 

Council Regulation (EC) No 382/2001 of 26 February 2001 concerning the implementation of 
projects  promoting  cooperation  and  commercial  relations  between  the  European  Union  and 
the  industrialised  countries  of  North  America,  the  Far  East  and  Australasia,  amended  by 
Council Regulation (EC) No 1900/2005 of 21 November 2005. 

The  Transatlantic  Declaration  on  EU/US  Relations  of  1990,  and  the  New  Transatlantic 
Agenda  and  Joint  EU-US  Action  Plan  of  1995;  the  European  Union  and  the  United  States 
Initiative to Enhance Transatlantic Economic Integration and Growth adopted at the EU-US 
Summit in June 2005. 

The EU-Japan Action Plan adopted at the 10th EU-Japan bilateral summit of December 2001; 

The  Framework  Agreement  on  Trade  and  Cooperation  with  the  Republic  of  Korea  and  its 
attached Political Declaration of October 1996; 

The 1997 Joint Declaration on Relations between Australia and the European Union and the 
2003 Agenda for Cooperation; 

The  Joint  Declaration  on  Relations  between  the  European  Union  and  New  Zealand  of  May 
1999 and the 2004 Action Plan “Priorities for Future Cooperation”;  

The  Framework  Agreement  for  Commercial  and  Economic  Cooperation  between  the 
European Community and Canada of 1976, the Declaration on European Community-Canada 
relations  of  1990,  the  EU-Canada  joint  action  plan  of  1996  and  the  EU-Canada  Partnership 
Agenda of 2004 

2. 

NEWLY INDUSTRIALISED ASIAN COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES 

The cooperation with Brunei, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macao (since 1999) and Singapore 
have been excluded from the Council Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 of 25 February 1992 on 
financial and technical assistance to, and economic cooperation with, the developing countries 
in Asia and Latin America (the “ALA” regulation), as a result of the status of these countries 
and territories as non-developing countries.  

However  the  European  Union  is  engaged  in  long-term  relations  with  these  countries  and 
territories: 

There is no specific bilateral agreement with Hong Kong, but the EU has explicitly stated its 
intention,  before  Hong  Kong’s  return  to  China  as  a  “Special  Administrative  Region”  under 
the  “one  country,  two  systems”  principle,  to  foster  relations  with  that  territory.  In  a  1997 
communication entitled “The EU and Hong Kong: Beyond 1997” the Commission undertook 
to have a vigorous and effective engagement with the Hong Kong SAR and to explore ways 

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
to  put  trade  investment  and  cooperation  relations  on  a  more  permanent  footing.  The  EU  is 
also  engaged  with  Hong-Kong  through  a  Customs  Agreement  (1999)  and  a  Readmission 
Agreement (2002). Senior Officials Meetings between the Hong Kong SAR and the EC take 
place on a regular basis under an informal agreement. 

In  the  case  of  Macao  our  relations  are  based  on  a  Trade  and  Co-operation  Agreement 
concluded  on  14  December  1992,  which  came  into  effect  on  1  January  1993  and  on  the 
Commission  communication  of  November  1999  entitled  “The  European  Union  and  Macao: 
Beyond the Year 2000”.  

Although there are no diplomatic or political relations with Chinese Taipei, intensive contacts 
do  take  place  in  the  areas  of  economy,  trade,  science  and  technology,  standards  and  norms 
and on a number of other subjects. Since March 2003 the Commission also has a European 
Economic and Trade Office in Chinese Taipei.  

Relations with Brunei Darussalam and with Singapore are governed by the 1980 Cooperation 
Agreement  between  the  European  Community  and  the  ASEAN  Countries  (see  Council 
Regulation  (EC)  No  1440/80  of  30  May  1980  concerning  the  conclusion  of  a  cooperation 
agreement  between  the  European  Community  and  Indonesia,  Malaysia,  the  Philippines, 
Singapore  and  Thailand,  member  countries  of  the  Association  of  the  South-East  Asian 
Nations,  and  the  Protocol  on  the  extension  of  the  Cooperation  Agreement  between  the 
European  Economic  Community  and  Indonesia,  Malaysia,  the  Philippines,  Singapore  and 
Thailand,  member  countries  of  the  Association  of  the  South-East  Asian  Nations,  to  Brunei-
Darussalam  (OJ  L  81,  23.3.1985).  Negotiations  with  the  City-State  for  a  new  Bilateral 
Cooperation  and  Partnership  Agreement  have  been  launched  and  are  being  intensively 
pursued. 

3. 

GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COUNTRIES 

EU relations with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, 
are governed by a Cooperation Agreement signed in 1989 between the European Community 
and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).  

Negotiations for an EU-GCC Free Trade Agreement were opened in 1990 and re-launched in 
2001. The Commission is seeking to conclude these negotiations as soon as possible. Beyond 
these contractual relations, a political dialogue takes place once a year at Ministerial level and 
includes discussions on human rights, regional issues of common interest and security-related 
topics such as counter-terrorism cooperation and non-proliferation. 

EN 

13 

   EN 

 
ANNEX 2 - RECENT INTERVENTIONS BASED ON THE PRESENT THEMATIC BUDGET LINE 

Budget line 19-05-02 Relations with non-EU OECD countries: period 2003-2006 

Breakdown per partner country (and main activities) 

Instruments 

Amount (€) 

Cooperation  with  the  USA  (main  activities:  EU  Centres, 
Public  diplomacy,  Outreach  actions,  Transatlantic  dialogue 
activities) (1) 

Call  for  proposals 
and 
for 
Call 
Tenders  

10.704.956

Cooperation  with  Canada  (main  activities:  EU  Centres, 
Public diplomacy, Academic Links) (1) 

Call  for  proposals 
and 
for 
Call 
Tenders 

2.913.866

Cooperation with Japan (main activities: EU Centres, People 
to People exchanges …) 

Call for Proposals 

3.164.179

Cooperation with Korea (EU Centre) 

Call for Proposals 

859.055

Cooperation  with  Australia  and  New  Zealand  (EU  Centres, 
higher education cooperation projects) 

Call for Proposals 

4.590.000

Economic and Commercial Promotion Programmes: 

- Gateway to Japan Campaign 

- Executive Training Programme  

Call  for  proposals 
and 
for 
Call 
Tenders 
(Scholarships) 

12.678.071

28.918.530

Small scale cooperation projects, evaluations, etc... 

Contracts, grants 

1.172.246

(1) Education cooperation with the US and Canada are implemented and funded separately on 
the basis of specific bilateral cooperation agreements. 

TOTAL   

65.000.903

EN 

14 

   EN