Commission staff working document accompanying the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2008 - Sectoral Progress Report {COM(2009) 188 final} {SEC(2009) 511} {SEC(2009) 512} {SEC(2009) 513} {SEC(2009) 514} {SEC(2009) 515} {SEC(2009) 516} {SEC(2009) 517} {SEC(2009) 518} {SEC(2009) 519} {SEC(2009) 520} {SEC(2009) 521} {SEC(2009) 523}
Date: 2009-04-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European neighbourhood policy, impact study, the EU's international role

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 23.4.2009 
SEC(2009) 522 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

Accompanying the 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION  
TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 

Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2008 

Sectoral Progress Report 

{COM(2009) 188 final} 
{SEC(2009) 511} 
{SEC(2009) 512} 
{SEC(2009) 513} 
{SEC(2009) 514} 
{SEC(2009) 515} 
{SEC(2009) 516} 
{SEC(2009) 517} 
{SEC(2009) 518} 
{SEC(2009) 519} 
{SEC(2009) 520} 
{SEC(2009) 521} 
{SEC(2009) 523} 

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Introduction 

The  common  agenda  of  the  EU  and  its  sixteen  partners  under  the  European 
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP1) includes a wide range of political, socio-economic and 
‘people  to  people’  areas  of  cooperation.  This  report  summarises  the  common 
implementation  of  this  deep  and  fruitful  agenda,  in  2008,  on  a  series  of  sectoral 
subject  matters.  It  also  provides  a  snapshot  of  selected  operational  issues  under  the 
European  Neighbourhood  and  Partnership  Instrument  (ENPI)  (Neighbourhood 
Investment  Facility,  TAIEX,  twinning,  SIGMA).  Bilateral  financial  cooperation  is 
dealt with in the country progress reports. Furthermore, it describes the state of play 
regarding  the  preparation  of  the  participation  by  ENP  partners  in  Community 
programmes  and  agencies.  Annexes  on  these  issues,  governance  and  economic 
indicators and mobility complete the document.  

Sectoral policy dialogue remains one of the tools in supporting ENP partners in their 
reform.  Progress  on  sector  reform  is  one  of  the  political  instruments  towards  better 
governance  in  our  neighbourhood  and  brings  citizens  a  better  socio-economic 
environment.  In  2008,  as  in  previous  years,  the  ongoing  sectoral  policy  dialogue 
provided excellent opportunities for peer contacts between the EU and ENP partners 
in  areas  such  as  social  reform,  trade,  migration  and  visa  issues,  transport, 
environment, climate change, energy, student mobility, education, culture, health and 
statistical methodologies and standards. This enabled a significant transfer of reform 
know-how.  The  ENP  partners  showed,  although  to  varying  degrees,  some  increased 
interest,  in  line  with  the  ambitions  of  the  ENP  Action  Plans,  in  a  gradual 
approximation with EU standards and rules. Sectoral dialogues continued to be held, 
inter  alia,  in  the  numerous  sectoral  subcommittees  and  working  groups  established 
under the bilateral agreements with the ENP partners. In addition, informal dialogue 
contributed to strengthening sectoral relations with the ENP partners.  

Social reform and policy 

In  the  field  of  employment  and  social  policy  much  remains  to  be  done.  All  ENP 
partners  continue  to  consider  the  fight  against  poverty  and  the  promotion  of 
employment  as  priorities.  The  first  Euro-Mediterranean  Employment  and  Labour 
Ministers Conference took place in Morocco in November 2008. It addressed various 
aspects  related  to  human  development,  and  adopted  an  ambitious  framework  for 
action  to  promote  employment  creation,  the  modernisation  of  labour  markets,  and 
decent work. Most partners are still faced with a number of challenges such as high 
unemployment,  which  particularly  affects  young  people  and  women,  the  prevalence 
of an informal economy, leaving workers without social rights and social protection, 
as well as the mismatch between education and labour-market needs. Most countries 
lack an integrated approach combining economic, employment and social objectives. 
They also suffer from poor administrative capacity in this area. Significant efforts are 
needed  to  implement  effective  labour-market  policies  and  to  promote  decent  work, 

1 

The  ENP  covers  Algeria,  Armenia,  Azerbaijan,  Belarus,  Egypt,  Georgia,  Israel,  Jordan, 
Lebanon,  Libya,  Republic  of  Moldova,  Morocco,  the  occupied  Palestinian  territory,  Syria, 
Tunisia  and  Ukraine.  Bilateral  Action  Plans  have  been  adopted  with  twelve  of  the  partners, 
namely all but Algeria, Belarus, Libya and Syria. 

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and aimed at productive employment, rights at work, social protection, social dialogue 
and  equal  opportunities  for  men  and  women.  The  social  and  employment  impact  of 
the global economic crisis is increasing these challenges. 

Several  countries  took  steps  to  strengthen  bipartite  and  tripartite  social  dialogue 
(Egypt  and  the  Republic  of  Moldova  (hereinafter,  including  in  the  tables,  Moldova). 
However,  further  efforts  are  needed  to  effectively  establish  a  fully  fledged  social 
dialogue  and  ensure  that  the  relevant  International  Labour  Organisation  (ILO) 
fundamental  conventions  on  freedom  of  association  and  collective  bargaining  are 
ratified  by  all  partners  (Jordan,  Lebanon  and  Morocco).  Armenia  and  Azerbaijan 
qualified for the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good 
governance,  the  GSP+  scheme,  for  2009-2011.  The  scheme  was  also  renewed  for 
Georgia which needs to fully demonstrate on the ground its commitment to develop 
and respect social dialogue in line with the respective ILO core labour standards.  

Overall, social protection coverage remains poor. Most countries are still in the early 
process of developing social protection and pension schemes but a few (Morocco and 
Moldova)  have  started  reforms.  The  measures  undertaken  over  the  reporting  period 
have not yet fully yielded their fruits and the impact of the financial crisis is expected 
to  enhance  the  challenges  for  social  protection.  The  social  inclusion  of  vulnerable 
groups needs to be further addressed. 

Participation  of  women  in  social,  political  and  economic  life  still  has  to  be 
strengthened  in  varying  degrees.  Discrimination  against  women  and/or  domestic 
violence  remains  widespread.  Further  criminalisation  of  offences  against  women  is 
needed.  While  substantial  barriers  remain,  many  countries  have  taken  measures  to 
further  promote  gender  equality.  Significant  efforts  are  needed  in  order  to  increase 
women’s participation in the labour market. 

in 

The  ENP  partners  continued  to  make  limited  progress  with  regard  to  implementing 
sustainable  development.  Most  partners  have 
the  meantime  established 
sustainable  development  strategies  and  related  inter-ministerial  structures.  However, 
under the particular circumstances of the areas in question, those structures are very 
slow  in  delivering.  Therefore,  continued  attention  is  needed  in  most  cases  to  ensure 
proper  functioning  of  such  structures  towards  more  concrete  implementation  of 
sustainable development strategies. In view of the current global economic situation, a 
particular  effort  will  be  required  in  order  to  reconcile  the  ongoing  structural 
adjustment  process  with  sustainable  development  requirements,  based  on  a 
recognition of how sustainable development can support long-term poverty reduction. 

Trade, market and regulatory reform 

Considerable  progress  was  made  in  2008  in  the  area  of  trade  and  economic 
integration,  a  central  plank  of  the  intensified  ENP.  Negotiations  on  the  Deep  and 
Comprehensive  Free  Trade  Agreement  (DCFTA)  with  Ukraine  were  formally 
launched in February 2008 after the conclusion of Ukraine’s WTO accession process. 
The  European  Commission  Autonomous  Trade  Preferences  (ATPs)  for  Moldova 
entered into force on 1 March 2008. Negotiations for further liberalisation of trade in 
agricultural,  processed  agricultural,  fish  and  fishery  products  were  concluded  with 
Israel and Egypt. Negotiations with Morocco and Tunisia are still ongoing. Feasibility 

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studies exploring the possibility of free trade agreements with Georgia and Armenia 
were  concluded  in  May  2008  and  subsequently  a  preparatory  process  for  possible 
future  negotiations  of  a  DCFTA  with  each  of  two  countries  was  launched.  In  this 
framework, the European Commission in particular carried out a fact-finding mission 
to  Georgia  in  October  2008  and  a  similar  mission  to  Armenia  took  place  after  the 
reporting  period,  in  February  2009.  A  similar  feasibility  study  for  Moldova  was 
launched  in  December  2008.  Bilateral  negotiations  were  launched  with  several 
Mediterranean  ENP  partners  on  the  liberalisation  of  services  and  the  right  of 
establishment  (Egypt,  Israel,  Morocco,  and  Tunisia).  Technical  discussions  with 
Mediterranean ENP partners (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and occupied Palestinian 
territory) on dispute-settlement mechanisms also continued in 2008; negotiations on a 
bilateral  protocol  had  been  concluded  with  Tunisia.  Negotiations  on  a  free  trade 
agreement were launched with Libya in November 2008. The Association Agreement 
with  Syria  was  initialled.  A  roadmap  with  Algeria  including  actions  in  the  area  of 
trade,  internal  market  and  regulatory  reform  was  adopted  in  September  2008;  it  is 
aimed  at  re-launching  bilateral  relations  with  that  country.  The  Euro-Mediterranean 
Senior Officials’ Working Group continued its preparations for a Euro-Mediterranean 
Trade Roadmap till 2010 and beyond. Despite some small progress, the results from 
implementation of the Agadir Agreement appear to be modest, and trade between the 
four countries (Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia) remains limited also due to the 
existence  of  non-tariff  barriers.  The  four  countries  in  the  Agadir  framework 
implement the Pan-Euro-Med system of cumulation of origin.  

The customs administrations of most of the partner countries, and particularly those 
of Egypt, Georgia, Moldova, Morocco and Tunisia continued their reform in order to 
facilitate  trade  and  strengthen  the  security  of  the  supply  chain.  This  included 
strengthening  the  use  of  IT  systems  combined  with  increased  use  of  risk-based 
customs  controls.  Work  on  introducing  the  concept  of  a  single  window  for  all 
international  trade-related  documentation  and  control  is  ongoing  in  some  of  the 
partner  countries  (Jordan,  Moldova,  Morocco,  Ukraine  and  Tunisia).  Armenia, 
Georgia  and  Ukraine  will  have  to  ensure  that  their  customs  administration  acquires 
the  necessary  capacity  for  certification  and  verification  of  origin.  Armenia  started  a 
customs  modernisation  reform  aimed  at  fighting  corruption  and  introducing  the 
principles of trade facilitation, self-declaration and cooperation with private operators. 
The  European  Commission  started  a  dialogue  at  technical  level  with  the  State 
Customs Committee of Belarus on issues of common interest. The new roadmap with 
Algeria includes several commitments in the customs area.  

On standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment, all ENP partners 
made progress in the preparatory work towards negotiation of bilateral agreements on 
Conformity  Assessment  and  Acceptance  of  Industrial  Products  (ACAA).  They 
continued  progressive  alignment  towards  relevant  EU  legislation  in  selected  sectors 
and  upgrading  of  the  necessary  infrastructure.  Challenges  remain  with  regard  to 
setting up the appropriate quality infrastructure, and with regard to legal and technical 
capacity  to  manage  and  enforce  the  legislation.  In  December  2008,  ACAA 
negotiations  were  launched  with  Israel  in  the  sector  of  Pharmaceutical  Good 
Manufacturing  Practice  (GMP).  Further  sectors  are  under  preparation.  Tunisia 
progressed well in its ACAA preparations.  

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Regarding  sanitary  and  phyto-sanitary  (SPS),  the  ENP  partners  made  some 
progress. There is a need to sustain efforts in the coming years. Armenia strengthened 
institutions  and  laboratories  and  prepared  a  draft  veterinary  law.  Egypt  further 
reinforced  controls  on  potato  exports  and  for  the  first  time,  during  the  2007/2008 
season,  no  interceptions  took  place  in  the  EU.  The  country  adopted  legislation 
introducing  at  some  establishments  high  hygiene  standards  based  on  the  hazard 
analysis  critical  control  point  system  (HACCP).  It  continues  to  take  measures  to 
combat  avian  influenza,  after  the  2006  outbreak  which  caused  human  fatalities. 
Georgia,  Morocco  and  Tunisia  prepared  their  future  participation  in  the  EU’s  rapid 
alert system for food and feed (RASFF). Israel adopted, in February 2009, a phyto-
sanitary  law  governing  the  import  of  plants  and  plant  products.  Jordan  issued 
legislation  regarding  a  national  identification  and  farm  registration  system.  Lebanon 
prepared  a  draft  Law  on  animal  quarantine.  In  Moldova,  the  Law  on  veterinary 
activity entered into force and a law on protection of plants was adopted. In October, 
the  Government  established  the  Sanitary-Veterinary  Agency  for  Safety  of  Animal 
Origin Products. Morocco submitted to Parliament key legislation on food safety and 
the  establishment  of  a  food  safety  agency.  It  started  to  participate  in  TRACES,  the 
Community electronic network for export certificates on animals and animal products. 
Tunisia  continued  work  on  a  food  safety  law.  Ukraine’s  Government  submitted  to 
Parliament  a  plan  for  monitoring  residues  and  contaminants  in  live  animals  and 
animal  products  2008-2013.  It  also  introduced  hygiene  rules  based  on  the  hazard 
analysis critical control point system (HACCP) in further establishments. In 2008, the 
EU added Ukraine to the list of countries with approved residue monitoring plans for 
poultry  (including  geese),  aquaculture  finfish  and  equidae.  Ukraine  is  already  listed 
for milk, honey and eggs.  

In 2008, the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office carried out several 
inspection  visits  to  ENP  countries  (Egypt,  Israel,  Moldova  and  Ukraine).  The  ENP 
partners  continued  cooperation  with  the  EU  in  training  seminars  under  the 
Commission’s ‘Better Training for Safer food’ programme. Cooperation on SPS was 
also  sustained  through  SPS-related  (twinning)  projects  (e.g.  Azerbaijan,  Jordan, 
Lebanon,  Morocco,  Tunisia  and  Ukraine).  Projects  are  envisaged  in  additional 
countries. In November, Belarus and Ukraine participated, together with the Russian 
Federation,  in  a  European  Commission  Task  Force  meeting  in  Riga  on  rabies 
eradication. In December the European Commission and Belarus enhanced dialogue 
through an experts’ meeting on agriculture and SPS. 

As  regards  business  climate,  establishment  and  company  law,  a  number  of  ENP 
countries  (Egypt,  Jordan,  Morocco,  Tunisia)  conducted  reforms  aimed  at  improving 
the  business  environment  and  facilitating  enterprise  development,  bringing  their 
policies  closer  to  those  of  the  EU.  Administrative  requirements  and  control  of 
companies still exist in a number of countries. Further efforts are needed to strengthen 
and  instil  corporate  governance  in  the  ENP  region  and  to  complete  the  ongoing 
legislative revisions in order to ensure a predictable business environment.  

In the area of taxation, some partner countries further amended their legislation and 
in some cases continued reforms to modernise and simplify the tax system (Armenia, 
Moldova, Morocco and Tunisia). This process included strengthening the IT capacity 
of the tax administrations (Armenia, Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territory) as 
well as the creation of large tax payers’ directorates or units (Armenia, Jordan). The 

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number  of  bilateral  treaties  on  the  avoidance  of  double  taxation  with  EU  Member 
States increased during the reporting period. Moldova and Ukraine took measures to 
tackle  the  issue  of  VAT  refunds.  However,  a  more  systematic  change  is  needed  in 
Ukraine.  

On  competition  policy,  some  ENP  countries  made  progress  in  strengthening  the 
competition authority and in enacting modern competition laws. Dialogue continued 
with  most  ENP  partners  on  the  question  of  state  aid.  Morocco  made  progress  in 
activating  its  Competition  Council  and  is  issuing  an  annual  report  on  all  public  aid. 
Armenia has a legal and institutional framework in place for competition policy.  

Most ENP countries continued to upgrade their legislation in the field of intellectual 
property  rights  (IPR)  but  deterrent  enforcement  of  the  legislation,  including  at 
judicial level, as well as effectively fighting piracy remain a common challenge. The 
first joint seminar on IPR issues took place in October 2008 between the ENP partners 
(including Algeria, Belarus and Syria), the European Commission and the European 
Patent Office.  

On  financial  services,  most  ENP  partners  implemented  financial  sector  reforms  in 
line with international best practices. In particular, they upgraded the regulatory and 
supervisory  framework  and  worked  to  establish  independent  supervisory  authorities. 
In  Georgia,  a  unified  Financial  Supervision  Agency  replaced  previous  separate 
institutions  for  supervision  of  the  financial,  insurance  and  securities  sectors.  Egypt, 
Israel, Jordan and Morocco continued their reforms in the financial sector.  

Approximation  and  full  implementation  of  EU  standards  in  the  field  of  public 
procurement  still  require  a  substantial  amount  of  efforts  in  our  partner  countries. 
Moldova  and  Morocco  started  implementing  revised  legislation,  but  further  work  is 
needed to ensure transparency of procedures. 

Further liberalisation took place with regard to movement of capital and payments 
(Tunisia, Ukraine). 

Most ENP partners, including the Palestinian Authority, benefited from EU assistance 
in the field of statistics. The aim is to ensure production of reliable data necessary for 
informed  policy  making  and  good  governance.  As  stated  last  year,  Georgia’s 
Department of Statistics continues to suffer from a lack of administrative capacity. In 
the  Mediterranean  ENP  countries,  progress  was  seen  in  the  adoption  of  EU  and 
international  standards  and  methodologies  for  statistics  in  the  field  of  agriculture, 
energy,  environment,  migration,  national  accounts,  social  affairs,  tourism,  trade  and 
transport. Memoranda of Understanding on data exchange were signed between Israel 
and Morocco and the EC (Eurostat). 

The  ENP  partner  countries  involved  in  developing  consumer  protection  (Israel, 
Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia) continued to take initial steps to better protect 
the interest of consumers and empower them.  

As  regards  co-operation  in  the  field  of  public  internal  financial  control  (PIFC)  in 
the  framework  of  public  finance  management,  Moldova  and  Ukraine  continued 
reform efforts in establishing and implementing control systems and internal audit in 

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accordance  with  internationally  agreed  standards.  No  significant  developments  were 
noted  in  Armenia,  Azerbaijan  and  Georgia  while  reforms  advanced  modestly  in 
Jordan,  the  occupied  Palestinian  territory  and  Morocco  but  lacked  pace  in  Egypt, 
Lebanon  and  Tunisia.  Public  internal  financial  control,  which  is  based  on  advanced 
principles  such  as  managerial  accountability  and  operationally  independent  and 
decentralised  internal  audit,  can  only  successfully  develop  under  the  principle  of 
transparency inherent in a democratic state order.  

Regarding enterprise policy, the Mediterranean partners continued to implement the 
Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise. The countries’ progress in implementing 
the  Charter  was  assessed  in  detail  through  a  study  coordinated  by  the  European 
Commission  in  cooperation  with  the  OECD,  the  European  Training  Foundation  and 
the European Investment Bank.  

Most  ENP  partner  countries  continued  to  upgrade  their  audit  and  accounting 
systems. 

Cooperation on justice, freedom and security 

Enhanced mobility remains a litmus test for the credibility of the ENP. On migration 
and  visa  facilitation,  the  visa  facilitation  and  readmission  agreements  with  Ukraine 
and  Moldova  entered  into  force  on  1  January  2008.  Moldova  worked  actively  to 
prepare the protocols to be signed with the EU Member States under the readmission 
agreement  and  established  a  readmission  fund.  Ukraine  also  smoothly  implemented 
its  readmission  agreement.  The  meetings  at  technical  level  and  the  latest  session  of 
negotiations  with  Morocco  on  a  readmission  agreement  have  not  achieved  as  much 
progress as expected.  

The  EU  and  Moldova  also  signed  a  pilot  Mobility  Partnership  in  June  2008,  under 
which a Cooperation Platform was organised in November 2008. The pilot Mobility 
Partnership aims to facilitate legal migration while at the same time combating illegal 
migration. In June 2008, the Council invited the Commission to open a dialogue with 
Georgia with a view to launching a Mobility Partnership. 

In  May  2008,  the  Euromed  Migration  II  Programme  formally  started  with  a 
conference  in  Brussels.  The  programme  will  strengthen  EU  cooperation  with  its 
Mediterranean  partners  on  migration  issues  and  reinforce  partners’  capabilities.  All 
four working groups set up under the programme met twice in 2008.  

No progress was reported with regard to improving document security.  

Limited progress was  made  with  regard to legislation on and protection of refugees 
and asylum seekers.  

The ENP partners continued to enhance their border management capacities to fight 
against cross-border and organised crime and to gradually approximate the border and 
law-enforcement  authorities’  standards  to  those  of  the  EU.  Capacity  building  to 
ensure effective border controls and surveillance as well as risk assessment techniques 
and analysis remain critical in this regard. As was the case in 2007, closer cooperation 
and communication between national authorities at regional level is required for ENP 
partner countries whose borders need to be demarcated and delimited. 

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Regarding the fight against organised crime, all ENP partners with an ENP Action 
Plan have  signed  the  UN Convention against Trans-national Organised Crime. Only 
Jordan  has  not  ratified  it.  Its  First  Protocol  to  Prevent,  Suppress  and  Punish  the 
Trafficking of Persons, especially Women and Children has been signed and ratified 
by  all  partners  except  Jordan  and  Morocco.  The  Second  Protocol  against  the 
Smuggling  of  Migrants  by  Land,  Sea  and  Air  has  been  signed  and  ratified  by  all 
partners  except  Israel,  Jordan  and  Morocco.  The  Third  Protocol  against  the  Illicit 
Manufacturing  of  and  Trafficking  in  Firearms,  Their  parts  and  Components  and 
Ammunition  remains  to  be  signed  and  ratified  by  Armenia,  Egypt,  Georgia,  Israel, 
Jordan, Morocco and Ukraine. Progress was made in establishing national plans and 
strategies.  As  was  the  case  in  2007,  ongoing  attention  needs  to  be  given  to  full  and 
effective implementation of established national plans and strategies against all forms 
of organised crime, particularly in the context of regional cooperation. 

Most ENP partners have adopted national action plans to fight trafficking in human 
beings,  including  victims-support  measures  aimed  at  recovery,  social  re-integration 
and inclusion. In 2008, Armenia, Georgia and Moldova ratified the Council of Europe 
2005 Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. It was not signed 
nor ratified by Azerbaijan or Ukraine. 

Most  ENP  partners  have  adopted  strategies  to  combat  money  laundering  and  the 
financing  of  terrorism,  incorporating  the  40  +  9  Financial  Action  Task  Force 
(FATF)  recommendations.  Armenia,  Azerbaijan,  Georgia,  Moldova,  Ukraine  and 
Israel take part in MoneyVal co-operation, the latter only as an observer. Belarus is a 
member of the EurAsian Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing 
of Terrorism (EAG) while Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine are observers. As was the 
case in 2007, the development of human and technical resources on money laundering 
remains a critical concern.  

Regarding the fight against drugs, all partner countries continued to implement their 
obligations  under  the  1988  UN  Convention  against  Illicit  Traffic  in  Narcotic  and 
Psychotropic Substances and other international instruments. Capacity building within 
designated  national  authorities  and  other  law  enforcement  agencies  to  deal  with  the 
drugs  phenomenon  in  terms  of  both  repressive  and  preventive  measures  needs 
ongoing  attention,  particularly  in  the  context  of  regional  cooperation.  Sharing  of 
intelligence  among  ENP  partners  and  other  geographical  neighbours  on  drugs 
production  as  well  as  on  trafficking  supply  routes  is  equally  important.  Moreover, 
further  work  on  dialogue  and  cooperation  with  civil  society  on  developing  effective 
harm-reduction  and  rehabilitation  programmes  as  well  as  additional  investment  in 
public health and curative facilities is required in all partner countries. In the period 
October-December 2008, the Regional Near East Dublin Group (EU Member States 
locally represented, Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway and the United States) prepared 
updated  narcotics  situation  reports  in  cooperation  with  the  relevant  authorities  of 
Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory.  

On police and judicial cooperation, relevant ENP partners made no progress in 2008 
on  ratifying  the  2001  Second  Additional  Protocol  to  the  European  Convention  on 
Mutual  Assistance  in  Criminal  Matters.  In  2008,  Armenia  and  Moldova  ratified  the 
Council of Europe’s Convention on the Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation 
of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism. It has yet to be ratified 

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by Ukraine while it has not been signed nor ratified by Azerbaijan and Georgia. In the 
area  of  criminal  law  cooperation,  Azerbaijan  and  Georgia  signed  the  Council  of 
Europe  Convention  on  Cybercrime  in  2008  while  Moldova  has  yet  to  ratify  it. 
Armenia and Ukraine completed ratification in previous years (respectively 2007 and 
2006). The 1997 Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced 
Persons has yet to be ratified by Armenia while Azerbaijan has yet to sign. As was the 
case in 2007, further attention and resources are therefore required where relevant, to 
ensure ratification and effective implementation of these Conventions.  

With regard to cooperation on civil law, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan and 
Ukraine are members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law working 
on  international  protection  of  children,  family  and  property  relations,  legal 
cooperation and commercial and finance law. In this context and in order to improve 
international  legal  assistance  and  cooperation,  all  ENP  partners  are  encouraged,  if 
they  have  not  already  done  so,  to  accede  to  the  1980  Hague  Convention  on  Civil 
Aspects  of  International  Child  Abduction;  the  1996  Hague  Convention  on  Parental 
Responsibility  and  the  Protection  of  Children;  the  1965  Hague  Convention  on  the 
Service  Abroad  of  Judicial  and  Extrajudicial  Documents  in  Civil  or  Commercial 
Matters  and  the  1970  Convention  on  Taking  of  Evidence  Abroad  in  Civil  or 
Commercial Matters.  

With the assistance of the Hague Conference, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and 
Tunisia  participate  in  the  Judicial  Conference  on  Cross-Frontier  Family  Law  Issues 
(the  ’Malta  Process’),  which  aims  to  promote  expert  dialogue  on  international  child 
protection and family law issues. In addition, all non-Council of Europe ENP partners 
are encouraged, where possible, to accede to the 1983 Council of Europe Convention 
on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and its two Additional Protocols as well as the 
Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime.  

Armenia  and  Belarus  are  signatories  to  the  1993  CIS  Minsk  Convention  on  Legal 
Assistance  and  Legal  Relations  in  Civil,  Family  and  Criminal  Matters  while 
Azerbaijan and Georgia cooperate within its framework.  

Moldova ratified the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Individuals 
with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data in June 2008 while it has yet to 
be  ratified  by  Ukraine  and  signed  by  Armenia  and  Azerbaijan.  Ratification  of  that 
Convention,  as  well  as  of  its  Additional  Protocol  regarding  supervisory  authorities 
and  transborder  data  flows,  is  essential  in  particular  in  terms  of  developing  further 
judicial and police cooperation as well as exchange of personal data with EUROJUST 
and Europol. 

Regarding  judicial  reform,  work  continued,  as  in  2007,  on  adoption  of  new 
legislation  to  enhance  the  capacity  and  efficiency  of  the  judiciary.  Efforts  to  secure 
greater judicial independence, effectiveness and impartiality faltered in several partner 
countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) and the situation did 
not substantially change in other ENP partner countries. National programmes for the 
continuing training of judges, prosecutors and court staff were implemented in several 
partner  countries  (Egypt,  Jordan,  Morocco)  alongside  the  simplification  of  court 
administrative  procedures  including  E-Justice  (Egypt,  Morocco,  Ukraine)  and 

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improving  access  to  justice  through  provision  of  legal  aid  (Egypt,  Georgia).  No 
tangible progress has been made in the area of judicial reform in Lebanon.  

In the area of penitentiary reform, progress remained slow in Armenia, Azerbaijan, 
Georgia,  Egypt,  Moldova,  Morocco,  Ukraine  and  Tunisia  albeit  with  some 
improvements to detention conditions in prisons and pre-trial detention centres, staff 
training  and  health  care  provision  for  prisoners.  However,  overcrowding  of  prisons, 
particularly  for  remand  prisoners,  recourse  to  ill  treatment  and  torture  and  lack  of 
access  by  human  rights  and  international  observers  to  penitentiary  facilities  are  all 
issues  which  remain  significantly  unaddressed.  The  use  of  parole  and  other 
alternatives to detention and long-term incarceration need to be explored.  

In  the  area  of  juvenile  justice,  dialogue  took  place  with  Georgia,  Morocco  and 
Ukraine  on  development  of  appropriate  protection  policies  for  child  and  young 
offenders  when  they  come  into  contact  with  law  enforcement  agencies.  There  is  an 
urgent need to develop education and rehabilitation activities in pre-detention centres 
for  young  offenders  where  applicable  and  to  define  appropriate  prevention  and 
probation  policies  to  offset  the  long-standing  judicial  tendency  to  resort  to 
incarceration. A lack of data on the treatment of child and juvenile offenders hampers 
attempts  to  develop  alternative  policy  responses  in  cooperation  with  national 
authorities. The application of international standards and norms on juvenile justice, 
particularly the 1985 UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile 
Justice  (Beijing  Rules)  and  the  1990  UN  Guidelines  for  the  Prevention  of  Juvenile 
Delinquency (Riyadh Guidelines) serve as one of the main reference points for future 
policy dialogue in this respect. 

All partner countries except Lebanon and Ukraine signed and completed ratification 
of  the  UN  Convention  against  Corruption.  All  ENP  partners  that  are  signatories  to 
the  latter  undertook  to  complete  the  Self-Assessment  Checklist  as  set  out  in 
Resolution 1-2 of the First Conference of State Parties in Amman of December 2006 
and to submit it to UNODC in time for the Third Conference of State Parties in Qatar 
in November 2009. It is hoped that the respective results will be made public in line 
with the Convention’s spirit and intent. 

As  a  complement  to  their  international  obligations  under  the  above  Convention, 
Algeria  and  Libya  ratified  the  2003  African  Union  Convention  on  Preventing  and 
Combating Corruption while Egypt and Tunisia have yet to sign it. Cooperation with 
civil society in the implementation of national anti-corruption plans remains critical in 
all partner countries in order to fight corruption in both the public and private sectors. 
In  2008,  Belarus  (as  a  non-Council-of-Europe  member)  and  Georgia  ratified  the 
Council of Europe’s Criminal Law Convention on Corruption. It was not ratified by 
Ukraine.  By  contrast,  the  2003  Additional  Protocol  to  the  latter,  aiming  to  protect 
arbitrators in civil and commercial matters as well as jurors from corruption was not 
signed  by  Azerbaijan  and  Georgia  and  not  ratified  by  Ukraine.  In  all  partner 
countries, further efforts are needed in order to transpose the relevant legal provisions 
into  national  legislation  and  to  establish  effective  instruments  to  prevent  and  fight 
corruption. 

With  regard  to  civil  service  and  public  administration  reform,  efforts  to  build  a 
professional  and  accountable  civil  service  did  not  substantially  advance  beyond  the 

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drafting and adoption of respective national strategies in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, 
Georgia,  Lebanon,  the  occupied  Palestinian  territory  and  Ukraine.  Important 
strategic  issues  such  as  future  capacity  building,  management  of  resources  and 
training  and  retraining  of  staff  cannot  be  sufficiently  addressed  in  all  cases  in  the 
absence of the adoption of specific reform legislation. During the last quarter of 2008, 
SIGMA  funded  preparatory  activities  for  future  civil  service  reform  in  Georgia, 
Moldova  and  Ukraine  focusing  on  training  networks,  recruitment  and  conflict  of 
interest respectively.  

A second phase of the Euro-Mediterranean Justice Programme, with the participation 
of all Mediterranean ENP partners, including Algeria and Syria was launched in 2008 
covering  the  themes  of  access  to  justice  and  legal  aid;  resolution  of  cross-border 
family  conflicts  and  criminal  and  prison  law.  The  programme  aims  to  establish  two 
regional networks of judges and other legal professionals and judicial schools. All the 
Mediterranean  partners,  including  Algeria  and  Syria,  participated  actively  in  the 
Euromed Police II programme covering joint cooperation activities and seminars for 
senior  officers  on  specialised  topics  of  practical  police  cooperation  in  all  fields  of 
organised  crime,  terrorism,  drug  and  weapons  trafficking.  In  addition,  Europol  in 
cooperation  with  UNODC  implemented  an  EC-financed  project  to  foster  the 
ratification and implementation of the Second Protocol to the UN Convention against 
Organised  Crime  on  the  Smuggling  of  Migrants  in  Algeria,  Egypt,  Libya,  Morocco 
and  Tunisia  through  legal  advice,  seminars  and  training  for  public  officials,  law 
enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges. 

Transport,  energy,  climate  change,  environment,  civil  protection,  research  and 
innovation, information society 

Regarding  transport,  the  partner  countries  continued  to  implement  sector  reforms 
increasing the efficiency, safety and security of transport operations. 

In  the  aviation  sector,  negotiations  on  more  comprehensive  Euro-Mediterranean 
aviation agreements were launched with Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. Negotiations on 
a  Common  Aviation  Area  agreement  with  Ukraine  have  been  slow  and  need  to  be 
accelerated  and  finalised  in  2009,  in  particular  given  the  importance  of  the  safety 
aspects.  Negotiations with  Algeria, Georgia and Tunisia should start soon, while all 
other  neighbouring  countries  remain  eligible  candidates  for  such  neighbourhood 
aviation  agreements.  Azerbaijan  needs  to  finally  sign  the  horizontal  air  transport 
agreement  negotiated  with  the  European  Commission  in  2004.  Most  countries 
continued to implement a policy of gradually introducing EU standards. However, the 
strong  need  to  strengthen  civil  aviation  administrations and  in  particular  safety 
oversight and performance of carriers remains.  

In  the  road  sector,  the  drawing-up  and  implementation  of  road  safety  action  plans 
remains  a  main  focus  of  transport  policy,  in  particular  in  Azerbaijan,  Egypt,  Israel, 
Morocco, Tunisia and Ukraine.  

Reform of the rail sector is  ongoing; in some countries very  comprehensive railway 
restructuring  plans  started  (Egypt)  or  are  nearly  completed  (Tunisia),  while  in  other 
countries (Moldova or Armenia), rail policy concentrates on upgrading or construction 
of new railway infrastructure. 

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Certain  partner  countries  need  to  step  up  efforts  to  implement  maritime  safety 
standards,  especially Georgia,  which is  still  considered a high risk  flag and  remains 
on  the  black  list  of  the  Paris  Memorandum  of  Understanding  on  port  state  control. 
Egypt and Lebanon also remained on the black list, while Ukraine rejoined the black 
list  from  the  grey  list.  However,  the  commitment  by  Morocco  to  bring  its  maritime 
transport closer to international and European standards (including the transposition, 
enforcement  and  implementation  of  EU  maritime  legislation)  has  had  the  positive 
result  of  removing  Morocco  from  the  black  list  of  the  Paris  Memorandum  of 
Understanding  on  port  state  control.  As  regards  port  reforms,  some  countries  (Syria 
and Ukraine) intensified efforts to render their ports more efficient. 

At  regional/multilateral  level  the  Mediterranean  partners  committed,  at  the  July 
Summit  of  the  Union  for  the  Mediterranean,  to  developing  motorways  of  the  sea, 
including the connection of ports, throughout the entire Mediterranean basin, as well 
as  to  creating  coastal  motorways  and  modernising  the  trans-Maghreb  train.  The 
partners  will  also  pay  particular  attention  to  cooperation  in  the  field  of  maritime 
security  and  safety.  The  Euro-Mediterranean  Transport  Forum  met  in  Brussels  in 
December  and  agreed  on  further  steps  to  implement  the  Regional  Transport  Action 
Plan  for  the  Mediterranean  for  the  period  2007-2013  (RTAP).  Furthermore,  the 
Transport Forum endorsed the list of priority projects drawn up by its Infrastructure 
Working  group  that  will  be  sent  to  the  next  2009  Euromed  Transport  Ministerial 
Conference.  The  working  group  on  infrastructure  and  regulatory  issues  is  the  main 
Euro-Mediterranean forum for discussing the Mediterranean transport axes and is also 
in charge of the review and monitoring of trans-national axes under the umbrella of 
the Regional Transport Action Plan. Motorways of the Seas issues are discussed under 
the  maritime  transport  working  group,  which  is  also  preparing  several  pilot  projects 
that  will  benefit  from  technical  assistance.  EC-funded  technical  support  is  ongoing 
and manifold: Euro-Mediterranean Regional Transport II, Safemed, Motorways of the 
Sea-MEDAMOS,  GNSS  and  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Aviation  Project  as  well  as 
technical  assistance  and  twinning  programmes  at  bilateral  level.  Extension  of  the 
major  axes  of  the  Trans-European  Transport  Networks  progressed  in  relation  to 
Eastern  European  neighbours.  The  negotiations  on  an  enhanced  agreement  with 
Ukraine  focus  on  implementation  of  the  Central  Axis,  the  TRACECA  Corridor  and 
deeper  approximation  with  EU  legislation.  Negotiations  were  held  with  Belarus  in 
order to integrate the country into the technical work to be carried out on the Northern 
Axis.  

Moldova,  Morocco,  Tunisia  and  Ukraine  benefited  from  allocations  of  the 
Neighbourhood  Investment  Facility  (under  the  European  Neighbourhood  and 
Partnership Instrument) in the area of road infrastructure, public transport and airport 
modernisation.  

The  January  2009  gas  crisis,  leading  to  reduced  Russian  supplies  to,  inter  alia,  the 
EU, Moldova and Ukraine, reminded the EU and ENP partners sharply of their shared 
interest  in  enhancing  energy  security.  Thus,  there  is  an  urgency  to  implement  the 
European  Commission’s  energy  security  proposals.  The  European  Commission 
highlighted  energy  security  also  in  its  second  strategic  energy  review2,  the  ‘EU 

2 

An EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan – COM (2008) 744 of 13 November 2008.  

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Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan’ presented in November 2008 in which it 
gives  a  roadmap  for  reinforcing  internal  and  external  energy  security.  This  policy 
paper,  broadly  endorsed  by  the  European  Council  on  19  and  20  March  2009,  calls, 
inter alia, for stepping up relations with ENP partners as important energy producers 
and  transit  countries.  The  cooperation  in  energy  yielded  substantial  results,  also  in 
2008.  

Bilaterally,  the  EU  and  Egypt  concluded,  in  November,  a  Memorandum  of 
Understanding  (MoU)  on  a  strategic  energy  partnership.  In  September  the  EU-
Ukraine  Summit  endorsed  the  third  progress  report  under  the  EU-Ukraine  Energy 
MoU.  Azerbaijan  and  the  EU  further  implemented  the  2006  MoU  on  a  strategic 
energy  partnership.  The  European  Commission  and  Moldova  strengthened 
cooperation  in  the  context  of  implementation  of  the  country’s  2007  energy  strategy. 
With Jordan and Morocco relations were enhanced, including on the basis of the 2007 
joint  energy  declarations.  The  European  Commission  held  two  technical  energy 
meetings and a TAIEX workshop on electricity market reform with Belarus. Contacts 
with Libya were enhanced, particularly in the context of the negotiations for an EU-
Libya  Framework  agreement.  The  finalisation  of  an  Energy  MoU  with  Algeria  is 
pending.  

level, 

At  regional/multilateral 
the  Eastern  partners  continued 
the  EU  and 
implementation  of  the  2006  energy  roadmap  agreed  by  ministers  of  the  ‘Baku 
initiative’ for EU-Black Sea/Caspian energy cooperation. The Mediterranean partners 
committed  themselves,  at  the  July  Summit  of  the  Union  for  the  Mediterranean,  to 
developing a Mediterranean Solar Plan. They advanced implementation of the priority 
action plan 2008-2013, decided in 2007 by Euro-Mediterranean energy ministers. In 
April,  Mediterranean  partners  participated  in  an  EU-Mashreq  Ministerial  meeting 
which promoted  energy cooperation in the  Mashreq and the  completion of the Arab 
Gas Pipeline beyond Syria. Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria (with Turkey and Iraq 
as  observers)  supported  by  the  European  Commission,  continued  work  towards 
creating a Euro-Mashraq natural gas market. This process was facilitated by the Euro-
Mashraq  gas  centre  located  in  Damascus.  In  June  2008,  the  European  Commission 
organised,  together  with  the  Energy  Charter  Secretariat,  a  regional  Hydrocarbon 
Production and Transportation  Seminar in Damascus. Algeria, Morocco and  Tunisia 
pursued  work,  with  EC  support,  towards  a  Maghreb  electricity  market.  Euro-
Mediterranean  partners  also  cooperated  on,  inter  alia,  energy  efficiency  and  the 
development  of  energy  statistics  and  regulatory  issues.  In  2008,  the  European 
Commission, Israel and the Palestinian Authority resumed trilateral energy dialogue 
on the Israeli-Palestinian ‘Solar for Peace’ initiative and the establishment of a joint 
energy office.  

In  2008,  ENP  partners  adopted  new  energy  strategies (Morocco  and  the  Palestinian 
Authority)  or  advanced  in  preparing  a  new  one  (Egypt).  Partners  explored  further 
possibilities  to  enhance  the  use  of  domestic  resources  including  hydrocarbons, 
renewable energy sources and, in the case of Egypt and Jordan, uranium and oil shale. 

The partners pursued the development and upgrading of energy networks. The Baku-
Tbilisi-Erzurum  (Turkey)  gas  pipeline  and  the  Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan  (Turkey)  oil 
pipeline,  which  are  increasingly  important  for  the  EU’s  energy  security,  continued 
exporting  Caspian  resources.  The  European  Commission  and  the  involved  Eastern 

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ENP  partners  completed  an  EC-funded  study  for  a  Trans-Caspian/Black  Sea  energy 
corridor.  In  2008,  Azerbaijan,  Georgia,  Lithuania,  Poland  and  Ukraine  launched  a 
new  study  on  the  extension  of  the  Odessa-Brody  oil  pipeline  to  Gdansk  in  Poland. 
Parties to the Arab gas pipeline confirmed they would work towards connecting the 
pipe to the Union. The pipeline  now  reaches  Syria. The gas pipeline between Egypt 
and Israel was completed and gas exports to Israel started. Italy and Tunisia advanced 
on expanding a gas pipeline between them. Tunisia developed plans for an additional 
gas  interconnection  with  Algeria  and  a  new  one  with  Libya.  Algeria  started 
construction of a new gas interconnection with Spain (Medgaz) and further prepared a 
link with Italy. The Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project, connecting Nigerian sources 
to the Mediterranean region and the EU, continues to be on the EU agenda. 

Regarding  electricity, Moldova  and  Ukraine  further  worked  towards  interconnecting 
their  networks  with  the  UCTE  networks  (interconnected  electricity  networks  of 
continental  Europe).  Moldova  constructed  an 
interconnection  with  Romania. 
Azerbaijan  and  Georgia  are  building  additional  electricity  interconnections  between 
them and plan to strengthen links with Turkey. The Armenia-Georgia interconnection 
project  progressed.  Mediterranean  partners  further  worked  towards  the  longer-term 
objective of establishing a Mediterranean electricity ring. In October, the Palestinian 
Authority joined the Arab electricity interconnection project alongside Egypt, Jordan, 
Lebanon,  Libya,  Syria,  Iraq  and  Turkey.  The  Jordan-Jericho  (occupied  Palestinian 
territory)  electricity  interconnection  was  completed.  Morocco  and  Spain  decided  to 
construct a third link between the countries. 

ENP  partners  took  some  steps  towards  longer-term  convergence  with  the  internal 
energy  market  rules.  In  2008,  Moldova,  Ukraine  and  the  European  Commission 
launched  negotiations  on  the  two  countries’  membership  of  the  Energy  Community 
Treaty.  Georgia,  as  observer,  participated  in  meetings  of  this  Community.  ENP 
partners continued restructuring of the gas and electricity sectors, prepared legislation 
and  worked  on  the  progressive  elimination  of  price  distortions.  They  strengthened 
regulators or prepared for their establishment. 

ENP  partners  somewhat  improved  energy  efficiency  and  started  the  process  of 
promoting  the  use  of  clean  energy  notably  renewable  energy.  The  Cairo-based 
Regional  Centre  for  Renewable  Energy  and  Energy  Efficiency  for  Middle  East  and 
North  Africa  countries  was  established  with  support  from  the  EC,  Denmark  and 
Germany.  Wind  energy  is  being  developed,  notably  in  Egypt  and  Morocco.  Tunisia 
adopted a strategy to enhance energy efficiency. 

Armenia  and  Ukraine  upgraded  the  safety  of  nuclear  power  plants  (NPP)  and 
strengthened the nuclear regulatory authorities. Armenia started to prepare a detailed 
decommissioning  plan  for  the  Medzamor  Nuclear  Power  Plant  on  the  basis  of  the 
2007 decommissioning strategy. It completed a feasibility study for the construction 
of  a  new  nuclear  plant.  Ukraine  and  the  European  Commission  pursued  their  joint 
evaluation  of  the  nuclear  safety  of  Ukraine’s  nuclear  power  plants,  with  the 
involvement  of 
the  International  Atomic  Energy  Agency.  Ukraine  further 
implemented  projects  at  the  Chornobyl  site.  Egypt  and  Jordan  confirmed  plans  to 
progress  the  construction  of  nuclear  power  plants.  Other  ENP  partners  remain  in 
principle interested in developing nuclear power production (Algeria, Belarus, Libya, 
Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia). The European Commission held technical meetings on 

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nuclear  safety  issues  with  Egypt,  Jordan  and  Morocco.  Azerbaijan  announced  its 
interest  in  building  a  nuclear  research  reactor.  It  should  be  recalled  that  the  ENP 
partners  are  called  upon  to  ensure  a  high  level  of  safety  and  security  of  nuclear 
installations and ensure that the research, development and use of nuclear energy for 
peaceful  purposes  are  carried  out  in  compliance  with  the  Treaty  on  the  Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 

the 
Egypt,  Georgia,  Tunisia  and  Ukraine  benefited 
Neighbourhood  Investment  Facility  (under  the  European  Neighbourhood  and 
Partnership  Instrument)  in  the  area  of  electricity  infrastructure  and  electricity 
production from renewable energy sources.  

from  allocations  of 

in 

There  was  some  progress 
international  climate  change 
implementing 
commitments. In the light of the significant challenges posed by adaptation to climate 
change,  several  partner  countries  either  started  to  prepare  or  adopted  strategy 
documents and studies on adaptation, such as Armenia, Israel, Moldova, Morocco and 
Tunisia.  The  European  Commission  continued  to  support  the  partner  countries  in 
implementing the Kyoto Protocol. Most partner countries are now in the final stages 
of  preparing  a  second  national  communication,  which  in  many  cases  includes  a 
greenhouse gas inventory.  

The majority of partner countries continued to prepare investment projects to promote 
the  use  of  the  Kyoto  Protocol’s  Joint  Implementation  and  Clean  Development 
Mechanism  which  help  the  EU  actors to  meet the  EU’s  climate  obligations,  reduce 
emissions  of  greenhouse  gases,  and  attract  state-of-the  art  investment  to  the  partner 
countries.  Progress  in  this  respect  was  most  notable  in  Armenia,  Azerbaijan,  Egypt, 
Georgia,  Israel,  Moldova  and  Tunisia.  However,  the  vast  majority  of  the  projects 
have still not yet been formally registered at UN level. Ukraine announced its plans to 
set up a domestic emission trading scheme.  

It  is  essential  that  the  ENP  partners  actively  engage  in  international  discussions  on 
post-2012 climate action, in order to complete the respective negotiations by the end 
of 2009.  

As  regards  the  environment,  progress  continued  to  be  limited,  reflecting  the 
significant challenges in this sector. The overall environment situation in the occupied 
Palestinian  territory  deteriorated  significantly.  Some  steps  were  taken  to  strengthen 
the  environment  administration  in  Egypt,  Israel,  Jordan  and  Moldova.  However, 
strengthened  administrative  and  implementation  capacity,  coupled  with  enhanced 
resources, is still required at all levels of partner countries, including co-operation and 
co-ordination between the different authorities. In the occupied Palestinian territory, 
the offices of the environment and water authorities in Gaza closed.  

The reporting period was marked by several partner countries’ increasing interest in 
converging with EU environment legislation and policy. Many partner countries took 
steps  to  adopt  (Armenia),  prepare  (Jordan  and  Ukraine),  review  (Moldova  and 
Morocco)  and  implement  (Azerbaijan,  Jordan,  Israel  and  Tunisia)  their  overall 
environment strategies and action plans.  

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Some  partner  countries  took  steps  to  prepare  (Moldova  and  Armenia)  or  review 
(Egypt)  environment  framework  legislation.  Limited  progress  can  be  noted  in  the 
adoption  of  issue-specific  legislation.  New  legislation  was  adopted  on  air  quality  in 
Israel, as well as implementing legislation on waste management in Morocco. Many 
countries  continued  preparing  new  legislation,  including  on  environmental  expertise 
in Armenia, water in Georgia, monitoring and inspection in Jordan, waste and water 
in Moldova, nature protection in Morocco, and protected marine and coastal areas in 
Tunisia.  

Some  progress  was  noted  in  the  adoption  of  sector-specific  strategies,  programmes 
and plans, such as on rural sanitation in Egypt, waste in Morocco and marine pollution 
in Israel. Preparation of new strategy documents and plans continued, such as on solid 
waste  and  water  in  Jordan  and  air  quality  and  water  in  Morocco.  Overall,  partner 
countries took limited steps to integrate environment considerations into other policy 
sectors.  

Many partners still need to fully establish or strengthen procedures for environmental 
impact  assessment  (EIA),  in  particular  with  regard  to  public  participation.  Morocco 
adopted implementing legislation on EIA.  

State-of-the environment reports were published or finalised in Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia 
and  Ukraine,  and  are  under  preparation  in  Georgia  and  Morocco.  Morocco  started 
preparing a new communication strategy. 

Lebanon and Syria took steps to ratify the amendments to the Barcelona Convention 
for  the  Protection  of  the  Marine  Environment  and  the  Coastal  Region  of  the 
Mediterranean.  Syria  also  ratified  the  amendments  to  the  Land-Based  Sources 
Protocol. Otherwise there was overall limited progress in the ratification and signing 
of international and regional environment conventions and protocols. Furthermore, the 
implementation  of  the  multiple  already  ratified  agreements  remains  a  challenge  in 
most cases.  

Partner  countries  participated  actively  in  various  regional  initiatives,  such  as  the 
Danube-Black  Sea  Task  Force  and  the  Horizon  2020  Initiative,  which  was  given 
further impetus by the decision of the Mediterranean partners, at the July Summit of 
the Union for the Mediterranean, to launch a regional project for de-pollution of the 
Mediterranean.  In  December  2008,  a  Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on 
Water  launched  the  preparation  of  a  regional  water  strategy.  Partner  countries  also 
participated  in  activities  under  the  EU  Water  Initiative,  including  national  policy 
dialogues in some countries.  

The  Regional  Environmental  Centre  for  the  Caucasus  (REC)  covering  Armenia, 
Azerbaijan  and  Georgia  became  fully  operational  based  on  its  new  charter  at  the 
beginning  of  2009.  REC  Moldova  continued  to  raise  awareness,  promote  EU 
environment  policy  and  legislation  and  encourage  co-operation  between  various 
stakeholders. Discussions started on the re-establishment of a REC in Ukraine. 

The European Commission held a further technical environment meeting with Belarus 
in July.  

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the 
Egypt,  Moldova,  Tunisia  and  Ukraine  benefited 
Neighbourhood  Investment  Facility  (under  the  European  Neighbourhood  and 
Partnership  Instrument)  to  support  water  supply  and  wastewater  treatment  related 
investments. 

from  allocations  of 

In  the  field  of  civil  protection,  the  European  Commission  signed  a  new 
administrative  arrangement  on  closer  co-operation  with  Ukraine  and  discussed  the 
possibility  of  negotiating  bilateral  administrative  arrangements  with  Georgia, 
Moldova and Morocco. The Community Civil Protection Mechanism was mobilized 
in  Georgia  in  the  aftermath  of  the  August  2008  conflict,  in  Moldova  to  combat 
flooding and for the consequences of the Ukraine/Russia gas crisis and in Ukraine to 
combat  flooding.  Cooperation  on  disaster  prevention,  preparedness  and  response 
continued  with  Mediterranean  partner  countries.  The  Mediterranean  partners 
committed  themselves,  at  the  July  Summit  of  the  Union  for  the  Mediterranean,  to 
develop  a  regional  civil  protection  programme  on  prevention,  preparation  and 
response  to  disasters,  linking  the  region  progressively  closer  to  the  EU  Civil 
Protection Mechanism. 

As  regards  research  and  innovation  activities,  most  ENP  partner  countries  were 
successful in increasing their participation in the 7th Research Framework Programme 
(FP7) compared to the previous FP6 programme. Significant progress in research and 
innovation was achieved in several Mediterranean partner countries, and most notably 
in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, where science and technology (S&T) reforms 
have  been  underway.  S&T  cooperation  was  in  general  deepened  with  the  ENP 
countries  having  an  S&T  Agreement  with  the  EU  (Egypt,  Morocco,  Tunisia  and 
Ukraine).  Negotiations  with  Jordan  for  an  S&T  Cooperation  Agreement  were 
successfully  completed  in  2008;  the  signature  is  expected  to  take  place  in  2009. 
Preliminary discussions with Moldova over a potential association to FP7 have taken 
place.  In  parallel,  FP7  -  through  the  International  Cooperation  part  of  the  Capacity 
Programme offers a number of tools to support regional S&T dialogue. As regards the 
Africa-EU Strategic Partnership, the North African ENP countries play a substantial 
role in the implementation of the early deliverables for research on ‘Water and Food 
Security  in  Africa’,  agreed  at  the  AU-EU  College-to-College  Meeting  in  October 
2008. 

At  the  regional/multilateral  level,  the  S&T  International  Cooperation  Network  for 
Eastern  European  and  Central  Asian  countries  (IncoNet  EECA),  was  launched  for  a 
four-year period on 1 January 2008. The ''Mediterranean Innovation and Research Co-
ordination  Action''  (’MIRA’)  continued  to  strengthen  the  S&T  dialogue  with 
Mediterranean  partner  countries.  BILAT  tools3  were  initiated  with  Morocco, 
Jordan and Tunisia.  

Reforms in the Information Society field are well advanced in most ENP countries, 
although many of them have not yet achieved full market liberalisation. All countries 
in  electronic 
continued 

to  align  progressively 

framework 

regulatory 

their 

3 

Under the FP7 Specific Programme 'Capacities'- Horizontal actions and measures in support 
of  international  cooperation,  the  Commission  has  launched  a  number  of  ‘BILAT’  calls 
supporting  the  development  of  S&T  Partnerships  based  on  bi-lateral  dialogues  and 
coordination of policy initiatives in jointly defined priority areas.  

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communications  with  that  of  the  EU,  although  many  of  them  need  to  complete  the 
essential regulatory task of designating the operators with a dominant market position. 
Israel and Syria still have to set up independent national regulatory agencies. Several 
countries are promoting the deployment of  broadband infrastructure for fast Internet 
access and the introduction of online services (e-government, e-business, etc.).  

At  the  regional/multilateral  level,  the  third  Euromed  Conference  on  the  Information 
Society  was  held  in  February  2008  in  Cairo.  The  second  phase  of  the  project  ‘New 
Approaches  to  Telecommunications  Policy’  (NATP2)  was  completed  in  June  2008 
and  the  follow-up  project  NATP3  is  under  preparation.  In  July  2008,  the  Euromed 
group  of  electronic  communications  regulators  (EMERG)  was  established  in  Malta 
and  started  to  organise  workshops  for  the  Mediterranean  regulatory  authorities.  In 
March 2008, the Black Sea Interconnection (BSI) project, the largest research network 
project in the region, was launched providing a boost to research internet capacity in 
the  area.  This  EU-funded  project  is  a  regional  research  and  education  network  that 
links the countries of the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) with a 
backbone  network  and  then  connects  them  to  the  high  bandwidth,  pan-European 
GÉANT  network,  providing  links  to  some  further  40  countries  (including  Belarus, 
Moldova and Ukraine).  

in 

limited  progress 

Partner  countries  made 
the  audiovisual  sector.  Many 
Mediterranean  partners  still  need  to  set  up  the  relevant  regulatory  agencies  or 
strengthen their administrative capacities. Limited progress was made in the adoption 
of the relevant conventions in this sector by Eastern partner countries. While Ukraine 
ratified  the  Council  of  Europe  Convention  on  Trans-Frontier  Television,  Armenia, 
Azerbaijan and Georgia still need to do so. A number of countries still need to ratify 
the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of 
Cultural Expressions (see below). 

Human capital and public health 

Education and training 

Higher Education  

The Bologna Process provided the main policy reference framework for the reform of 
higher  education  in  all  partner  countries4,  with  advances  on  national  regulatory 
structures,  curricula  modernisation  and  quality 
frameworks,  accreditation 
enhancement and monitoring. Most ENP partners began work on aligning their higher 

4 

Only  Ukraine,  Moldova,  Georgia,  Armenia  and  Azerbaijan  are  formal  signatories  to  the 
Bologna  Declaration.  The  Bologna  Declaration  of  June  1999,  signed  by  29  European 
Ministers  of  Higher  Education,  provides  for  the  establishment  of  a  European  Higher 
Education Area by 2010. The Bologna Process aims to put in motion the reforms necessary for 
its  creation,  namely:  the  introduction  of  a  three-cycle  system  (bachelor/master/doctorate), 
quality  assurance  and  mobility  and  recognition  of  qualifications  and  periods  of  study. 
Armenia,  Azerbaijan,  Georgia,  Moldova  and  Ukraine  joined  the  Bologna  Process  at  the 
Bergen Conference in May 2005. Southern ENP partners adopted a declaration calling for the 
the  First  Euro-
establishment  of  a  Euro-Mediterranean  Higher  Education  Area  at 
Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Higher Education and Scientific Research in Cairo 
in June 2007. 

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education  systems  under  the  Bologna  process  by  establishing  national  university 
standards  and  accreditation  procedures.  Where  a  specific  commitment  to  this  effect 
has been given, certain ENP partners – in particular Bologna Declaration signatories 
Armenia,  Azerbaijan  Georgia,  Moldova  and  Ukraine  -  have  undertaken  to  complete 
by 2010 the introduction of the three cycle structure (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate) 
for the establishment of a European Higher Education Area. In this regard, a Bologna 
Process  regional  seminar  ‘Aligning  National  against  European  Qualifications 
Frameworks:  the  principles  of  self  certification’  was  organized  by  the  Council  of 
Europe in Georgia in November 2008. Greater reference and use was also made of the 
European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in discussions on academic credit transfer 
and recognition of qualifications in the context of the Bologna process and voluntary 
convergence  and  alignment  to  European  approaches  and  standards.  The  European 
Quality Assurance Register in Higher Education (EQAR) was launched in March 2008 
based  on  both  the  European  Standards  and  Guidelines  for  Quality  Assurance  in  the 
European  Higher  Education  Area  (ESG)  and  the  Recommendation  of  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  of  February  2006  on  further  European  cooperation  in 
quality assurance in higher education.5 EQAR aims to contribute to the acceptance of 
evaluation and accreditation systems which will facilitate indirectly the recognition of 
qualifications  and  mobility  within  the  EU,  EFTA  –  EEA,  candidate  countries  and 
other countries involved in the Bologna Process.  

A  greater  number  of  scholarships  for  students  and  scholars  from  all  ENP  partner 
countries  were  granted  under  Action  2  of  the  Erasmus  Mundus  programme  (113 
students  and  42  scholars  as  compared  to  80  and  17  in  2007)  while  student  and 
academic  mobility  benefited  from  the  Erasmus  Mundus  External  Cooperation 
Window (EMECW), where a total of 867 mobility grants were allocated in its second 
year, across all partner countries (see annex). However, weak participation in Actions 
3  (partnerships)  and  4  (attractiveness  of  European  higher  education)  of  Erasmus 
Mundus  was  noted  with  regard  to  all  partner  countries,  which  is  unfortunate, 
considering  their  close  geographical  proximity  and  common  interest  in  international 
cooperation. In addition, 90 university graduates from ENP partner countries received 
scholarships to follow a master’s degree in European Integration Studies in European 
universities under a special pilot project. The Jean Monnet Programme funded in 2008 
two  new  Jean  Monnet  Chairs  in  Ukraine  and  Georgia  and  one  Jean  Monnet 
Information and Research Action in Ukraine.  

The Tempus programme continued to support the reform of higher education across 
all  partner  countries  by  promoting  voluntary  convergence  with  developments  in  the 
EU  deriving  from  the  Lisbon  Agenda  and  the  Bologna  Process.  A  first  Call  for 
Proposals was launched for Tempus IV with a greater response from all ENP partner 
countries  than  in  earlier  years,  with  increased  interest  shown  in  multi-country  and 
inter-regional projects across the ENPI region (ENP and the Russian Federation) (see 
Table in Annex).  

In early 2008, a team of higher education reform experts (HERE) was selected in ENP 
partner  countries  in  coordination  with  National  Tempus  Offices  and  the  relevant 

5 

Recommendation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  on  further  European 
cooperation in quality assurance in higher education, OJ L 64, 04/03/2006, pp. 60-62 

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Ministries. The experts will be responsible for supporting and promoting the process 
of  convergence  with  the  objectives  of  the  Lisbon  Agenda  and  the  Bologna  Process 
while respecting local needs and priorities. Two training seminars for HERE experts 
were respectively organised in Brussels and Zagreb (Croatia) in April and June 2008. 

An inter-regional Tempus Conference on ‘Quality Enhancement in Higher Education’ 
organised  in  Cairo  in  May  2008  served  to  highlight  the  need  to  develop  customised 
internal and external quality-enhancement verification processes as an integral part of 
higher-education  reform.  Encouraging  greater  student  participation  and  developing 
effective measures to combat corruption play an equally important role in this debate. 
The  pursuit  of  social  dialogue  on  higher  education  particularly  with  enterprises  is 
equally  critical  to  enhancing  the  academic  quality  and  relevance  of  taught 
programmes.  In  this  respect,  ENP  partners  are  encouraged  to  refer  to  the  European 
Standards  and  Guidelines  for  Quality  Assurance  in  Higher  Education  (ESG)  and 
where  applicable,  to  join  the  European  Quality  Assurance  Register  (EQAR)  as 
government members.  

Vocational Education and Training  

Reform  of  vocational  education  and  training  progressed  steadily  in  all  partner 
countries. They implemented reform strategies, predicated on the gradual introduction 
of new competence-based training standards and the development of parallel quality 
monitoring mechanisms. ENP partners paid increased attention in this respect to the 
introduction  of  a  life-long  learning  perspective  and  more  integrated  and  coherent 
vocational  education  and  training  provision.  Armenia,  Egypt,  Georgia,  Jordan, 
Moldova, Morocco and Ukraine initiated pilot work on the design of agreed national 
qualification  frameworks  in  line  with  or  modelled  on  the  European  Qualifications 
Framework  (EQF).  However,  the  relevance  of  EQF  in  promoting  education  and 
training reforms would need to be further probed and examined in each specific case 
in  consultation  with  all  national  stakeholders.  All  partner  countries  face  significant 
challenges  as  regards  the  development  of  training  to  effectively  meet  future  skills 
needs. Much more attention would need to be paid to ensuring the financial viability 
of  agreed  reforms  as  well  as  the  establishment  of  effective  mechanisms  of  social 
dialogue to ensure the labour-market relevance of training provision. In this respect, 
work  continued  on  the  development  of  social  dialogue  as  part  of  EC  financial 
assistance in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine with the technical 
support of the European Training Foundation (ETF). 

All partner countries continued to promote youth exchanges and informal education 
as a means of enhancing understanding and intercultural dialogue as well as ensuring 
better social integration of young people. However, initial moves to develop national 
youth  policies  remain  weak  and  uncoordinated.  Integrating  youth  needs  into  wider 
reform plans in areas such as health, social welfare, justice and employment remains 
an important policy challenge. 

Increased  rates  of  young  people  and  youth  workers’  mobility  were  registered  in  all 
partner  countries  under  the  Youth  in  Action  Programme  as  compared  to  2007,  with 
only slight decreases in the numbers of  volunteers from Egypt, Israel, Morocco and 
Tunisia (see annex table). Youth exchanges, voluntary service and other international 
youth activities in both directions as well as between the ENP partner countries of the 

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Mediterranean  were  also  facilitated  under  the  Euro-Mediterranean  Youth  III 
Programme  which  funded  85  projects  reaching  out  to  1749  young  participants  and 
490 youth workers. The themes of active citizenship and anti-racism/xenophobia were 
covered in 58% of selected projects in the period 2007 and 2008 (see annex table). 

In October, the 8th Euromed Youth meeting took place in Amman, bringing together 
the representatives of the Euromed Youth Units and of the National Agencies of the 
Youth in Action programme. The meeting highlighted the results of both programmes 
over  the  past  two  years,  a  Euromed  Compendium  of  good  practices  and  the 
preliminary outcomes of youth policy studies in ten Mediterranean countries: Algeria, 
Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, 
Tunisia and Turkey. Themes covered in the studies, to be published in 2009, included 
the role and impact of non-formal education, youth policy and legislation and young 
peoples’ rights as citizens.  

In  November,  a  conference  on  overcoming  religious  prejudice  amongst  youth  took 
place  in  Azerbaijan,  resulting  in  the  adoption  of  the  Baku  Youth  Initiative  to 
strengthen and consolidate youth work and education combating Islamophobia, Anti-
Semitism  and  other  forms  of  discrimination  based  on  religion  or  belief.  The 
conference, co-organised by the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Youth and Sport 
of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, in co-
operation with the European Youth Forum and the Islamic Conference Youth Forum 
for  Development  and  Cooperation,  involved  the  participation  of  youth  organisations 
from 42 countries including Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Moldova, Morocco, the 
occupied Palestinian territory and Ukraine as well as Iran, the Russian Federation and 
Turkey.  

As  regards  cooperation  in  the  area  of  culture,  all  partner  countries  except  Algeria, 
Azerbaijan,  Israel,  Lebanon,  Libya,  Morocco  and  Ukraine  have  ratified  the  2005 
UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural 
Expressions. For those partner countries that have ratified, implementation of its terms 
is  now  a  priority  in  order  to  enhance  cultural  cooperation  and  advance  policy 
dialogue. 

Cultural policies in many partner countries suffer from a reticence on the part of the 
relevant Ministries and state agencies to engage with independent cultural actors and 
to  encourage  free  association  and  expression  as  well  as  free  circulation  of  cultural 
works  and  artists.  The  prevalence  of  monopolistic  attitudes  towards  definitions  of 
cultural activity as well as lack of transparency on the allocation of public funding act 
as an impediment to the development of future inclusive cultural policies.  

Armenia,  Azerbaijan,  Georgia,  Moldova  and  Ukraine  began  implementation  of 
regional co-operation activities within the framework of the Council of Europe’s Kyiv 
Initiative on cross-border cinema culture, supporting the updating of national cultural 
policies  and  legislation  affecting  the  film  industry  as  well  as  providing  targeted 
professional training and exchanges. In order to add momentum to ongoing efforts in 
this sector, all participating countries should expedite, where applicable, the signature 
and  ratification  of  the  European  Landscape  Convention  and  the  Council  of  Europe 
Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society. The European 

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Convention  for  the  Protection  of  Archaeological  Heritage  was  ratified  earlier  by  all 
five. 

In  May  2008,  the  Slovenian  EU  Presidency  organised  a  conference  on  New 
Paradigms,  New  Models  –  Culture  in  the  EU  External  Relations  focusing  on  the 
European neighbourhood region and the Western Balkans and underlining the need to 
expand the role of culture in EU foreign policy. In addition, a third meeting of Euro-
Mediterranean  Culture  Ministers  took  place  in  Athens  in  May  launching  a  political 
process  for  the  establishment  of  a  new  Euro-Mediterranean  Strategy  on  Culture  by 
2010, focusing on dialogue between cultures and cultural policy.  

In  September,  the  European  Commission  signed  a  framework  agreement  and  an 
Action Plan for 2008-10 with the UN Alliance of Civilisations focusing on promoting 
intercultural  dialogue  and  cultural  diversity,  including  educational  and  youth 
exchanges as a means to reinforce civil society contacts and prevent polarisation and 
radicalisation of opinions.  

In the closing year of the Euro-Med Heritage III programme, regional projects were 
implemented  on  themes  such  as  promotion  of  and  capacity  building  in  the 
preservation  of  shared  Byzantine-Islamic  cultural  heritage  and  creation  of  a  multi-
media transversal data-base to valorise shared Mediterranean identities.  

The  Anna  Lindh  Euro-Mediterranean  Foundation  launched  its  ‘1001  Actions  for 
Dialogue’ campaign on the occasion of the European Year of Inter-cultural Dialogue 
and the Euro-Mediterranean Year for Dialogue between Cultures. The initiative aimed 
to mobilise civil society groups across the region for collective action on inter-cultural 
dialogue  as  a  means  to  combat  discrimination  and  promote  conflict  resolution.  The 
Foundation’s  other  activities  focused  on  intercultural  education,  children’s  literature 
and  the  empowerment  of  women  thereby  fully  complementing  the  larger  human 
development activities under the respective country Action Plans.  

In  terms  of  cooperation  between  local  and  regional  authorities,  cities  and 
municipalities  from  Algeria,  Israel,  Jordan,  Lebanon,  Morocco,  the  occupied 
Palestinian  territory,  Syria  and  Tunisia  participated  in  the  regional  Med-Pact 
programme6  which  promotes  better  comprehension  between  civil  society  actors 
the  development  of  cooperation,  exchanges  and  dialogue  on  good 
through 
governance, 
improving  municipal  planning  and  environmental  management. 
Municipalities located in regions bordering the EU in Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and 
Ukraine concluded project activities under the TACIS Cities Award Scheme (TCAS)7 
addressing  environmental  protection  and  improvements  to  quality  of  life  through 
better  solid  waste  management.  With  regard  to  Cross-Border  Cooperation  (CBC), 
eight  of  the  ten  planned  CBC  programmes  relevant  to  ENP  partners  were  adopted 
during  2008,  including  those  for  the  Mediterranean  and  the  Black  Sea.  However, 
adoption  of  the  bilateral  Spain-Morocco  and  of  the  Atlantic  CBC  programmes  was 
delayed. Belarus participates in the Baltic Sea programme. 

6 
7 

http://www.med-pact.eu 
http://www.tcas.rec.org 

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The ENP partners pursued reform of the health sector. Both non-communicable and 
communicable  diseases  are  on  the  reform  agenda.  HIV/AIDS,  and  to  some  extent 
tuberculosis, remain challenges for the Eastern partners, particularly Ukraine. Several 
ENP partners adopted new health strategy documents (Azerbaijan, Jordan, Morocco, 
the Palestinian Authority). The EU and its neighbours consolidated health cooperation 
and dialogue and continued to promote implementation of the Framework Convention 
on Tobacco Control8 and the International Health Regulations9. In 2008, the European 
Commission  invited  the  ENP  partners  to  the  meetings  of  the  EU  Network  of 
competent authorities on health information and knowledge. The Mediterranean ENP 
partners continued involvement in the EpiSouth Network for Communicable Diseases 
Control in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. The network is a project under the 
EU’s public health programme. The European Commission invited Belarus, Moldova 
and  Ukraine  to  its  HIV/AIDS  Think  Tank.  The  European  Commission  invited  a 
Moroccan  and  a  Ukrainian  NGO  to  participate  in  its  civil  society  forum  on 
HIV/AIDS. Several ENP partners expressed interest in cooperating with the European 
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The above-mentioned networks 
and the HIV/AIDS Think Tank provided opportunities to strengthen relations between 
the EU, the ENP partners, the ECDC and the World Health Organisation (WHO). In 
November  2008,  the  second  Euro-Mediterranean  ministerial  health  conference,  held 
in  Cairo  and  co-chaired  by  Egypt  and  the  EU,  opened  new  avenues  for  fostering 
regional  health  cooperation.  The  WHO  also  participated  in  the  conference,  which 
highlighted as priority areas the strengthening of health systems; non-communicable 
diseases; and communicable disease surveillance and response.  

In  2008,  the  Neighbourhood  Investment  Facility,  co-financed  as  a  first-ever  social 
project  under  the  ENPI  facility,  the  modernisation  of  a  hospital  in  Moldova 
(Chisinau).  

Operational aspects 

During 2008, TAIEX10 was confirmed as a valuable support-instrument for advancing 
the transition and reform processes. As a demand-driven instrument, it enabled ENP 
partners, who so wished, to avail of its advice and technical assistance to complement 
and  reinforce  national  efforts  to  approximate  and  converge  with  European  practices 
and  standards  in  a  wide  range  of  policies.  As  in  2007,  the  European  Commission 
ensured consistency of TAIEX events with country-specific sectoral policy dialogue. 
The  attached  table  and  charts  (Annex)  reflect  the  extent  to  which  ENP  partner 
countries have made use of this instrument in the period up to 31 December 2008. The 
European  Commission  has  also  included  them  in  multi-country  TAIEX  events  on 
topics of common interest.  

ENP  partners  benefitted,  like  last  year,  from  the  twinning11  instrument  under  the 
European  Neighbourhood  and  Partnership  Instrument.  The  twinning  of  experienced 

8 
9 
10 

11

WHO FCTC: http://www.who.int/tobacco/framework/WHO_FCTC_english.pdf 
http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA58/WHA58_3-en.pdf 
TAIEX  provides  short-term  technical  assistance  and  advice  on  convergence  with  EU  legislation,  best  practices  and 
standards and on related administrative capacity needs, technical training and peer assistance, as well as a data base 
and information network that facilitates the monitoring of approximation measures, see also : http://taiex.ec.europa.eu 
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm 

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EU Member State officials (long-term experts) with their peers of a ministry or public 
institution  in  an  ENP  partner  country  contributed  commensurately  to  sector  reforms 
and to the transfer of legislative, regulatory and institutional experience gained within 
the  EU.  By  the  end  of  2008,  87  twinning  covenants  had  been  established  with  ten 
ENP  partner  countries,  whilst  97  covenants  were  still  being  prepared  and  under 
negotiation with eleven ENP partner countries. These 184 twinning projects are well 
spread between ENP partner countries and across a wide range of sector policies (see 
Annex).  

In February 2008, another demand-driven programme, SIGMA, was extended to nine 
ENP partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Egypt, Jordan, the Republic of 
Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. A joint initiative by 
the OECD and the European Union, SIGMA draws upon longstanding experience in 
assisting  public  administration and governance reforms - in particular  between 2004 
and 2006 with what were at the time, candidate and potential candidate countries. The 
programme  assists  ENP  partners’  national  reform  teams  by  providing  ‘peer 
practitioner’ expertise composed of either OECD staff or public servants from within 
Member  State  administrations.  It  also  provides  peer-based  diagnostic  studies12. 
SIGMA focuses in its initial phase (2008-2010) on areas such as administrative law 
and  administrative  justice,  public  expenditure  management,  internal  and  external 
audit,  public  procurement,  civil  service  reform  and  regulatory  management. 
Preparatory  activities  in  preparation  for  future  civil  service  and  public  procurement 
reforms took place in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in the period October-
December 2008.  

in 

the  Entrepreneurship  and  Innovation  Programme  (under 

During 2008, the European Commission further developed its initiative to extend the 
possibility  for  ENP  partners  to  participate  in  Community  programmes  and 
Community agencies13. Such participation provides an incentive as well as a reward 
for  ENP  partner  countries’  efforts  to  strengthen  their  administrative  and  regulatory 
capacities in a range of policy fields. ENP partner countries are eligible to participate 
or to cooperate in a wide range of Community programmes14. In February 2008, the 
Council  approved  the  signature  of  an  additional  protocol  with  Israel  enabling  it  to 
participate 
the 
Competitiveness  and  Innovation  Framework  Programme)15.  The  Protocol  awaits  the 
assent  of  the  European  Parliament  before  its  formal  conclusion.  Negotiations  on  the 
conclusion  of  a  similar  additional  protocol  continued  with  Moldova,  Morocco  and 
Ukraine. Under the work towards a “statut avancé” agreed with the European Union 
in  October,  Morocco  confirmed  its  interest  in  participating  initially,  in  four 
Community  programmes  on  competitiveness  and  innovation,  customs,  air  traffic 
control and transport and in two Community agencies, the European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction 
(EMCDDA) and with Eurojust. Information seminars on participation in Community 
programmes and Community agencies were held in Jordan, Moldova and Tunisia. 

724 

http://www.sigmaweb.org 
COM 
of 
(2006) 
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm 
For 
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm 
Official Journal L129 of 17/05/2008, pp 39-43 

4  December 

these 

full 

list 

of 

a 

programmes, 

2006, 

12 
13 

14

15 

EN 

see 

“Other 

relevant  Commission  Documents” 

at 

see 

“Other 

relevant  Commission  Documents” 

at 

24 

   EN

 
                                                 
 
In  2008  the  Neighbourhood  Investment  Facility  (NIF)  became  fully  operational. 
Through  the  NIF  grant  support  was  provided  to  lending  operations  by  the  EIB,  the 
EBRD, and other European finance institutions in support of projects in the European 
Neighbourhood region.  

The NIF was established to pursue three objectives:  

•  Establishing  better  energy  and  transport  infrastructure  interconnections  between 
the EU and neighbouring countries and among neighbouring countries themselves; 

•  Addressing threats to our common environment including climate change; 

•  Promoting equitable socio economic development and job creation through support 

for small and medium size enterprise and the social sector. 

In  order  to  accomplish  these  objectives  the  NIF  uses  a  broad  range  of  measures, 
encompassing  co-financing  through  direct  grants,  loan  guarantees,  interest  rate 
subsidies, and technical assistance for project preparation and supervision. 

The  EC  Budget  grant  contribution  amounted  to  EUR  100  million  for  the  two  years 
2007  and  200816.  This  was  complemented  by  Member  States  grant  funding 
contribution  to  the  ‘NIF  Trust  Fund’,  worth  approximately  EUR  37  million  for  the 
period 2008-2010 (see Annex for an overview of Member States’ pledges in 2008).  

In its first year of operations 15 projects were approved for financing with a total of 
EUR  71.03  million  of  NIF  contributions  (EUR  35  million  in  grants  and  EUR  36.03 
million in Technical Assistance), leveraging loans from European Finance Institutions 
of EUR 1.65 billion.  

Through the financing of these large projects, the NIF supports the reform priorities as 
agreed  with  ENP  partner  countries  and  contributes  to  the  investments  necessary  to 
further integrate the EU and its neighbours. The full list of projects and an overview 
of the distribution of NIF contributions per country, sector and objective is presented 
in Annex.  

16 

For the 2007-2013 period, the European Commission has earmarked a total amount of EUR 
700 million for the NIF 

EN 

25 

   EN

 
                                                 
Overview of Annexes 

(1) 

(2) 

Governance-related indicators (with sources) related to ENP partner countries, 
2006, 2007 and 200817 

Table  of  international  human  rights’  conventions  binding  ENP  partner 
countries∗  

(3)  Main economic indicators regarding ENP partner countries∗ 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

Tables  on  mobility  under  (a)  the  Erasmus  Mundus  External  Cooperation 
Window, (b) Erasmus Mundus Action 2, (c) Tempus IV, (d) Youth in Action, 
(e) Euro-Med Youth III, and (f) Scholarships in European Integration Studies 
in European Universities 2008 

Tables on TAIEX events with ENP partner countries 

Tables on twinning projects with ENP partner countries  

Neighbourhood Investment Facility projects 

17 

These tables are annexed for illustration only. The progress reports are based on a much wider 
range of sources beyond these tables The economic indicators table was compiled on the basis 
of various data sources (including the Economist Intelligence Unit, EUROSTAT, International 
Monetary  Fund,  United  Nations,  World  Bank, national  authorities and  EC  staff  calculations) 
as  presented  in  the  European  Economy  Occasional  Paper  'European  Neighbourhood  Policy: 
Economic  Review  of  EU  Neighbour  Countries',  a  yearly  publication  by the  European 
Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affaires.  

EN 

26 

   EN

 
 
                                                 
Governance / Freedom of the Press / Human Rights & Fundamental Freedoms 

GOVERNANCE

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

HUMAN RIGHTS &
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

Transparency International  

World Bank

Reporters Without Borders 

World Bank 

Freedom House

Freedom House  

CORRUPTION 
PERCEPTIONS INDEX
2006
2008
2007
2.9
3.0
2.9
1.9
2.1
2.4
2.8
2.9
3.3
3.9
3.4
2.8
6.0
6.1
5.9
5.1
4.7
5.3
3.0
3.0
3.6
2.9
2.8
3.2
3.5
3.5
3.2

4.6
2.8

4.2
2.7

4.4
2.5

REGULATORY 
QUALITY

2006
59
34.1
35.1
44.4
78
62.9
51.7
41.5
47.9
11.7
58
32.7

2007
60.2
31.1
43.2
58.7
82.5
62.1
47.6
42.7
51.0

56.8
36.4

WORLDWIDE PRESS 
FREEDOM INDEX
2007
23.63
55.40
58
20.83
13.25
40.21
28.75
24.75
33.25
32
57
26,75

2008
22.75
53.63
50.25
31.25
8.83
36
14
21.38
32.25
51.25
48.10
19.25

2006
25.50
47
46.25
21
12
27.5
27
19.17
24.83
47
53.75
26.5

VOICE AND 
ACCOUNTABILITY

POLITICAL RIGHTS

CIVIL LIBERTIES

2006
26.9
14.9
17.8
44.7
70.2
28.8
31.3
32.7
28.4
25
13.9
45.7

2007
30.3
14.9
11.5
42.3
69.7
27.4
34.1
36.5
29.3

13.0
45.2

2006
5
6
6
3
1
5
5
3
5
5
6
3

2007
5
6
7
3
1
5
4
3
5
4
6
3

2008
5
6
6
4
1
5
5
3
5
5
7
3

2006
4
5
5
3
2
4
4
4
4
5
5
2

2007
4
5
6
3
2
4
4
4
4
6
5
2

2008
4
5
5
4
2
4
4
4
4
6
5
2

Each country and territory covered in the survey is assigned two numerical ratings - one for political rights and one for civil liberties - on a scale of 1 (highest degree of freedom) 
The index reflects the degree of freedom that journalists and news organisations enjoy in a country. The  score ranges from 1 (press freedom) to 100 (no press freedom). 
A country or territory’s CPI Score indicates the degree of public sector corruption as perceived by business people and country analysts, and ranges between 10 (highly clean) 
and 0 (highly corrupt)
The percentile rank of the governance indicators indicates the rank of a country amongst all the countries in the world. 0 corresponds to the lowest rank and 100 corresponds to 
the highest rank 

Armenia 
Azerbaijan 
Egypt 
Georgia 
Israel 
Jordan 
Lebanon 
the Republic of Moldova 
Morocco 
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Tunisia 
Ukraine 

Explanation of scores
Freedom House:
Reporters Without Borders:

Transparency International:

World Bank:

EN 

27 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
State of Ratification / Signature of selected Human Rights Conventions 

State of 
ratification/ 
signature of 
major HR 
conventions 
* 

ICCPR 
International 
Covenant on 
Civil and 
Political Rights 
OP1 

OP2 

ICCPR 
23/06/1993 

ICESCR 
International 
Covenant on 
Economic, 
Social and 
Cultural Rights 

CEDAW 
Convention on 
the Elimination 
of All Forms of 
Discrimination 
against Women 
OP 

CAT 
Convention 
against Torture 
OP  

CRC 
Convention on 
the Rights of the 
Child  

Right to 
Individual 
Complaint 
(Art.22) 

ARMENIA 

OP1 - 23/06/1993 

13/09/1993 

OP2 - NO 

ICCPR 
13/08/1992 

AZERBAIJAN 

OP1 - 27/11/2001 

13/08/1992 

CEDAW 
13/09/1993  

OP - 16/09/2006 

CAT 13/09/1993 

OP 14/09/2006 
Art. 22 - NO 

CEDAW 
10/07/1995 

OP - 1/06/2001 

CAT 16/08/1996 

OP 15/09/2005 
Art. 22 4/02/2002 

14/01/1982 

CEDAW 
18/09/1981 R 

OP - NO 

CAT 25/06/1986 

OP - NO  

Art. 22 - NO 

GEORGIA 

OP1 - 3/05/1994 

3/05/1994 

OP2 - 22/03/1999 

CAT 26/10/1994 

CRC 2/06/1994 

CEDAW 
26/10/1994  

OP - 30/07/2002 

OP - 9/08/2005 
Art. 22 
30/06/2005 

EGYPT 

OP2 - 22/01/1999 

ICCPR 
14/01/1982 

OP1 - NO 

OP2 - NO 

ICCPR 3/05/1994 

ISRAEL 

ICCPR 
3/10/1991  

OP1 - NO 

OP2 - NO 

28/05/1975 

3/10/1991  

CEDAW 
3/10/1991 R 

OP - NO 

CAT 3/10/1991 R 

OP - NO  

Art. 22 - NO 

JORDAN 

OP1 - NO 

28/05/1975 

OP2 - NO 

CEDAW 
1/07/1992 R 

OP - NO 

CAT 13/11/1991 

OP – NO  

Art. 22 - NO 

OP 1 or AC  

OP 2 or AC 

CRC 23/06/1993

OP-AC - 
30/09/2005 

OP-SC - 
30/06/2005 

CRC 13/08/1992

OP-AC - 
3/07/2002 

OP-SC - 
3/07/2002 

CRC 6/07/1990 R

OP-AC - 
6/02/2007 

OP-SC - 
12/07/2002 

OP-AC - NO 

OP-SC - 
28/06/2005 

CRC 3/10/1991 

OP-AC - 
18/07/2005 

OP-SC - 
23/07/2008 

CRC 24/05/1991 
R 

OP-AC - 
23/05/2007 

OP-SC - 
4/12/2006 

EN 

28 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3/11/1972  

LEBANON 

OP1 - NO 

3/11/1972 

OP2 - NO 

CEDAW 
16/04/1997 R 

OP - NO 

CAT 5/10/2000 

OP - signed  

Art. 22 - NO 

REPUBLIC 
OF 
MOLDOVA 

ICCPR 
26/01/1993 

OP1 - 23/01/2008 

OP2 - 20/09/2006 

26/01/1993 

CEDAW 
1/07/1994  

OP - 28/02/2006 

CAT 28/11/1995 

OP 24/07/2006 
Art. 22 - NO 

CRC 14/05/1991

OP-AC - 
11/02/2002 

OP-SC - 
8/11/2004 

CRC 26/01/1993

OP-AC - 
7/04/2004 

OP-SC - 
12/04/2007 

3/05/1979 

MOROCCO 

OP1 - NO 

3/05/1979 

OP2 - NO 

18/03/1969 

TUNISIA 

OP1 - NO 

18/03/1969 

OP2 - NO 

ICCPR 
12/11/1973  

UKRAINE 

OP1 - 25/07/1991 

12/11/1973  

OP2 - 25/07/2007 

CEDAW 
21/06/1993 R 

OP - NO 

CEDAW 
20/09/1985 R 

OP - 23/09/2008 

CAT 21/06/1993 
R 

CRC 21/06/1993 
R 

OP - NO  

Art. 22 
19/10/2006 

OP-AC - 
22/05/2002 

OP-SC - 
2/10/2001 

CAT 23/09/1988 
R 

CRC 30/01/1992 
R 

OP - NO  

Art. 22 
22/09/1988 

OP-AC - 
2/01/2003 

OP-SC - 
13/09/2002 

CRC 28/08/1991

OP-AC - 
11/07/2005 

OP-SC - 
3/07/2003 

CEDAW 
12/03/1981  

OP - 26/09/2003 

CAT 24/02/1987 

OP - 19/09/2006 
Art. 22 
12/09/2003 

last update 28 October 2008 

* date of signature in bold; date of ratification in standard 

R: text adopted with reservations 

EN 

29 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
State of 
ratification/ 
signature of 
major HR 
conventions * 

CERD 
Convention on 
the Elimination of 
all Forms of 
Racial 
Discrimination 
Right to 
Individual 
Complaint (Art.14) 

CMW 
Convention on 
Migrant Workers 

Rome Statute 
International 
Criminal Court 

 CRPD 
Convention on 
the Rights of 
Persons with 
Disabilities 

ARMENIA 

CERD 23/06/1993 
Art. 14 - NO 

NO 

1/10/1999 

30/03/2007 

AZERBAIJAN 

CERD 16/08/1996 
Art. 14 27/09/2001 

11/01/1999 

NO 

9/01/2008 

EGYPT 

CERD 1/05/1967 
Art. 14 - NO 

19/02/1993 

26/12/2000 

14/04/2008 

GEORGIA 

CERD 2/06/1999 
Art. 14 30/06/2005 

NO 

5/09/2003 

NO 

ISRAEL 

CERD 3/01/1979 R 
Art. 14 - NO 

NO 

31/12/2000 

30/03/2007 

JORDAN 

CERD 30/05/1974 
Art. 14 - NO 

NO 

11/04/2002 

31/03/2008 

LEBANON 

CERD 12/11/1971 
R Art. 14 - NO 

NO 

NO 

14/01/2007 

EN 

30 

   EN 

 
 
REPUBLIC OF 
MOLDOVA 

CERD 26/01/1993 
Art. 14 - NO 

NO 

8/09/2000 

30/03/2007 

MOROCCO 

CERD 18/12/1970 
R Art. 14 
19/10/2006 

21/06/1993  

8/09/2000 

30/03/2007 

TUNISIA 

CERD 13/01/1967 
Art. 14 - NO 

NO 

NO 

2/04/2008 

UKRAINE 

CERD 20/06/1974 
R Art. 14 
28/07/1992 

NO 

20/01/2000 

24/09/2008 

last update 28 October 2008 

* date of signature in bold; date of ratification in standard 

R: text adopted with reservations 

EN 

31 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Main Macro Economic Indicators 

Real GDP growth
(% change)

Inflation 
(period average)

GDP per capita
(in EUR)

Unemployment 
(officially 
registered)

Central govt. 
balance
% of GDP

Gross Public Debt 
(% of GDP)

Current Account 
Balance 
(% of GDP)

Trade Balance 
(% of GDP)

Foreign Direct 
Investment 
(net, % of GDP)

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

2007

2008

6.8
10.8
7.2
2.1
4.1
5.5
6

4.4
16.7
9.4
9.2
0.5
5.4
9.3

13.7
25.0
7.1
12.4
5.3
6.0
7.5

8.9
20.8
11.7
9.6
3.8
14.9
5.5

6.7
6.5
9.5
13.3
7.3
13.5
n.a.

2081
2498
1289
1692
17337
1915
4389

2492
3228
1441
1961
19066
2573
4586

Armenia 
Azerbaijan***
Egypt 
Georgia 
Israel 
Jordan 
Lebanon 
the Republic of 
Moldova 
Morocco 
Occupied Palestinian 
Territory
Tunisia 
Ukraine 
*) Azerbaijan, Jordan: data refers to ‘NET public debt’
**) Currency conversion used: USD 1 = EUR 0,796 (March 2009)
***) For Azerbaijan, the Central government balance includes part of the total oil revenues from the Oil Fund. If it did not include it, the central fiscal balance would be -6.9% and -9.8% respectively. The figure for the net direct
investments in 2008 is a projection based on the available in first three quarters.

-22.2
62.0 
-14.4
n.a.
-4.8
-44.7
-36.8

-12.6
41.1
0.5
-16.6
1.3
-24
-10.9

-15.5
51.8 
-12.5
-26.2
-4.0
-38.0
-29.5

-6.2
30.7
1.7
-19.7
3.6
-16.7
-7.2

7.2
-17.4
8.1
15.5
1.9
11.5
10.8

-2.2
0.2
-7.5
-4.7
0.0
-6.2
-11.0

-1.2
0.2
-7.8
-6.0
-2.1
-5
-10.2

17.4
6.7* 
87.1
25
80.6
73*
171

15.8
5.9* 
76.5
28.5
80.0
62
162

6.3
6.1
8.5
13.3
6.1
13
n.a.

5.8
  -3 
7.5
n.a.
1.4
11.8
24.7

2595
2792

2440
2218

47.0
11.2

5.1
25.2

14.0
6.8

50.9
12.2

14.1
6.7

3.1
12.8

-8.4
-9.0

-2.6
-4.2

-8.2
-5.6

-2.9
-1.5

-3.9
-6.1

1001**

1885**

1168**

2045**

5.1
2.5

4.6
3.6

4.2
6.6

6.3
7.3

-17.0

-23.6

-52.3

-19.2

-16.5

1040

-3
-1

21.3

23.9

53.6

51.9

11.1

13.0

12.4

10.2

-0.1

-2.2

-3.1

-0.2

-4.0

956

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

-25

-50

-24

9.7

0.4

3.9

5.5

6.5

2.0

0.0

1.7

3.6

3.0

5.1

9.7

0.2

2.7

2.0

2.7

20

28

9

6

The economic indicators table has been compiled on the basis of various data sources (including the Economist Intelligence Unit, EUROSTAT, International Monetary Fund, United Nations, World Bank, national 
authorities and EC staff calculations) as presented in the European Economy Occasional Paper 'European Neighbourhood Policy: Economic Review of EU Neighbour Countries 2009', a yearly publication by 
European Commission Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affaires. 

EN 

32 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
Tables on Mobility 
situation on 1 April 2009 

Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window 2008-2009 

Total Realised Mobility Flows  
for academic year 2008-9 * 

ENP Country 

ARMENIA 

ALGERIA 

AZERBAIJAN 

BELARUS 

EGYPT 

GEORGIA 

ISRAEL 

JORDAN 

LEBANON 

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA 

MOROCCO 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 

SYRIA 

TUNISIA 

UKRAINE 

GRAND TOTAL 

* Figures based on the 1 April lists being subject to possible adjustment 

34 

69 

34 

67 

55 

58 

59 

36 

23 

61 

94 

53 

22 

72 

130 

867 

EN 

33 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
Erasmus Mundus Mobility Grants Action 2 

Students 

Scholars 

Academic year 
2007-2008 

Academic year 
2008-2009 

Academic year  
2007-2008 

Academic year 
2008-2009 

Country/Year 

Algeria 

Armenia 

Azerbaijan 

Belarus 

Georgia 

Egypt 

Israel 

Jordan 

Lebanon 

Moldova 

Morocco 

occupied Palestinian territory 

Syria 

Tunisia  

Ukraine 

Overall Totals  

5 

3 

1 

5 

5 

11 

4 

1 

8 

5 

5 

1 

2 

5 

24 

80 

8 

7 

5 

9 

10 

9 

8 

1 

9 

6 

8 

3 

2 

6 

33 

124 

1 

8 

3 

1 

2 

2 

6 

2 

2 

1 

5 

9 

1 

7 

1 

2 

3 

9 

17 

48 

EN 

34 

   EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tempus IV- project status for ENP countries for 2008 

Country 

Total 
Projects 

National 
Projects

Multi 
Country 
Projects

Joint 
Projects 

Structural 
Measures 

As 
Grant 
Holder 

Algeria 

Armenia 

Azerbaijan 

Belarus 

Egypt 

Georgia 

Israel 

Jordan 

Lebanon 

Moldova 

Morocco 

occupied Palestinian territory 

Syria 

Tunisia  

Ukraine 

3 

4 

3 

4 

7 

3 

2 

3 

4 

9 

8 

2 

3 

6 

12 

3 

4 

2 

3 

4 

3 

2 

2 

4 

8 

6 

2 

2 

5 

3 

4 

3 

4 

7 

3 

2 

3 

4 

9 

6 

2 

2 

4 

10 

12 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

Overall Totals  

73 

13 

60 

68 

5 

3 

EN 

35 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Youth in Action18  

Youth  Exchanges  and  Youth 
Workers' Mobility 

Voluntary Service  

Country/Year 

2007 

2008 

2007 

2008 

Armenia 

Algeria 

Azerbaijan 

Belarus 

Georgia 

Egypt 

Israel 

Jordan 

Lebanon 

The Republic of Moldova 

Morocco 

occupied Palestinian territory 

Syria 

Tunisia  

Ukraine 

257 

79 

228 

268 

383 

110 

176 

70 

95 

238 

113 

180 

10 

77 

585 

290 

88 

237 

295 

340 

91 

207 

95 

102 

303 

157 

129 

49 

116 

684 

26 

1 

7 

13 

27 

14 

8 

7 

0 

8 

4 

1 

1 

10 

31 

56 

1 

25 

17 

40 

11 

2 

10 

1 

28 

3 

9 

2 

4 

61 

Overall Total per Action 

2591 

3183 

144 

270 

18 

Approximate figures gathered at application level for projects submitted at decentralised level.  

EN 

36 

   EN 

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Distribution of Actions by Euro-Med Youth III (2007 – 2008) 

Country 

Israel 

Jordan 

Lebanon 

Morocco 

Occupied Palestinian Territory 

Syria 

Tunisia 

Turkey 

Youth 
exchanges 

Voluntary 
Services 

Support 
Measures 

TOTAL 

6 

3 

3 

6 

5 

2 

6 

2 

3 

0 

0 

1 

1 

0 

1 

0 

7 

3 

4 

11 

4 

2 

7 

8 

16 

6 

7 

18 

10 

4 

14 

10 

EN 

37 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
Selected thematic priorities Euro-Med Youth III (2007-2008) 

18

15

4

5

43

Anti-racism / xenophobia

Active citizenship

Gender equality

Minority rights

Heritage/or environmental
protection

EN 

38 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scholarships in European Integration Studies in European universities 2008 

Of the 102 applications received from all ENPI countries, 90 scholarship grants were awarded as follows 

Country 

Algeria 

Armenia 

Azerbaijan 

Belarus 

Egypt 

Georgia 

Israel 

Jordan 

Lebanon 

Libya 

Morocco 

Moldova 

occupied Palestinian Territory  

Syria 

Tunisia 

Ukraine  

Total for ENP countries 

Scholarships Awarded 

2 

12 

5 

10 

4 

9 

3 

3 

3 

1 

4 

9 

2 

3 

2 

18 

90 

EN 

39 

   EN 

 
 
 
ANNEX 

Breakdown of TAIEX requests received regarding ENP partner countries as well as 
the Russian Federation (global amount) 

June 2006 – December 2008 

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

NC&R

DG

Jun.

Aug.

Oct.

Dec.-06

Feb.

Apr.

Jun.

Aug.

Oct.

Dec.-07

Feb.

Apr.

Jun.

Aug.

Oct.

Dec.-08

  PV&R

Requests TAIEX 

500

DG

140

78%

22%

Total

640

100%

Southern ENP 
partners 

46%

36%  

Eastern ENP partners 

54%

64%  

All ENP partners 

100% 100%  

Average number of monthly requests over 31 months ....................... 20.6 

Avery number of monthly requests in 2006 (7 months) ........................ 9.4 

Average number of monthly requests 2007 (12 months) .................... 20.2 

Average number of monthly requests 2008 (12 months) .................... 27.7 

EN 

40 

   EN

 
 
 
 
 
 
Breakdown of TAIEX requests received from ENP partner countries (as well as the 
Russian Federation) and by Commission services (DG) 

June 2006 – December 2008 

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Q3-2006

Q4-2006

Q1-2007

Q2-2007

Q3-2007

Q4-2007

Q1-2008

Q2-2008

Q3-2008

Q4-2008

TAIEX: breakdown per country of requests received from ENP partner countries 
(and the Russian Federation) 

MD

UA

IL

EG

MA

GE

JO

AM

TN

RU

AZ

BY

LB

PS

WSP
EM
SV

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

EN 

41 

   EN

 
 
 
 
On average during 31 months: 

More than 2 requests per month: 2 countries 

Moldova and Ukraine 

Between 1 and 2 requests per month: 6 countries  Armenia, Georgia, Egypt, Israel, 

Less than 1 request per month: 6 countries 

Jordan and Morocco 

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russian 
Federation, Lebanon, occupied 
Palestinian territory and Tunisia 

Events in ENP 
partner countries 
(WSP)

Expert missions to 
ENP partner 
countries (EM)

Study visits from to 
EU Member States 
(SV)

37%

27%

39%

29%

27%

24%

41%

46% 

37% 

Requests 

Of which Southern  

Of which Eastern 

Comment: 

•  More events in partner countries requested by Eastern ENP partners; more 

expert missions requested by Southern ENP partners 

•  4  partners  account  for  more  than  half  (52%)  of  requests:  Egypt,  the 

Republic of Moldova, Israel, Ukraine 

•  7 partner countries account for more than three quarters (76%) of requests: 

the four mentioned above, plus Georgia, Morocco and Jordan 

Refusals: 

Overall, 19% of requests were refused (of which 56% for study visits), mainly for the 
following reasons: 

•  Duplication with twinning projects (no TAIEX support during the period 

of twinning projects in the same field) 

•  Weak link with Community norms and standards 

•  Request better suited for technical assistance 

•  Duplication with other TAIEX requests (for example, duplication between 
a  request  for  an  expert  mission  and  for  a  study  visit  regarding  the  same 
subject) 

•  Request for TAIEX support for events unrelated to TAIEX 

EN 

42 

   EN

 
 
 
 
•  Request  for  scheduling  of  successive  TAIEX  operations  by  the  same 

institution 

•  Request for financing to attend events not linked with TAIEX 

•  Request for a study visit to the European Institutions

EN 

43 

   EN

 
TAIEX: requests received from European Commission services 

June 2006 – December 2008 

SANCO

TREN

TRADEMARKT

ENTR

TAXUD

EMPL

RSH

JLS

AGR

ENV

ESTAT

COMP

REGIO

ECFIN

INFSO

Comment: 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

•  4  Commission  services  account  for  more  than  half  (56%)  of  requests: 
SANCO  (Health  and  Food  safety),  TREN  (Energy  and  Transport),  and 
TRADE/MARKT, with SANCO having submitted most requests  

•  6  Commission  services  account  for  three  quarters  (76%)  of  requests:  the 

three above-mentioned plus ENTR, TAXUD and EMPL  

•  64  %  of  request  received  from  Commission  services  came  from  Eastern 

Neighbourhood countries and the Russian Federation 

•  3 DGs account for more requests from the South than the East: ENTR, 

ESTAT and COMP

EN 

44 

   EN

 
 
TAIEX: breakdown of requests from ENP partner countries (+ the Russian 
Federation and Croatia) by sector 

June 2006 – December 2008 

Energy

Telecom

2%

Others

4%

Transport

4%

5%

Finance &

Social Affairs

28%

Trade &

 Industry

12%

Competition &

Customs

13%

Justice, Liberty & 

Security

15%

Agriculture & 

Environment

17%

Comment: 

60% of requests are concentrated in three sectors: 

•  Finance, Internal Market and Social Affairs 

•  Agriculture, Health & Consumers and Environment 

•  Justice, Freedom and Security 

90% of requests are concentrated in six sectors: 

•  The three previous ones 

•  Competition and Customs 

•  Trade and Industry 

•  Transport

EN 

45 

   EN

 
 
 
TAIEX ENP Events by Partner Country
(& Russian Federation)
2006 - 2008
(Total: 380)

Armenia; 24

Azerbaijan; 7

Belarus; 4

Egypt; 19

Multi-Country; 126

Georgia; 17

Israel; 33

Jordan; 17

Lebanon; 4

Ukraine; 31

Moldova; 38

Tunisia; 13

Russia; 26

Morocco; 21

N 

46 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
TAIEX Events by Sector
2006 - 2008 
(Total: 380)

JHA IND/STUD; 23

LAN/INF; 7

JHA IND/EXP; 7

JHA; 53

AGR; 33

AGR IND/EXP; 5

AGR IND/STUD; 6

IND/EXP; 10

IND/STUD; 7

INT MARKT IND/STUD; 39

INT MARKT IND/EXP; 30

INT MARKT; 80

INFRA; 58

INFRA IND/EXP; 8

INFRA IND/STUD; 14

N 

47 

   EN 

 
 
 
Twinning in the Neighbouring Countries 
Key Facts and Figures 

184 ENP-Twinning projects under preparation 

or published – per country (2004-2008) 

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

AM

AZ

DZ

EG

GE

IL

JO

LB

MA

MD

TN

UA

Launched/ongoing Under preparation/identification

EN 

48 

EN 

 
  
 
 
Note:  Future  twinning  pipelines  for  the  Southern  countries  (except  Algeria  and  Morocco)  will  be  defined  in  the  course  of  2009

EN 

49 

EN 

 
  
Twinning projects 
ENPI South (per country) 

2004-2008 

2004-2008 

Launched/ongoing 
terminated 

Under preparation/ 
identification/project 
ideas 

TOTAL 

13 

2 

10 

4 

13 

18 

60 

6 

17 

2 

31 

2 

58 

6 

30 

4 

10 

4 

44 

20 

118 

Twinning projects  
ENPI East (per country) 

2005-2008 

2005-2008 

Launched/ongoing 

Under preparation/ 
identification/project 
ideas 

TOTAL 

2 

7 

1 

2 

15 

27 

5 

5 

7 

7 

15 

39 

7 

12 

8 

9 

30 

66 

Country 

Algeria 

Egypt 

Israel 

Jordan 

Lebanon 

Morocco 

Tunisia 

TOTAL 

Country 

Armenia 

Azerbaijan 

Georgia 

Moldova 

Ukraine 

TOTAL 

EN 

50 

   EN

 
  
  
  
 
 
Twinning projects ENP 2004-2008 (per sector) 

Telecom  

Competition 

Statistics 

Health & Consumer Protection 

Customs 

Employment & Social Affairs 

Agriculture 

Transport 

Energy 

Trade & Industry 

Justice & Home Affairs 

Environment 

Finance & Internal Market 

Other 

TOTAL 

2 

4 

6 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

12 

13 

16 

20 

24 

37 

184 

EN 

51 

   EN

 
 
 
 
 
Number of Twinning proposals 
by Member State 2004 – 2008 

212 Proposals from 23 Member States for 

81 ENP-Twinning Calls for Proposals (12/01/2009) 

50

40

30

20

10

0

Light
Junior
Leader

AT BE BG CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI

FR HU IT

LT LV NL PL PT RO SE SK UK

EN 

52 

   EN

 
 
 
Member States selected  
 in awarded Twinning projects  
2004-2008 

17 EU Member States Selected for 

81 attributed ENP-Twinning (12/01/2009) 

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Light
Junior
Leader

AT

CZ DE DK EL

ES

FI

FR HU IT

LT

LV NL

PL

SE

SK UK

EN 

53 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
Exponential Increase of Twinning Launched in 

ENP Countries: 

Cumulated 2005-2008 

120
120

100
100

80
80

60
60

40
40

20
20

0
0

90
90

50
50

30
30

10
10

2005
2005

2006
2006

2007
2007

2008 (prév.)
2008 (prév.)

EN 

54 

   EN

 
 
 
Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF): List of projects that 
received final approval for a contribution in 2008 

Projects in the ENP East region:  

The  NIF  contribution  to  the  nine  projects  approved  for  the  East  amounts  to  EUR 
37.23  million.  The  total  amount  of  these  projects  is  worth  approximately  EUR  1.1 
billion.  

Country 

Consortium of 
European Finance 
Institutions 

Title of the project 

Sector 

Total Cost 

NIF 
Contribution 

Georgia(cid:31)

KfW, EBRD and EIB  Black Sea Energy Transmission System

Energy

220

8

Republic of Moldova(cid:31) CEB

Capacity Assessment and Modernization of 
the Republican Clinical Hospital in Chisinau 

Republic of Moldova(cid:31) EBRD and EIB 

Road Rehabilitation project 

Republic of Moldova(cid:31) EBRD, KfW and EIB 

Republic of Moldova(cid:31) EBRD and EIB 

Ukraine(cid:31)

Ukraine(cid:31)

Ukraine(cid:31)

EBRD and EIB 

EBRD and EIB 

EBRD and EIB 

Regional(cid:31)

EBRD

Feasibility Study for the Improvement of the 
Water and Sanitation System in Chisinau
Technical Assistance for the Chisinau Airport 
Modernisation Project II
Technical Assistance Support for Ukrainian 
Municipalities
Technical Assistance for the Ukrenergo high 
voltage transmission networks
Technical Assistance for Burshtyn TPP 
Rehabilitation and Efficiency Improvement
Technical Assistance support to Financial 
Intermediaries

Social

Transport

Environment

Transport

Social / Transport / 
Energy (mixed)

Energy

Energy

Private Sector

18

92,5

59

46,25

135

301,28

250,8

38,25

3

12

3

1,75

5

0,8

0,8

2,88

Projects in the ENP South region:  

The NIF contribution to the six projects approved for the South amounts to EUR 33.8 
million. The total amount of these projects is worth approximately EUR 1.6 billion.  

Consortium of 
European Finance 
Institutions 

KfW, AFD and EIB 

Country 

Egypt

Egypt

Title of the project 

Sector 

Total Cost 

NIF 
Contribution 

Improved Water and Wastewater Services 
Programme

Environment

KfW and EIB

Wind farm El Zayt 

Morocco 

EIB and AFD

Programme National de Routes Rurales 
(PNRR2)

Morocco 

AFD and EIB 

Tramway de Rabat / Salé

Energy

Transport

Transport

Tunisia 

Tunisia 

KfW and AFD 

Réhabilitation station d'épuration (STEP) et de 
station de pompage

Environment

KfW, AFD and EIB 

Centrale électrique thermosolaire (20 MW)

Energy

up to 120

295

340

397

346

127

5

10

9,8

5

3

1

EN 

55 

   EN

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distribution of the NIF Contributions per Sector 2008: 

Private 
Sector
4%

Mixed
7%

Social 
4%

Environment 
16%

Energy
29%

Transport
40%

Distribution of the NIF Contributions per Objective 2008: 

III: SMEs and Social Sector 
11%
II: Environment
16%

I: Energy and Transport 
73%

Objective 1: Energy and Transport 

Objective 2: Environment (incl. Climate Change) 

Objective 3: SMEs and Social Sector 

EN 

56 

   EN

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NIF: Pledged Contributions of the Member States (as per 28/12/08): 

Provisional List of 
Member State direct 

contributions         

(officially announced)

Pledge 
(2008-10)

Germany 
France 
Poland
Czech Republic 
Spain 
Austria 
Bulgaria
Estonia
Finland
Greece 
Italy
Luxembourg
Portugal 
Romania 
Sweden 

10
10
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
37

EN 

57 

   EN