CELEX: 
Language: en
Date: 2021-07-26
Title: COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/... supplementing Regulation (EU) .../... of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards setting out certain specific objectives and thematic priorities for assistance under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
            
            
               1.
                     CONTEXT OF THE DELEGATED ACT
            
            
               Regulation …/… establishing the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), hereafter “the Instrument”, sets out in its Article 3 the general and specific objectives, the thematic priorities for assistance – further elaborated in its Annex II - as well as the thematic priorities for assistance for cross-border cooperation between beneficiaries listed in its Annex I – further elaborated in its Annex III.  The Instrument should be supplemented by setting out certain specific objectives and thematic priorities for cooperation related to the matters referred to in its Article 3, paragraph 2a, points (a) to (m) and point (r) and paragraph 2b, points (a) to (j).
            
            
               2.
                     CONSULTATIONS PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE ACT
            
            
               The Commission has carried out substantial consultation with experts from the EU Member States, who generally supported the content of the act during the two meetings held. A draft of this Delegated Regulation was also made available to the European Parliament and the Council. In addition, stakeholders' comments on the draft Delegated Regulation were collected in the context of the Better Regulation feedback mechanism during the period between [date 2021] and [date 2021]. Comments from [xx] entities were received. 
            
            
               3.
                     LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE DELEGATED ACT
            
            
               The delegated act sets out the specific objectives and thematic priorities for assistance related to the matters outlined in paragraph 2a, points (a) to (m) and point (r) and in paragraph 2b, points (a) to (j) of Article 3 of the Instrument and further elaborated in its Annexes II and III.
            
            
            
               COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/...
            
            
               of XXX
            
            
               supplementing Regulation (EU)  .../... of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards setting out certain specific objectives and thematic priorities for assistance under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) 
               
            
               (Text with EEA relevance)
            
            
               THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
            
            
               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
            
            
               Having regard to Regulation (EU) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council of [date] establishing the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III)
                  1
               , and in particular Article 3(6) thereof, 
            
            
               Whereas:
            
            
               (1)Annexes II and III of Regulation 2021/xxx set out the thematic priorities for assistance.
            
            
               (2)Thematic priorities for assistance should be further developed through additional provisions supplementing Regulation 2021/xxx  
            
            
               (3)This Regulation cover the thematic priorities for assistance referred to in Article 3, paragraph 6, of Regulation 2021/xxx, 
            
         
         
            
               (4)In order to ensure the adoption of the programming and financing decisions under Regulation 2021/xxx without delay, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,
            
            
               HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
            
            
               Article 1
            
            
               The specific objectives and thematic priorities for assistance related to the matters referred to in Article 3, paragraph 3, points (a) to (m) and point (r) and in Article 3, paragraph 4, points (a) to (j) of Regulation (EU) 2021/…., are set out in the Annex to this Regulation.
            
            
               Article 2
            
            
               This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
            
            
               This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
            
            
               Done at Brussels,
            
            
               
                     For the Commission
               
               
                     The President
               
            
         
         
      
    ---documentbreak--- 
      
         
         
            
               ANNEX
            
            
            
               The specific objectives and thematic priorities for  assistance, listed in Article 3(6), of Regulation  (EU)…. / … (IPA III) set out by  this Delegated Regulation, are the following:
            
            
               (1)Promoting the alignment of partner countries’ rules, standards, policies and practices to those of the Union, including public procurement and state aid rules
            
            
            
               (2)Establishing and promoting from an early stage the proper functioning of the institutions necessary in order to secure the rule of law and consolidating further democratic institutions
            
            
               a)Establishing independent, accountable, impartial, professional, depoliticised, and efficient judicial systems, including through transparent and merit-based recruitment and promoting judicial cooperation, evaluation and promotion systems and effective disciplinary procedures in cases of wrongdoing; ensuring access to justice; 
            
            
               b)Promoting  law enforcement cooperation and information exchange; developing effective tools to prevent and fight organised crime, trafficking in human beings and of illicit firearms, small arms and light weapons, drug trafficking, money laundering/financing of terrorism and corruption; supporting engagement with the Union on counter-terrorism and preventing radicalisation;
            
            
               c)Promoting and protecting human rights, including non-discrimination and gender equality; 
            
            
               d)Strenghtening fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, freedom of the media, freedom of assembly and association and data protection.
            
            
            
               (3)Strenghthening capacities to face migration challenges at regional and international level and to further consolidate border and migration management
            
            
                     (a)Sharing relevant information; 
            
            
                     (b) 
                     Ensuring access to international protection, and strengthening asylum management;
            
            
               (c)
                     Strengthening capacities for border  management, and in the area of return and reintegration, and efforts to tackle irregular migration, including the fight against migrant smuggling; 
            
            
               (d) Addressing forced displacement;
            
            
               (e)
                     Promoting legal migration while respecting competences of the Member States, and mobility schemes.
            
            
               (4)Enhancing capacities of strategic communication, including communicating to the public on necessary reforms for meeting the EU membership criteria
            
            
               a) 
                     Supporting further development of independent and pluralistic media and media literacy; 
            
         
         
            
               b)
                     Increasing state and societal resilience to disinformation and other forms of hybrid threats, including capacity building in the area of cyber security;
            
            
               (5)Enhancing good governance and reforming public administrations in line with the principles of public administration 
            
            
               a)Strengthening public administration reform frameworks, including in the field of public procurement, improving strategic planning and inclusive and evidence-based policy and legislative development; 
            
            
               b)Enhancing professionalisation and de-politicisation of public service by embedding meritocratic principles; 
            
            
               c)Promoting transparency and accountability; 
            
            
               d)Improving quality and delivery of services, including adequate administrative procedures and the use of interoperable and citizen centred eGovernment; 
            
            
               e)Strengthening public financial management and the production of good quality statistics. 
            
            
            
               (6) Strengthening fiscal and economic governance 
            
            
               a)Supporting implementation of the economic reform programmes (ERP) and systematic cooperation with international financial institutions on fundamentals of economic policy and strengthening of economic institutions; 
            
            
               b)Enhancing the capacity to strengthen macroeconomic stability and social cohesion;
            
            
               c)Supporting sustainable development and progress towards becoming a functioning market economy;
            
            
               d)Advancing towards the Western Balkans Common Regional Market.
            
            
            
               (7)Strengthening all aspects of good neighbourly relations, regional stability and cooperation
            
            
            
               (8)Strengthening the Union and its partners' capacity to prevent conflict, build peace, address pre- and post-crises
            
            
               a)Promoting people to people networking, reconciliation, peace-building and confidence-building measures, early warning and conflict-sensitive risk analysis, initiatives promoting reconciliation, transitional justice, truth-seeking, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence; 
            
            
               b)Supporting capacity building in support of security and development (CBSD) actions.
            
            
         
         
            
               (9)Strengthening the capacities, independence and plurality of civil society organisations and social partners' organisations, including professional associations
            
            
               a)Strengthening capacity, independence and plurality of civil society organisations and empowering civil society organisations at regional and local levels, including youth organisations; 
            
            
               b)Reinforcing social partners’ organisations, including professional associations; 
            
            
               c)Encouraging networking at all levels among Union-based organisations and those of beneficiaries, enabling them to engage in an effective dialogue with public and private actors.
            
            
            
               (10)Promoting gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment
            
            
               a)Establishing a more enabling environment for the fulfilment of girls’ and women’s rights; 
            
            
               b)Tackling all forms of  gender-based violence, discrimination and inequalities;
            
            
               c)Promoting leadership participation of women and girls in policy and decision making;
            
            
               d)Promoting gender budgeting.
            
            
               (11)Protecting and improving the quality of the environment
            
            
               a)Addressing environmental degradation, and halting biodiversity loss;
            
            
               b)Promoting the conservation and sustainable management of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and natural resources;
            
            
               c)Investing in air quality, water and waste management and sustainable chemical management;
            
            
               d)Promoting resource efficiency, sustainable consumption and production;
            
            
               e)Supporting the transition to green and circular economies, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, increasing resilience to climate change and promoting climate action governance and information and energy efficiency;
            
            
               f)Promoting policies to support the shift towards a resource-efficient, safe and sustainable low-carbon economy, energy efficiency and strengthen disaster resilience as well as disaster prevention, preparedness and response.
            
            
            
               (12)Strengthening access to and quality of education, training and lifelong learning at all levels, and offering support to cultural and creative sectors and sport
            
            
               a)Promoting equal access to quality early-childhood education and care, primary and secondary education, improving the provision of basic skills; 
            
         
         
            
               b)Increasing educational attainment levels, tackling brain drain, reducing early school-leaving and reinforcing teachers’ training; 
            
            
               c)Developing vocational education and training (VET) systems and promoting work-based learning systems to facilitate the transition to the labour market;
            
            
               d)Improving the quality and relevance of higher education and research; 
            
            
               e)Encouraging alumni related activities; 
            
            
               f)Enhancing access to lifelong learning and supporting investment in education and accessible training infrastructure particularly with a view to reducing territorial disparities and fostering non-segregated inclusive education including through the use of accessible digital technologies.
            
            
               g)Enhancing cooperation across the cultural, creative and sport sectors. 
            
            
            
               (13)Fostering quality employment and access to the labour market 
            
            
               a)Tackling high unemployment and inactivity by supporting sustainable labour market integration in particular of young people, women, long-term unemployed and all under-represented groups; 
            
            
               b)Stimulating quality job creation and support the effective enforcement of labour rules and standards; 
            
            
               c)Supporting gender equality and youth, promoting employability and productivity, the adaptation of workers and enterprises to change, the establishment of a sustainable social dialogue and the modernisation and strengthening of labour market institutions such as public employment services and labour inspectorates.
            
            
            
               (14)Promoting social protection and inclusion and combating poverty
            
            
               a)Modernising social protection systems to provide effective, efficient, and adequate protection throughout all stages of a person’s life; 
            
            
               b)Promoting the transition from institutional to family and community-based care;
            
            
               c)Fostering social inclusion, promoting equal opportunities and addressing inequalities and poverty;
            
            
               d)Integrating marginalised communities such as the Roma;
            
            
               e)Combating all forms of discrimination; 
            
            
               f)Enhancing access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services, such as early childhood education and care, housing, healthcare and essential social services and long term care, including through the modernisation of social protection systems.
            
            
               (15)Thematic priorities for Cross-border cooperation between IPA III beneficiaries
            
         
         
            
               a)Promoting employment, labour mobility and social and cultural inclusion across borders;
            
            
               b)Protecting the environment and promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk prevention and management and promoting the use of renewable energy sources; 
            
            
               c)Promoting sustainable transport and improving public infrastructures;
            
            
               d)Promoting the digital economy and society;
            
            
               e)Encouraging tourism, especially sustainable tourism, and preserving and promoting cultural and natural heritage;
            
            
               f)Investing in youth, sport, education and skills;
            
            
               g)Promoting local and regional governance and enhancing the planning and administrative capacity of local and regional authorities;
            
            
               h)Promoting cross-border initiatives to foster reconciliation and transitional justice;
            
            
               i)Enhancing competitiveness, the business environment and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, trade and investment;
            
            
               j)Strengthening research, technological development, innovation and digital technologies.