Stabilisation & Association Stabilisation & Association Process: the EU Policy for South Process: the EU Policy for South

East EuropeEast Europe

Brussels December 2004Brussels December 2004

Stabilisation and Association Stabilisation and Association ProcessProcess

Launched in 1999Launched in 1999

Albania, BiH, Croatia, Serbia and Albania, BiH, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and FYROM Montenegro and FYROM

prospect of EU membershipprospect of EU membership

variable speedvariable speed

Emphasises regional cooperationEmphasises regional cooperation

Draws from the experience of Draws from the experience of enlargement enlargement

Copenhagen CriteriaCopenhagen Criteria

A prospective member of the EU must :A prospective member of the EU must :– be a stable democracy, respecting human be a stable democracy, respecting human

rights, the rule of law, and the protection of rights, the rule of law, and the protection of minorities; minorities;

– have a functioning market economy; have a functioning market economy; – adopt the common rules, standards and adopt the common rules, standards and

policies that make up the body of EU law. policies that make up the body of EU law.

SAP Key featuresSAP Key features

Stabilisation and Association AgreementStabilisation and Association Agreement– One per country. Legal basis for relations - in force for fYROM, Croatia One per country. Legal basis for relations - in force for fYROM, Croatia

to enter into force in 2005. to enter into force in 2005.

European PartnershipsEuropean Partnerships– Short and medium term prioritiesShort and medium term priorities– Draw on the experience of enlargement (accession partnerships)Draw on the experience of enlargement (accession partnerships)

SAP ReportsSAP Reports– AnnualAnnual– Similar to regular reports for candidates. Similar to regular reports for candidates.

Financial support from CARDS instrumentFinancial support from CARDS instrument– National and regionalNational and regional– Supports the objectives of the SAPSupports the objectives of the SAP– BERCEN supported under regional budgetBERCEN supported under regional budget

EU Environment PolicyEU Environment PolicyThe ChallengeThe Challenge

Adoption of EU legislation in the area of Adoption of EU legislation in the area of the environment is a major challenge:the environment is a major challenge:– Legislative Legislative --

more than 270 pieces of legislation; 80 Major Directivesmore than 270 pieces of legislation; 80 Major Directives

– Institutional Institutional - - strengthen administrative structures : ministries, agencies but strengthen administrative structures : ministries, agencies but also implementation and enforcement institutionsalso implementation and enforcement institutions

improve intra-ministerial co-ordinationimprove intra-ministerial co-ordination

environmental management in business needs attentionenvironmental management in business needs attention

– Financial Financial High estimates of compliance costs.High estimates of compliance costs.

EU Environment Policy EU Environment Policy Strategy Strategy for Accessionfor Accession

Certain pieces of legislation stand out as Certain pieces of legislation stand out as particularly investment heavyparticularly investment heavy ::

waste water treatment and drinking water supplywaste water treatment and drinking water supply

fuel quality and large combustion plantsfuel quality and large combustion plants

waste management - landfill, incinerationwaste management - landfill, incineration

IPPCIPPC

EC Assistance can help but the bulk of effort EC Assistance can help but the bulk of effort comes from the countries themselves comes from the countries themselves

Accession strategyAccession strategy

Full transposition by accessionFull transposition by accessionImplementation by accession ofImplementation by accession of– Framework legislation and legislation related to the single marketFramework legislation and legislation related to the single market– Environmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact Assessment– Access to information and Nature ProtectionAccess to information and Nature Protection

Transition periods allowed for investment heavy Transition periods allowed for investment heavy directives (waste water treatment, landfills etc.) No directives (waste water treatment, landfills etc.) No opt outs from environmental legislation opt outs from environmental legislation

All new investments must meet with the acquisAll new investments must meet with the acquis

The current candidatesThe current candidates

Bulgaria and RomaniaBulgaria and Romania– Entry foreseen for 2007Entry foreseen for 2007

Turkey Turkey – Candidate but negotiations not yet openCandidate but negotiations not yet open

CroatiaCroatia– Negotiations scheduled to open early 2005 on a date to be fixed. Negotiations scheduled to open early 2005 on a date to be fixed.

Former Yugoslav Republic of MacedoniaFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia– Applied for EU membership in March 2004Applied for EU membership in March 2004– Commission must prepare Opinion on membership before fYROM can become Commission must prepare Opinion on membership before fYROM can become

a candidate a candidate

Thessaloniki 2003:Thessaloniki 2003:A milestoneA milestone

Confirmed prospective EU Confirmed prospective EU membershipmembership

Stabilisation and Association Process Stabilisation and Association Process remains the policy frameworkremains the policy framework

Enrich SAP with elements from Enrich SAP with elements from enlargementenlargement

EnrichmentEnrichment

European Partnerships – identify priorities European Partnerships – identify priorities and timetable for achieving them. and timetable for achieving them. Financial assistance will be aimed at Financial assistance will be aimed at supporting these prioritiessupporting these priorities

Enhanced support for institution building Enhanced support for institution building – Twinning and TAIEX Twinning and TAIEX

Participation in Community programmes Participation in Community programmes and agenciesand agencies

European PartnershipsEuropean Partnerships

Identify priorities Identify priorities – Short term (1-2 years)Short term (1-2 years)– Medium term (3-4 years)Medium term (3-4 years)

Environmental examples includeEnvironmental examples include– Implement/develop EIA legislationImplement/develop EIA legislation– Prepare financial strategy - increase investmentPrepare financial strategy - increase investment– Strengthen administrative capacity (inspection)Strengthen administrative capacity (inspection)

Future assistance to target these priorities Future assistance to target these priorities

Technical Assistance & Technical Assistance & Information Exchange -TAIEXInformation Exchange -TAIEX

Now operating in SEE !Now operating in SEE !Mission statement:Mission statement:– ““Its aim is to provide toIts aim is to provide to administrations of the Western administrations of the Western

Balkans, short-term technical assistance, in line with the Balkans, short-term technical assistance, in line with the overall policy objectives of the European Commission, and in overall policy objectives of the European Commission, and in the field of approximation, application and enforcement of EU the field of approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation” legislation”

MandateMandate– Transposition/Implementation/EnforcementTransposition/Implementation/Enforcement– Training to increase administrative capacityTraining to increase administrative capacity– Information products, on-going monitoringInformation products, on-going monitoring

What and who for?What and who for?

Assistance through:Assistance through:– Seminars/Workshops, experts’ missions, study Seminars/Workshops, experts’ missions, study

visits, training, documentationvisits, training, documentation

BeneficiariesBeneficiaries– Central Administrations, Parliament, Central Administrations, Parliament,

judiciary/law enforcement, regional/local judiciary/law enforcement, regional/local authorities, private sector associations, social authorities, private sector associations, social partnerspartners

Demand drivenDemand driven ! ( ! (www.taiex.bewww.taiex.be) )

Progress ReportsProgress Reports

Third annual SAP report issued in March Third annual SAP report issued in March 20042004

ProgressProgress– Limited structural and administrative reforms. Limited structural and administrative reforms. – Recognition of REReP (PEIP and continued Recognition of REReP (PEIP and continued

Commission support)Commission support)

EU EnlargementEU Enlargement

CroatiaCroatia– Commission opinion highlighted environment Commission opinion highlighted environment

as potentially a problem sectoras potentially a problem sector– Now a candidate Now a candidate – Negotiations to open early 2005Negotiations to open early 2005

Former Yugoslav Republic of MacedoniaFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia– On the basis of a questionnaire Commission On the basis of a questionnaire Commission

opinion to be issued second half of 2005opinion to be issued second half of 2005

The futureThe future

Commission to incorporate SEE into DG Commission to incorporate SEE into DG ELARG, strong political signalELARG, strong political signal

EU member states must decide on financial EU member states must decide on financial perspectives (2007-2013)perspectives (2007-2013)

CARDS and pre-accession instruments CARDS and pre-accession instruments (Phare, SAPARD, ISPA) to be replaced by a (Phare, SAPARD, ISPA) to be replaced by a single pre-accession instrument. single pre-accession instrument.

Commission Web sitesCommission Web sites

EnlargementEnlargement

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/index_en.htmlhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/index_en.html

2004 reports:2004 reports:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/report_2004/http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/report_2004/

EnvironmentEnvironment

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/index_en.htmhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/index_en.htm