Development cooperation, NIS and Mongolia: assistance to economic reform and recovery, Tacis programme, 2000-2006

PURPOSE: to promote the transition to a market economy and to reinforce democracy and the rule of law in the partner states in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation 99/2000/EC, EURATOM concerning the provision of assistance to the partner States in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. CONTENT: This programme shall be based on the principles and objectives and set out in the Partnership and Co-operation Agreements, in the context of which the Community, its Member States and the partner States work together to support initiatives of common interest. The programme shall aim to maximise impact through concentration on a limited number of significant initiatives, not precluding small-scale projects where such projects are appropriate. To this end, the indicative and action programmes shall cover at most three of the eligible crosscutting areas of co-operation. Where applicable, support for nuclear safety shall be provided in addition to these three areas. This programme shall take into consideration the differing needs and priorities of the principal regions covered by the Regulation and in particular the need to promote democracy and the rule of law. Particular attention shall be paid to: - the need to reduce environmental risks and pollution, including trans-boundary pollution; - the need to promote the sustainable use of natural resources, including energy resources, and - the social aspects of transition. The programme shall aim to promote inter-State, inter-regional and cross-border co-operation between partner States themselves, between the partner States and the European Union and between the partner States and Central and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, indicative programmes covering three to four year periods shall be established in accordance with the procedures referred to in this regulation. These programmes shall define the principal objectives of, and guidelines for, Community assistance in the areas of co-operation and would as far as possible, include indicative financial estimates. Before the establishment of indicative programmes, the Commission shall discuss with the Committee the priorities to be identified with the partner States. On the other hand, action programmes based on the indicative programmes shall be adopted on an annual or biannual basis. These action programmes shall include a list of the projects to be financed within the areas of co-operation. The measures outlined in the national action programmes shall be reflected in financing memoranda agreed between the Commission and each Partner State. In addition to the national action programmes, an incentive scheme is established to introduce an element of competition into the allocation of resources, in order to promote quality. The scheme shall be introduced gradually and takes into account the administrative capacity of the different partner States. In the first year of operation, the size of the scheme shall not exceed 10% of the overall budget of the programme. In subsequent years, this proportion might be increased by up to 5% per year. With regard to technical assistance, the following measures shall be supported: - transfer of expertise and know-how, including training; - industrial co-operation and partnerships for institutional building based on co-operation between public and private organisations from the European Union and partner States; - on a case by case basis, the reasonable cost of supplies required in the implementation of the assistance. In particular cases, including nuclear safety, justice and home affairs and cross-border co-operation, a significant supply element may be included; - investment and investment related activities. Assistance may include technical assistance to catalyse and support investments and investment financing in the areas of cross-border co-operation, promotion of SMEs, environmental infrastructure and networks. - The financial reference amount for the implementation of this programme for the period 2000 to 2006 shall be EUR 3 138 million. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. A maximum of 20% of the annual budget could be allocated to investment financing and the same amount could be allocated to the "Incentive scheme". ENTRY INTO FORCE: 21.01.2000.�