Multi-country – financial assistance under IPA

Total EU assistance in 2014-2020 – €2.98 billion *

* Revised indicative allocations for the years 2018-2020 takes into account the transfer of EUR 314.8 mln to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the years 2018-2020. The allocation also includes the indicative amount to support the implementation of the Western Balkans Strategy

The multi-country programme helps meet the targets identified in the Country Strategy Papers, albeit through different means. In line with the revised Multi-country Indicative Strategy Paper 2014-20 , the programme provides assistance through 4 multi-country channels that provide a viable complement to national assistance:

A) Horizontal support

Technical assistance, information and training for authorities in IPA II beneficiaries, through the TAIEX instrument and in the form of twinning.

This makes available the know-how of EU and international organisations and best practices, including for evidence-based policy making (statistical cooperation), thereby helping improve the formulation and implementation of national sector policies and the related reform strategies. And it provides support across the region to strengthen civil society and ensure free and independent media, as well as building capacity and promoting mobility in higher education and for young people, by contributing to the Erasmus+ Programme.

B) Regional structures & networks

Promotes regional cooperation, networking and sharing of best practice to help IPA II beneficiaries prepare for EU membership, align their national legislation with EU law (acquis) and gradually adapt to EU standards and practices.

Support in this strand will target initiatives like:

• Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
• Regional School for Public Administration (ReSPA)
• the Prosecutors' Network
• International Law Enforcement Coordination Units (ILECUs)
• Environment & Climate Regional Accession Network (ECRAN)
• South-East Europe Transport Observatory (SEETO)
• Energy Community
• Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)
• Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG)
• Education & Employment Platforms.

C) Regional investment support

Targeting projects with a clear regional dimension that help socio-economic development in more than one IPA II beneficiary and address in particular investment needs related to:

• competitiveness of business
• connectivity between beneficiaries and EU countries
• environmental protection & climate change mitigation/adaptation.

The main instruments providing such support are:

• Western Balkans Investment Framework
• Green for Growth Fund
• Western Balkan Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility
• European Fund for Southeast Europe
• Regional Housing Programme

D) Territorial cooperation

Promoting good neighbourly relations between, and local development in, border regions – through cross-border programmes within the region and countries already in the EU, as well as transnational cooperation programmes and related macro-regional programmes (EU strategies for the Danube region and for the Adriatic-Ionian region).  

How will these priorities be implemented? (general background on IPA)

Other sources of information

• European Union
  • Tenders / Calls for proposals
  • Directorate-General for Regional & Urban Policy
  • Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion
  • Directorate-General for  Agriculture & Rural Development
  • Directorate-General for Economic & Financial Affairs
  • Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship & SMEs
• International Financial Institutions
  • European Investment Bank & European Investment Fund (EIB Group)
  • European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD)
  • Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB)
  • World Bank Group

Selected Projects

• Safer aviation thanks to regional cooperation
• Giving people a bigger stake in justice in the Western Balkans
• Going with the flow – easing inland shipping on the Danube
• Combining forces for a more efficient food industry
• Fighting organized crime and corruption
• Involving young people: EU citizenship around the Adriatic
• Giving a boost to business culture through lifelong learning
• Catching the export cheats: Customs agencies join forces
• Land ownership clarified
• Training war crime prosecutors
• Seeking equality for people from minority groups
• Radioactive lightning rods removed
• Monitoring Cyberspace - Catching the cyber criminals in the Western Balkans and Turkey
• Better transport links in the Western Balkans - Upgrading a vital motorway
• Catching the wind in the Western Balkans

For specific information(programme level), see below.

Key figures