Instrument for structural policy for pre-accession

In order to prepare for the accession of the candidate countries from Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs), the European Union provides, through the structural pre-accession instrument, financial support in the area of economic and social cohesion, and in particular for environment and transport policies for the period 2000 - 2006.

ACT

Council Regulation (EC) No 1267/1999 of 21 June 1999 establishing an Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-accession [See amending acts]

SUMMARY

The Commission communication on Agenda 2000 calls for measures to reinforce the pre-accession strategy for all the applicant countries in Central and Eastern Europe for the period 2000-06. This implies the establishment, by way of back-up for the Phare programme and aid for agricultural development, of a structural instrument for pre-accession (ISPA) (replaced by the instrument for pre-accession assistance - IPA - for the period 2007-2013).

Eligible Measures

Community assistance granted under ISPA is limited to programmes for the environment and transport.

Environment

Community financial assistance is granted to environmental projects that enable the beneficiary countries to comply with the requirements of Community environmental law and with the accession partnerships.

Transport

ISPA assistance is granted for transport infrastructure measures. The projects concerned promote sustainable mobility and above all

• are of common interest based on the criteria laid down in Council Decision No 1692/96 (on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network);
• enable the beneficiary countries to comply with the objectives of the accession partnerships. This includes interconnection and interoperability between national networks and the trans-European networks, as well as access to such networks.

The total cost of each measure cannot, in principle, be less than 5 million.

A balance must be struck between measures in the field of the environment and measures relating to transport infrastructure. Assistance may also be granted for:

• preliminary studies related to eligible measures;
• technical support measures, including information and publicity actions.

The selection and approval of projects are based on national transport and environmental programmes. These programmes are included in the national programme for the adoption of the Community acquis, which is one of the key elements of the accession partnerships.

Financial arrangements

An indicative allocation between beneficiary countries of the total Community assistance under ISPA is made by the Commission on the basis of the criteria of population, per capita GDP in purchasing power parities, and surface area.

Forms and rate of assistance

The rate of Community assistance granted under ISPA may be up to 75% of public or equivalent expenditure. The Commission may decide to increase this rate to up to 85%, in particular where it considers that a rate higher than 75% is required to implement projects essential for achieving the general objectives of ISPA. Preliminary studies and technical support measures may be financed in exceptional cases at 100% of the total cost.

Compatibility with other Community policies

Measures financed under ISPA comply with the provisions set out in the Europe Agreements, including the implementing rules on state aid.

The Commission is responsible for coordination and consistency between those measures and measures financed by other contributions from the Community budget, for instance in respect of cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation, by the European Investment Bank.

Appraisal and approval of measures

The Commission adopts decisions on the measures to be financed under ISPA on the basis of applications for assistance submitted by beneficiary countries. Commission decisions approving measures determine the amount of financial assistance and lay down a financing plan together with all the provisions necessary for the implementation of the measures.

Management and control

The applicant countries are responsible for implementing projects under Commission supervision. In implementing the Regulation, the Commission ensures that the principles of sound financial management are adhered to.

Monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring of ISPA is carried out jointly by the beneficiary country and the Commission. More specifically, monitoring is carried out by reference to physical and financial indicators relating to the specific character of the project and its objectives.

RELATED ACTS

Report from the Commission - General report on pre-accession assistance (PHARE - ISPA - SAPARD) in 2005 [COM(2006) 746 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

Report from the Commission - 2005 report on PHARE, pre-accession and transition instruments [COM(2007) 3 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

Report from the Commission - 2005 Annual Report on the Instrument for Structural Policy for Pre-Accession (ISPA) [COM(2006) 674 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

General report from the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council of 24 March 2006 on pre-accession assistance Phare - Ispa - Sapard in 2004 [COM(2006) 137 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

Report from the Commission - 2004 Report on Phare, pre-accession and transition instruments [COM(2005) 701 final - Not published in the Official Journal]

Report from the Commission - Annual Report of the Instrument for Structural Policy for pre-accession (ISPA) 2004 [COM(2005) 612 - not published in the Official Journal]

Report from the Commission - Annual Report of the Instrument for Structural Policy for pre-accession (ISPA) 2003 [COM(2004) 735 - Official Journal C 10 of 14.01.2005]

Council Decision 2004/749/EC of 21 October 2004 outlining the general approach for the reallocation of resources under Regulation (EC) No 1267/1999 establishing an Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-accession [Official Journal L 332 of 6.11.2004] This Decision sets out the reallocation of ISPA resources between Bulgaria and Romania for the period 2004 to 2006.

Commission report - General report on pre-accession assistance (Phare-Ispa-Sapard) in 2002 [COM (2003) 844 final - Official Journal C 98 of 23.04.2004]

Commission Report - Annual report of the Instrument for Structural Policy for Pre-accession (ISPA) 2002 [COM (2003) 655 final - Official Journal C 96 of 21.04.2004]

Commission Report- General Report on pre-accession assistance (Phare - ISPA - Sapard) in 2001 [COM (2003) 329 final - Official Journal C 76 of 25.03.2004]

Commission report - General report on pre-accession assistance (Phare-Ispa-Sapard) in 2000 [COM (2002) 781 final - Not published in the Official Journal]

Commission Report - Annual report of the Instrument for Structural Policy for Pre-accession (ISPA) 2001 [COM(2002) 596 final - Not published in the Official Journal]

Commission Report - Annual report of the Instrument for Structural Policy for Pre-accession (ISPA) 2000 [COM(2001) 616 final - Not published in the Official Journal]

Last updated: 05.02.2007