IPA III
IPA III
The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) is the means by which the EU has been supporting reforms in the enlargement region with financial and technical assistance since 2007. IPA funds build up the capacities of the beneficiaries throughout the accession process, resulting in progressive, positive developments in the region.
For the period 2021-2027, the general objective of IPA III is to support the EU candidate and potential candidate countries (the beneficiaries) in adopting and implementing the political, institutional, legal, administrative, social and economic reforms required to comply with EU values and to progressively align with EU rules, standards, policies and practices (‘acquis’) with a view to future EU membership, thereby contributing to mutual stability, security, peace and prosperity.
The specific objectives of IPA III are:
- to strengthen the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental rights and international law, civil society, security as well as migration management including border management;
- to reinforce the effectiveness of public administration and support transparency, structural reforms and good governance at all levels;
- to shape the rules, standards, policies and practices of the beneficiaries in alignment with those of the EU and to reinforce regional cooperation, reconciliation and good neighbourly relations, as well as people-to-people contacts and strategic communication;
- to foster economic and social development and cohesion, with particular attention to youth;
- to reinforce environmental protection, increase resilience to climate change, accelerate the shift towards a low- carbon economy, develop the digital economy and society and strengthen sustainable connectivity in all its dimensions;
- to support territorial cohesion and cross-border cooperation across land and maritime borders, including transnational and interregional cooperation.
IPA III presents a solid policy-driven approach, with strategic and dynamic deployment of assistance, putting the “fundamentals” at its core. By further focusing EU financial assistance on key priorities, IPA III leverages support to reforms fostering sustainable socio-economic development and bringing candidate and potential candidate countries closer to the EU values and standards.
IPA III assistance is based on the IPA III Programming Framework which reflects the specific objectives of the IPA III Regulation and focuses on the priorities of the EU’s enlargement process.
The IPA III Programming Framework is the overarching strategic document for the programming of IPA III funds for the duration of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. It replaces the indicative country and multi-country strategy papers that served as the basis for the programming of EU pre-accession assistance under the instrument known as IPA II.
Under IPA III, EU assistance is programmed according to five thematic Windows, which mirror the clusters of the negotiating chapters as per the revised enlargement methodology. The thematic windows are:
- Window 1: Rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy;
- Window 2: Good governance, EU acquis alignment, good neighbourly relations and strategic communication;
- Window 3: Green agenda and sustainable connectivity;
- Window 4: Competitiveness and inclusive growth;
- Window 5: Territorial and cross border cooperation.
Furthermore, depending on the needs of the IPA III Beneficiary, the IPA III assistance may address and may be provided for the thematic priorities that are listed in Annex II of the Commission Implementing Decision of 10.12.2021 adopting the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III).
In addition, a number of cross-cutting themes, such as climate change, environmental protection, civil society, gender equality and rights-based approach, are mainstreamed and therefore implemented under the five windows.