1 TWINNING IN THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD Christophe INGELS Head of Sector Twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA EuropeAid – Neighbourhood Directorate Brussels 7-8.

1

TWINNING IN THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD

Christophe INGELSHead of Sector Twinning, TAIEX and SIGMAEuropeAid – Neighbourhood Directorate Brussels 7-8 June 2012

2

The European Neigbourhood Policy - Countries Morocco

Algeria

Tunisia

Libya*

Egypt

Israel

oPt*

Jordan

Lebanon Syria*

Armenia

Georgia

Azerbaijan Ukraine

Moldova

Belarus*

3

• Some facts and figures on Twinning

in the Neighbourhood(2004 – May 2012)

4

- 215 twinnings launched in 12 Neighbourhood countries for an overall budget of € 235 million

- focusing on institutional capacity building...

- ... and legal harmonisation/approximation

- mainly in the Finance, Trade and Industry, Justice and Home Affairs sectors (more than 50% of total)

Since 2004…

5

Status of twinning projects per Neighbourhood country (2004 – May 2012)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45Unsuccessful

CfP open

Negotiation of contract

Ongoing

Concluded

6

Twinning projects in the Neighbourhood per sector (2004 – May 2012)

Telecommunications3%

Trade and industry16%

Transport7%

Agriculture4%

Environment5%

Finance24%

Health and consumer protection

8%

Justice and home affairs13%

Other8%

Energy4%

Employment and social affairs

8%

7

2004-2012 ENPI Region: Twinning projects launched - 12 countries - per year

•

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Israel

Moldova

Algeria

Lebanon

Armenia

Georgia

Jordan

Egypt

Azerbaijan

Morocco

Ukraine

Tunisia

2004-05-06

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

mid 2012

8

Number of proposals by Member States (as leader, 2005 - mid 2012) 547 Proposals from 22 Member States for 214

Neighbourhood Twinning calls for proposals

•

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

FR

AN

CE

GE

RM

AN

Y

ITA

LY

SP

AIN UK

NE

TH

ER

LA

ND

S

AU

ST

RIA

GR

EE

CE

DE

NM

AR

K

SW

ED

EN

LIT

HU

AN

IA

SL

OV

AK

IA

FIN

LA

ND

LA

TV

IA

CZ

EC

H R

EP

.

RO

MA

NIA

BU

LG

AR

IA

HU

NG

AR

Y

PO

LA

ND

BE

LG

IUM

ES

TO

NIA

PO

RT

UG

AL

9

Awarded twinning projects per MS and role (2005 –mid 2012)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

FR

AN

CE

GE

RM

AN

Y

ITA

LY

SP

AIN

AU

ST

RIA

SW

ED

EN

UN

ITE

D K

ING

DO

M

DE

NM

AR

K

PO

LAN

D

NE

TH

ER

LAN

DS

LIT

HU

AN

IA

LAT

VIA

FIN

LAN

D

PO

RT

UG

AL

GR

EE

CE

RO

MA

NIA

HU

NG

AR

Y

CZ

EC

H R

EP

UB

LIC

BE

LGIU

M

BU

LGA

RIA

ES

TO

NIA

SLO

VA

KIA

SLO

VE

NIA

CY

PR

US

IRE

LAN

D

LUX

EM

BO

UR

G

MA

LTA

Junior

Leader

10

Member States proposals per region (as leader, 2005 –mid 2012)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

East

South

11

Recent trends of Member States proposals over two years (as leader)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

FR

AN

CE

GE

RM

AN

Y

ITA

LY

SP

AIN UK

NE

TH

ER

LA

ND

S

AU

ST

RIA

GR

EE

CE

DE

NM

AR

K

SW

ED

EN

LIT

HU

AN

IA

SL

OV

AK

IA

FIN

LA

ND

LA

TV

IA

CZ

EC

H R

EP

.

RO

MA

NIA

BU

LG

AR

IA

HU

NG

AR

Y

PO

LA

ND

BE

LG

IUM

ES

TO

NIA

PO

RT

UG

AL

May 2012-May 2011

May 2011-May 2010

12

Twinning - fundamental principles

- The domains of co-operation covered by twinnings are included in Association Agreements and Action Plans;

- Twinning is “demand-driven” with the involvement of the PAOs;

- It is aimed at developing the capacity of Public Administration in the partner countries supported by equivalent institutions in EU MS;

- It brings structural reform (should tackle systemic type of problems);

- It should include elements of approximation to the EU acquis;

- A Twinning project does NOT aim at replicating a particular MS administrative system but should be tailor-made;

- It is based on a commitment between both partners to work towards commonly agreed mandatory results.

13

Twinning: some major evaluation’s recommendations

- Keep the demand-driven approach but enhance it with a more global and coherent strategic approach (founded on the AAs or even the CIBs for the East)

- Revise and refine the reference to the EU Acquis and to relevant fields of co-operation

- Better involve political decision-makers in the twinning process

- Improve twinning feasibility, impact and sustainability through revision of the following selection criteria:

1. Improve compatibility of the needs expressed with twinning eligibility criteria

2. Select only focused and realistic mandatory results

3. Ensure that the absorption capacity of beneficiaries is sufficient

4. Ensure that the BAs are fully committed

14

Twinning: some major evaluation’s recommendations

- Strengthen the governance of twinning projects through the PAOs/UGPs

- Strengthen EU MS expertise, not technically, but rather in terms of project management and communication skills

- Proceed to the revision of twinning rules (greater simplification, stronger adaptation to the ENP context)

- Review the twinning concept and definition

15

Messages to stakeholders: Beneficiaries

Twinning is demand-driven and the role played by the beneficiary country is essential:

- PAOs are set up to play a pivotal role between the EC (delegation & HQ) and the national administrations for the identification, management of twinning projects and for promoting twinning. In decentralised management mode they are the contracting authority;

- PAOs coordinate as well the cooperation through SIGMA and TAIEX;

- The beneficiary administration must carefully identify its needs and evaluate its capacity to work hand-in-hand with the RTA;

- A high-level political commitment is necessary to carry out the reforms aimed at in the project.

16

Messages to stakeholders: Member States

The administration applying for a twinning should realise what it implies:

- The MS administration should not be seen as a label but rather as a resource and knowledge centre;

- The mobilisation of the MS administration’ resources should be facilitated by the RTA (reason why s/he should belong to the lead administration);

- The partnerships (consortia) between MS are encouraged and valued but should be based on a concrete and concerted synergy and complementarity ;

- Twinning is not a bilateral project but a European one!

17

Messages to stakeholders: EU Delegations

- Added-value of the instrument is based on its public dimension;

- Mandatory results should be well-defined...

- ...though the fiche itself should leave the opportunity to the MS to propose its own methodology and solutions;

- Where relevant the European dimension should always be taken into account;

- Use the twinning in synergy with the other institution building instruments (TAIEX, SIGMA) and in coordination with the PAO;

- Observe the rules and good practices of the twinning;

- Unit F4 in EuropeAid is your contact point for matters related to twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA;

- ALWAYS DESIGNATE ONE CONTACT PERSON for Twinning, TAIEX, SIGMA (thank you!)

18

Thank you and keep in touch

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/overview/twinning_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/how-does-it-work/technical-assistance/twinning_en.htm

DEVCO F4 – Secretariat +32 2 29 87083