The main objective of the workshop is to provide detailed overview of the process of programming, management, and implementation of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) for EU candidate and potential candidate countries.

From January 2007 onwards, IPA replaces a series of European Union programs and financial instruments for potential candidate and candidate countries, namely PHARE, PHARE CBC, ISPA, SAPARD, CARDS and the financial instrument for Turkey.

IPA is made up of five different components:

1. Assistance for transition and institution building
2. Cross-border cooperation (with EU Member States and other countries eligible for IPA)
3. Regional development (transport, environment, regional and economic development)
4. Human resources (strengthening human capital and combating exclusion)
5. Rural development

While EU candidate countries (Croatia, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) are eligible for all five components of IPA, EU potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution 1244/99) are eligible only for the first two components.

The workshop is designed for public officials from EU candidate and potential candidate countries who prepare and implement IPA projects. Officials from ministries of finance, ministries and offices responsible for EU integration, and line ministries responsible for various aspects of economic and social development, are invited to participate. Representatives of planning institutions and chambers of economy from EU candidate and potential candidate countries will also benefit from attending the workshop.

• EU financial assistance policy and enlargement
• EU public finances and the role of structural / cohesion funds
• Programming, management and implementation of EU structural / cohesion funds

Participants attending the workshop will be introduced to IPA, its programming and operational management to help them perform EU funds related tasks. Group exercises will encourage participants to share experience and discuss strengths and weaknesses of the systems in their respective countries. Feedback and recommendations to improve the IPA systems will be provided.

Date: September 20 - 22, 2010
Location: Slovenia, Ljubljana, Cankarjeva 18, CEF

Application Closing Date: August 20, 2010

Topic: General PFM

The course will be delivered in English.

No fee is charged for the officials working in the public sector.

The participants or their sponsoring agencies are responsible for travel insurance and covering the costs of travel, accommodation and per diem.

Lunch, coffee and refreshments during the courses will be provided by the CEF.