Europaudvalget 2016
KOM (2016) 0810
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EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Brussels, 19.12.2016
SWD(2016) 456 final
PART 1/2
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
Accompanying the document
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
THE COUNCIL
2016 Annual Report on the implementation of the European Union's instruments for
financing external actions in 2015
{COM(2016) 810 final}
EN
EN
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
INTRODUCTION: EU RESPONSE TO WORLD DEVELOPMENTS IN 2015 ............. 5
1.
DELIVERING ON COMMITMENTS ....................................................................... 8
1.1. 2015: A crucial year for sustainable development ............................................ 8
1.1.1. From the MDGs to the SDGs: the 2030 Agenda ................................ 8
1.1.2. The means of implementation of the new Agenda: Addis Ababa
Action Agenda..................................................................................... 9
1.1.3. The link between development and climate change: COP 21 ............. 9
1.1.4. EYD 2015 .......................................................................................... 10
1.2. Keeping long-term promises ........................................................................... 11
1.2.1
A more strategic approach: Implementing the Agenda for Change . 11
1.2.2. Focusing on Poverty .......................................................................... 12
1.2.3. Strengthening human rights and good governance ........................... 12
1.2.4. Mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues .............................................. 13
1.2.5. Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) ....................................... 16
1.2.6. Development effectiveness and Joint Programming ......................... 17
1.3. Partnerships ..................................................................................................... 18
1.3.1. Cooperation with civil society organisations and local authorities ... 18
1.3.2. Working with the private sector ........................................................ 19
1.3.3. Cooperation with the donor community............................................ 19
1.3.4. Cooperation with international organisations.................................... 20
1.4. External action policies and instruments ......................................................... 21
1.4.1. Responding to global challenges and supporting long-term reforms 21
1.4.3. Making a difference: new instruments and aid modalities ................ 22
1.5. Neighbourhood Policy Review ....................................................................... 22
2.
RESULTS FOR PROJECTS COMPLETED BETWEEN JULY 2014 AND
JUNE 2015 ................................................................................................................ 24
2.1. Development progress in partner countries ..................................................... 31
2.2. EU contributions to results in partner countries: aggregated results ............... 57
2.3. European Commission’s organisational performance as the manager of the
EU aid .............................................................................................................. 73
3.
IMPLEMENTATION: GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW ............................................. 86
3.1. Enlargement .................................................................................................... 86
3.1.1
Introduction ...................................................................................... 87
3.1.2. Aid effectiveness and donor coordination ......................................... 88
3.1.3. Implementation.................................................................................. 89
3.2. European Neighbourhood ............................................................................... 97
3.2.1. European Neighbourhood East .......................................................... 98
3.2.2. European Neighbourhood South and Middle East .......................... 106
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3.3.
3.4.
3.5.
3.6.
4.
3.2.3
Iraq, Iran, Yemen and Gulf Countries ............................................ 115
African continental, Sub-Saharan Africa & all ACP programmes ............... 119
3.3.1 Sub-Saharan Africa ......................................................................... 119
3.3.2. South Africa .................................................................................... 130
3.3.3 Intra-ACP Programmes (Water, Energy, etc.) ................................ 134
Latin America & the Caribbean .................................................................... 137
3.4.1. Latin America .................................................................................. 137
3.4.2. Caribbean......................................................................................... 149
Asia, Central Asia & the Pacific ................................................................... 155
3.5.1. Asia.................................................................................................. 155
3.5.2. Central Asia ..................................................................................... 163
3.5.3. Pacific .............................................................................................. 170
OCTs ............................................................................................................. 176
IMPLEMENTATION: THEMATIC OVERVIEW ................................................ 180
4.1. The thematic programmes ............................................................................. 180
4.1.1. Global Public Goods and Challenges Human Development........... 180
4.1.2. Civil society organisations and local authorities ............................. 184
4.1.3. Migration, forced displacement and asylum ................................... 186
4.1.4. Environment and sustainable management of natural resources
including energy .............................................................................. 188
4.1.5. Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture .............. 191
4.1.6. Sustainable Energy .......................................................................... 193
4.2. Partnership Instrument .................................................................................. 195
4.3. Democracy and Human Rights ..................................................................... 199
4.4. Stability ......................................................................................................... 203
4.4.1. Crisis response and preparedness .................................................... 203
4.4.2. Global and regional trans-border challenges ................................... 208
4.5. Nuclear Safety ............................................................................................... 210
4.6. Humanitarian Assistance and Civil Protection.............................................. 212
4.6.1. Humanitarian Aid ............................................................................ 212
4.7. Macro-financial Assistance ........................................................................... 217
5.
MANAGING AID................................................................................................... 219
5.1. Monitoring Systems ...................................................................................... 219
5.1.1
The reformed external support to monitoring (ROM).................... 219
5.1.2
Evaluation: review of the work programme ................................... 220
5.1.3
Lessons learned .............................................................................. 225
5.2. Aid delivery modalities ................................................................................. 227
5.2.1
Trends in aid delivery modalities and channels ............................. 227
5.2.2
Budget support ............................................................................... 228
5.2.3
Using EU grants strategically via blending .................................... 229
5.2.4. Trust Funds ...................................................................................... 230
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5.3. Improving ways of working .......................................................................... 233
5.3.1
Progress on qualitative issues in aid management ......................... 233
5.3.2
Simplification of procedures .......................................................... 233
5.4. Communication & transparency.................................................................... 235
5.4.1
Communication and visibility ........................................................ 235
5.4.2
Transparency. ................................................................................. 236
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INTRODUCTION: EU
RESPONSE TO WORLD DEVELOPMENTS IN
2015
In
2015, Europe was confronted with a range of new and significant challenges. Conflicts
were raging on both our Southern and Eastern borders. The European Union (EU) was also
faced with an unprecedented refugee and migrant crisis while terrorist attacks were
perpetrated inside and outside Europe.
The EU responded, quickly and comprehensively, using the entire breadth of its policies and
tools that span diplomatic, security, financial, trade, development and humanitarian aid.
Throughout the year, the EU continued to play a leading role in international efforts
addressing crises in Ukraine and providing support to ongoing efforts in Syria, Iraq and
Libya. It worked tirelessly with its international partners against the activities of Da'esh.
In response to the migration crisis, the European Commission presented its
European Agenda
1
on Migration
in May 2015 to improve the management of migration in all its aspects.
The Valletta Summit brought together European and African Heads of State and Government
in an effort to strengthen cooperation and address the challenges and the opportunities
presented by migration. On this occasion, the EUR 1.8 billion ‘Emergency Trust Fund for
stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa’
2
was launched.
To address the crisis in Syria, the European Union and its Member States committed EUR
five billion up to the end of 2015 to assist the Syrian people inside the country as well as
refugees and the communities hosting them in neighbouring countries. The EU pledged an
additional EUR three billion in early 2016 in response to what has been the worst
humanitarian crisis Europe has seen since World War II.
In May 2015, the Council of the EU called for a stronger Europe, with a stronger and more
effective Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The fight against terrorism
continued to take centre stage in the work of the EU in 2015.
At the end of 2015, the EU had 18 CSDP civilian and military missions and operations in
place, of which two military operations (EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA and EUMAM CAR)
were established in 2015. EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA is contributing to the disruption of the
business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Southern Central
Mediterranean and EUMAM CAR is focusing on military advice and assistance to the Central
African Republic (CAR) authorities and prepare them for security sector reform.
The world-wide trend of increasing man-made and natural disasters continued in 2015. The
European Commission provided relief assistance of over EUR 1.4 billion including food,
shelter, protection, healthcare and clean water to more than 120 million people in over 80
countries.
The record 2016 humanitarian budget will continue to provide needs-based, life-saving
assistance throughout the world, assisting people affected by other conflicts, such as in South
1
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/background-
information/index_en.htm
2
C(2015) 7293 final, 20.10.2015
5
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Sudan and Ukraine, as well as addressing the needs of communities affected by complex and
recurring crises in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin, and other fragile areas. It will also
address the external dimension of the refugee crisis that currently affects Europe in countries
such as Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, the Western Balkans and Iraq.
The EU delivered on crisis prevention not only in high-priority crises (like Ukraine,
Syria/Iraq, Libya, Central African Republic and the Sahel), but also in connection with
disasters (for example support to Nepal following the earthquakes in April and May) as well
as in protracted and lower-intensity crises (Central Asia Water Mediation, Georgia, Nagorno-
Karabakh, Turkey-Armenia).
The EU and its Member States remained the world's largest provider of development funding.
The European Commission alone disbursed
over EUR 10.3 billion in official development
assistance (ODA)
in 2015 promoting European core values of peace, security, sustainable
development, poverty reduction and human rights worldwide, and thus tackling the root
causes of crisis. During the year, the
11
th
European Development Fund
(EDF)
3
, worth EUR
30.5 billion, became fully operational.
As strong promoter of Human Rights, the EU undertook human rights dialogues and
consultations with 37 partner countries and regional groupings. The EU together with
Member States elaborated 11 democracy profiles in 2015. The EU supported human rights
civil society organisations and human rights defenders, conducted eight Election Observation
missions, eight Electoral Expert missions and three Election Follow-up Missions. It also took
further steps towards applying a more effective human rights-based approach to development
cooperation.
In September 2015, the European Commission services and the European External Action
Service (EEAS) adopted a new framework for the EU's activities on gender equality and
women's empowerment in EU's external relations
4
.
The EU remained a strong supporter of multilateralism and played a very active role in
negotiating the 2030 Agenda, which has unprecedented global legitimacy as an agreed
international framework for tackling a wide range of interconnected global challenges.
The 2030 Agenda builds on and integrates the outcome of the third United Nations (UN)
Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa and links into the successful Paris
Agreement on climate change. The Agenda highlights the importance of a number of cross-
cutting issues for all UN Member Countries, including poverty elimination, social equality,
environment protection, the security-development nexus, good and inclusive governance,
human rights and gender equality.
Outlook for 2016
The EU will support the successful implementation of the Agenda 2030 both internally and
externally.
3
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/funding/about-funding-and-procedures/where-does-money-come/european-
development-fund_en
4
Gender Action Plan ‘Transforming the lives of women and girls through EU external relations 2016-2020';
SWD(2015)182 final, 21.9.2015
6
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The EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, which will be delivered during 2016,
will enable the Union to identify a clear set of objectives and priorities to face the security
challenges of this decade and their root causes. On this basis, the European Union can align
its tools and instruments to ensure that they have the greatest possible impact. This will help
promote the European Union's interests globally, and ensure security within the EU and
abroad.
The stabilisation of the region, in political, economic, and security related terms, is at the
heart of the reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy, which was presented in November
2015.
The EU will support all efforts for a lasting peaceful solution respecting the unity, sovereignty
and territorial integrity of the Ukraine and which ensures a stable, prosperous and democratic
future for all its citizens.
The EU will monitor the effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
(JCPOA) with Iran. As part of the commitments taken under the JCPOA, the EU lifted all its
nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions in January 2016.
The EU will build on its public consultation – ‘Towards a new partnership between the EU
and the ACP countries after 2020’ – and work towards policy proposals for improved
relations between the EU and the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of
States (ACP) after 2020.
The EU will further integrate climate change issues into its development cooperation in the
framework of the Paris Agreement, which enters into force on 4 November 2016.
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1.
DELIVERING ON COMMITMENTS
1.1.
2015: A crucial year for sustainable development
2015 proved a remarkable year for international cooperation for poverty eradication and
sustainable development. It marked the expiry date for the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) and offered a chance for reflection on the progress made to date and the challenges
ahead that remained to be addressed. 2015 also saw a series of landmark international
agreements over the course of the year (the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
2015-2030, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
and the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) which
have collectively re-cast the way we will think and act on international development and
cooperation for the next fifteen years.
In each of these conferences and summits, the EU played an influential role in negotiating the
final outcome; driving up the level of ambition and working constructively with our
international partners to secure agreement. For example, in May 2015 the EU made a
powerful collective commitment
5
to allocate 0.7 % of the Gross National Income (GNI) for
official development assistance (ODA) within the timeframe of the 2030 Agenda, with
accompanying commitments on ODA which should be directed to the Least Developed
Countries. Following the September Summit, work to implement the 2030 Agenda began in
earnest.
Due to the importance of all these events, 2015 was chosen as the European Year for
Development (EYD); the first ever European Year to deal with the European Union's external
action and Europe’s role in the world. The EYD 2015 helped mobilise people and raised
awareness about the key challenges and global responsibilities in our changing world.
1.1.1. From the MDGs to the SDGs: the 2030 Agenda
From 25 to 27 September 2015, the international community assembled at the UN
Headquarters in New York to adopt a bold and transformative new vision for sustainable
development and poverty eradication: ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development’
6
. The EU was well represented at the UN Summit: First Vice
President Frans Timmermans delivered the EU statement in Plenary; the High Representative
of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission
Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Neven Mimica also spoke at Interactive Dialogues
and other side events; and in addition, a delegation of Members of the European Parliament’s
Committee on Development (DEVE), together with the European Investment Bank (EIB)
President, ensured that a wide range of institutions were represented and the EU voice was
heard.
The Summit was the culmination of a lengthy but inclusive intergovernmental negotiation
process in which the EU had played a leading and influential role. During 2015, a
Commission Communication on the Global Partnership
7
, and subsequent Council
5
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/05/26-fac-dev-council-conclusions-global-
partnership/
6
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld
7
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/communication-global-partnership-poverty-eradication-and-sustainable-
development-after-2015_en
8
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Conclusions
8
, together with a number of reports and Resolutions from the European
Parliament and other EU bodies all helped demonstrate a high level of constructive
engagement from across the EU. Following the Summit, work on implementation gathered
pace. The Commission services, in close cooperation with the EEAS, also continued to
provide important inputs into the UN's work on the global indicators framework for the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the arrangements for Follow Up and Review of
the 2030 Agenda (including the integral Addis Ababa Action Agenda). The EEAS brought
forward preparatory work for Capacity Building in Security and Development, and for a
comprehensive policy in support of Security Sector Reform, which fit well with the new
consensus on peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG 16). The EU expressed commitment to
implement the 2030 Agenda and to supporting others to do the same.
1.1.2.
The means of implementation of the new Agenda: Addis Ababa Action Agenda
The third UN Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa in July 2015 agreed a
comprehensive Means of Implementation package for the 2030 Agenda. The Addis Ababa
Action Agenda (AAAA) helped establish a new sustainable development paradigm, with
good governance at the core and an emphasis on responsibilities for all, the primacy of
domestic action, the importance of good policies, the role of the private sector and a
commitment to policy coherence.
The EU played a leading role in shaping this agenda and in helping to maintain a high level of
ambition. The AAAA reflects the EU's priorities well.
The EU brought forward some important contributions in the context of the conference.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) will continue to play an important role and the EU,
already the world's largest provider of ODA, undertook in May 2015 at the EU Council, a
particularly ambitious collective commitment to achieve the UN 0.7 % of GNI target within
the timeframe of the 2030 Agenda. This includes a specific commitment to provide 0.15-0.20
% ODA/GNI to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the short-term and to reach 0.20 %
within the timeframe of the post-2015 agenda. The Commission will continue to work with
Member States to monitor progress against the ODA targets.
But ODA is only a small part of the development finance landscape. In line with the AAAA,
the EU's actions go beyond ODA and help to bring together aid, investment, trade, domestic
resource mobilisation and good policies. Such examples include, the flagship Domestic
Resource Mobilisation programme, blending facilities to leverage more private sector
investment in developing countries and continuation of 'duty free and quota free' market
access to the Least Developed Countries.
1.1.3. The link between development and climate change: COP 21
On 25 September 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted an ambitious sustainable
development agenda with 17 goals that seek to systematically integrate and balance economic,
social and environmental objectives. In this new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
climate change is recognised as “one of the greatest challenges of our time”
9
and worries that
“its adverse impacts undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable
development". The 2030 Agenda includes a specific Sustainable Development Goal on taking
8
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/05/26-fac-dev-council-conclusions-global-
partnership/
9
Paragraph 14 of "Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development"
9
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urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, while recognising that the UNFCCC
is the primary forum for negotiating the global response to climate change. At the Paris
climate conference (COP21) in December 2015, 195 countries adopted the first-ever
universal, legally-binding, global climate deal covering all countries. The Paris Agreement
10
sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by
limiting global warming to well below 2°C. Moreover, such measures are to be taken, as
spelled out in Articles 2, 4 and 6 of the agreement, “in the context of sustainable development
and efforts to eradicate poverty”.
The EU was right at the forefront of international efforts towards a global climate deal and
was also the first major economy to submit its intended contribution to the new agreement in
March 2015. The EU also pressed for the inclusion of tackling climate change as a major
priority within the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. The EU remains committed to
implementing both the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, and will support other
countries as they seek to do the same, particularly those most in need
11
.
To support Commission targeted policy actions aimed at helping those countries most
seriously threatened by climate change, Commission services have developed a global index
to monitor progress of climate resilient development policies. The Global Climate Change
Alliance plus (GCCA+) index
12
, presented at the COP21, can be consulted via an online
knowledge platform that acts as an interface between science and policy and provides
transparent, reliable, accurate, and open source information on the indicators, data and
methodology applied to build the index.
The new African Drought Observatory (ADO)
13
offers a framework for the provision of early
warning and response to mitigate the impact of droughts in Africa.
1.1.4. EYD 2015
The European Year for Development 2015 (EYD2015) was a timely and successful
campaign. It was the first ever European Year devoted to an external relations theme and it
arrived at a time of important global decisions, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development; the climate deal in Paris; and the agreement on financing development with the
Addis Ababa Action Agenda.
EYD2015 aimed to bring these decisions closer to European citizens. The objectives were to
inform them about the work on development cooperation undertaken by the EU and the
Member States; to foster direct involvement and critical thinking about development policy;
and to raise awareness of the benefits of development cooperation and its global dimension
for both citizens in the partner countries and in the EU.
The inclusive character of the EYD2015 campaign was a success story. 208 organisations
registered on the dedicated EYD2015 website ranging from EU Member States, EU
Delegations and Representations to International Organisations, non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) and the private sector. The campaign itself adopted a "decentralised"
model by financially and logistically supporting national campaigns in 25 EU Member States
10
11
Adoption of the Paris Agreement:
https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/cop21/eng/l09r01.pdf
"European Commission welcomes new 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development",
September 2015 and " Historic climate deal in Paris: EU leads global efforts", December 2015.
12
http://knowsdgs.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
13
http://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ado/ado.html
10
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and a European Civil Society alliance: CONCORD. Their active role in the campaign
succeeded in spreading the messages of the Year to more people than originally expected. The
aggregated numbers show that 3 828 events took place in all EU Member States with some 1
923 240 participants.
Special attention was devoted to reach young people in Europe. In May and June 2015, Youth
Ambassadors from all over the world were invited in Brussels to actively take part in the
European Development Days and to meet the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.
Throughout 2015, 28 Kapuscinski Development Lectures were held in the EU attracting more
than 7 000 participants. A popular blogger was asked to travel through three continents, in
five countries over 10 days to record by video how development cooperation works through
the eyes of a young European. Finally, a unique educational toolkit was produced for teachers
to teach about development issues in schools and universities.
In parallel, young people and volunteers from partner countries are participating in Erasmus+
projects, youth exchanges and volunteering activities which aim to foster an active
participation of youth in society and discussions on global challenges, notably targeting young
people with fewer opportunities.
A Joint Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the
lessons learnt from the EYD2015 campaign
14
was signed at the closing ceremony in
Luxembourg in December 2015. It stressed the importance of building on partnerships and
engaging new stakeholders; reaching out to young people; being people-centric; interactive;
fact- and result-based; and sustaining the spirit of the Year through the continuation of the use
of the EYD2015 motto "Our
world, our dignity, our future".
During the European Year for Development, Commission services coordinated the 2015 Expo
Milan on global food and nutrition challenges that involved over 230 events. These events
brought together more than 30 000 experts, whose contributions culminated in new
recommendations on how European research and innovation can help improve food and
nutrition security around the world.
1.2.
Keeping long-term promises
1.2.1
A more strategic approach: Implementing the Agenda for Change
The primary objective of the Agenda for Change
15
, which is the basis for the EU's
development policy, is to significantly increase the impact and effectiveness of EU
development policy. Its key orientations have informed the programming process for the
current 2014-2020 period.
Today EU bilateral aid under the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) and European
Development Fund (EDF) is more focused on countries that need it the most, such as Least
Developed Countries and Lower Income Countries, while the share of Upper and Middle
Income Countries has been significantly reduced. Similarly, at country level EU aid is more
14
15
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/declaration-eyd2015_en.pdf
COM(2011) 637 final, 13.10.2011
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focused with three or less sectors of concentration in each partner country. Among the sectors
of concentration, EU support is now more focused on the two priority areas of the Agenda for
Change, notably Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance and Inclusive and
Sustainable Growth for Human Development.
In 2015, budget support policy has continued to be successfully implemented, supported
notably by the systematic use of the risk management framework and by the strengthened
internal governance structure with the Commission services. The EU has also launched the
‘Emergency Trust Fund’ for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and
displaced persons in Africa. Finally, the EU Blending Framework covers now all regions of
EU external cooperation and it is expected to mobilise over EUR 100 billion by 2020 through
more than 500 new projects.
On Joint Programming, reporting from the field shows that in 25 partner countries Joint
Strategies were prepared or finalised by end 2015; with 14 completed during 2015.
Increasing impact and effectiveness of EU development policy also requires a strong focus on
results. To strengthen the focus on results as well as to be able to deliver a better reporting on
results, the Commission services launched the overall EU International Cooperation and
Development Results Framework which will be the basis of the Commission annual reporting
on results as from this report.
1.2.2. Focusing on Poverty
While global poverty has decreased, it still remains high and concentrated in certain regions.
According to the latest projections in 2015 there were 702 million people (9.6 % of the global
population) living on USD 1.90 per day
16
. In 2012, the latest year for which estimates are
available, there were 869 million extremely poor, representing 12.7 % of the global
population. This is a significant decrease compared to the situation in 1990 when 37.1 % of
the global population (almost two billion people) lived on USD 1.90 per day.
The regions where most of the poor live are Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia (SA).
According to projections, these two regions account for 82 % of the global total of extremely
poor people in 2015. The share of SSA in global poverty increased from 14 % in 1990 to a
projected 49 % in 2015 mainly due to population growth.
1.2.3. Strengthening human rights and good governance
In July 2015, the EU reaffirmed its political commitment to the 2012 Strategic Framework on
Human Rights and Democracy
17
and adopted a new Action Plan on Human Rights and
Democracy for the period 2015 - 2019. The Action Plan translates into clear goals and
targeted actions the broad objectives of protecting and promoting human rights, and
supporting democratic processes worldwide. It has put an ambitious goal "to move towards a
rights-based approach to development cooperation, encompassing all human rights". This
should be achieved by "pursuing its full concrete integration into all EU development
instruments and activities, using training and guidance, capacity support, results-oriented
monitoring guidelines and criteria for evaluation with a view to achieving the implementation
16
In 2015, the estimates of global poverty were updated to reflect new international poverty line of USD 1.9/ day
in 2011 PPP prices. All poverty data is given in 2011 PPP prices and reflects USD 1.90/day unless stated
differently.
17
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/131181.pdf
12
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of a rights-based approach to development cooperation in 2016, including through country
programmes". The objective is not only to "do no harm" by avoiding unintended negative
impacts of development activities for the final beneficiaries, but also to "do maximum good"
by concretely and directly contributing to the realisation of their human rights, considered
both as a means and a goal of development cooperation. The EU integrated the rights-based
approach (RBA) in key development cooperation documents, the project monitoring and
evaluation systems, and roadmaps for engagement with civil society. At local level, some EU
Delegations have already integrated the RBA in their programming.
In this spirit, the EU also integrated the rights-based approach into the roadmaps for
engagement with civil society.
The EU continued assessing these fundamental values in its budget support programmes (see
chapter 5.2.2 of this document) in line with the methodology provided in the Budget Support
Guidelines
18
for the three defined types of contracts (see Annex 12 of the Guidelines). The
new Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy foresees an assessment of the
implementation of Annex 12 as an essential element for budget support, as well as the full
integration of a RBA into Sector Reform Contracts.
With the revision of its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in 2015, the EU reaffirmed its
commitment to promote the rule of law, good governance, democracy and human rights in the
Neighbourhood region. These will remain priorities for the EU in 2016 as it reaches out to
each partner to seek more effective ways to promote reforms, based on a more tailor-made
approach and new support frameworks, notably with the financial support of the European
Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI).
The Enlargement policy remained focused on the fundamentals first principle, in which the
EU focuses its efforts on ensuring that countries prioritise reforms in the core fields of rule of
law, fundamental rights, democratic institutions (including public administration reform) and
economic governance.
1.2.4. Mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues
The EU addresses the following cross-cutting issues of major importance for development
under a mainstreaming approach: democracy and human rights, including children’s rights,
the rights of persons with disabilities and of indigenous peoples; gender equality; culture;
environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change; fighting the root causes of
migration; and controlling HIV/AIDS.
Tackling these cross-cutting issues from a mainstreaming perspective can help avoid the risk
of a negative impact on the cross-cutting issue as well as take advantage of potential positive
effects.
For example, mainstreaming human rights consists of systematically integrating human rights
in all sectors of aid interventions. While this is key to ensure policy coherence, it also includes
a “do no harm” element avoiding unintended negative impacts of development activities
contributing to human rights violations
(e.g. schools that do not have accessible sanitation
facilities for children with disabilities will result in violations of their right to education).
In 2015, the European Commission adopted revised instructions to include an assessment of
cross-cutting issues in any new programme proposed for financing. In line with the UN
18
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/methodology-budget-support-guidelines-201209_en_2.pdf
13
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Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which the EU is a full party, the
Commission is increasingly including explicit provisions on the rights of persons with
disabilities in key regulations and procedures. For instance, provisions regarding accessibility
for persons with disabilities have been included in EU procurement procedures.
1.2.4.1.
Forced Displacement and Migration
The global figure of 65.3 million forcibly displaced people is the largest since the Second
World War. Human mobility is also at unprecedentedly high levels with 244 million
international migrants. Forcibly displaced people are a particular category of people on the
move. Refugees and migrants are legally two distinct categories. In reality they are however
often part of large-scale mixed movements of people, underscoring the need for carefully
balanced and targeted protection and migration management policies.
The strong nexus between development and migration has been confirmed with the inclusion
of migration in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development where it is recognised as a
potential positive force for development.
The 2030 Agenda also identifies forced displacement as one of the key factors that threaten to
reverse much of the development progress made in recent decades. This clearly demonstrates
that development cooperation has a key role to play to address both the challenges and the
opportunities presented by the current global refugee and migration situation.
While EU development assistance has addressed migration and development concerns for
years, in 2015 the Commission considerably stepped up efforts to more effectively respond to
the needs and priorities of partner countries. This includes ensuring that migration concerns
are mainstreamed into all other relevant development sectors under geographical and thematic
funding programmes.
In line with the European Agenda on Migration adopted in 2015, the Commission increased
its cooperation with partner countries globally. For instance, migration dialogues with African
partner countries were strengthened and deepened, notably through the Rabat and Khartoum
migration processes as well as through the Africa-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue.
In addition, the Valletta Summit in November 2015 brought together leaders of the EU and
the African side in an effort to strengthen cooperation and address the current challenges and
opportunities of migration in a balanced approach and in close partnership between countries
of origin, transit and destination.
In terms of programmatic responses, the EUR 1.8 billion EU Emergency Trust Fund for
stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa,
which was launched at the Valletta Summit, is a good example of the strengthened EU
approach on migration. The Trust Fund serves as a complementary and flexible tool to the
extensive EU development cooperation in the region and aims to support the effective
implementation of the Valletta commitments.
In addition, the Commission is supporting tailor-made high-level dialogues with priority
countries on migration, aiming to increase cooperation on migration in a comprehensive and
joint approach.
In our cooperation with the Neighbourhood region, mainstreaming of the migration dimension
into development policies is gaining importance in a context where financial resources are
14
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becoming scarce, compared to the impact of the current refugee crisis. This approach is
currently being tested in a number of cooperation programmes (Morocco for example, where
migration indicators have been introduced in sector budget support programmes and are
related to the access of migrants to education and health protection systems), but also at local
level, where the aim is to support local authorities to integrate in their planning processes the
impact linked to the inflow of migrants (be it in terms of additional burden put on
infrastructures or in terms of positive contributions to the local economy).
EU development assistance is also stepping up its role with regards to forced displacement
which was traditionally considered solely a humanitarian concern. In 2015, efforts were re-
doubled to support countries bearing the heaviest burden of the displacement crisis linked to
the continuing Syrian conflict, in particular through increased funding to the EU regional
Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, and preparatory work for targeted cooperation
compacts with Lebanon and Jordan.
Erasmus+ student and staff mobility has a strong potential to address the root causes of
migration by improving the quality of higher education in partner countries, but also in
accelerating the use of transparency and recognition tools, building trust between higher
education systems in Europe and partner countries. Erasmus+ and the Marie Skłodowska-
Curie Actions were recognised therefore as important instruments to support the mobility of
students and researchers under the legal migration and mobility component of the Valletta
Action Plan
1.2.4.2.
Climate Change
In September 2015, the UN adopted an ambitious sustainable development agenda
19
which
aims to systematically integrate and balance economic, social and environmental objectives.
The EU already leads global mobilisation on these issues and has made important
commitments on them including spending at least 20 % of its 2014-2020 budget on climate
change-related actions
20
and doubling (from an agreed baseline) its biodiversity spending to
developing countries, in particular the least-developed countries and Small Island Developing
States, as well as countries with economies in transition by 2020
21
.
To achieve these objectives, the EU is financing initiatives that directly aim to address climate
change and protect the environment and address climate change and also seeking to promote
these goals in all its programmes by mainstreaming these issues in other sectors of
cooperation, like agriculture, disaster risk management, research and energy. All expenditure
managed by Commission services is systematically tracked through the application of Rio
markers.
Examples of cross-cutting mainstreaming initiatives supported through EU funds include: the
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), an additional contribution to the Forest
Carbon Partnership Facility - Readiness Fund, a new phase of the Global Climate Change
Alliance (GCCA+), a new Electrification Financing Initiative (ElectriFI) to strengthen support
to accessible low carbon energy, a similar financing initiative for sustainable agriculture
(AgriFI), and continuation of the EU blending facilities with their Climate Change Windows.
19
20
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld
COM (2011) final, 29.6.2011 and Council Conclusions 37/13, 8.2.2013
21
https://www.cbd.int/doc/press/2012/pr-2012-10-20-cop-11-en.pdf
15
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In addition, in the run-up of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, the EU supported
partner countries in preparing their intended nationally-determined contributions (INDCs), the
first comprehensive attempt to set out a cross-sectoral national vision for transitioning to a
low-emission and climate-resilient economy.
1.2.4.3.
Gender equality
The new Gender Action Plan (GAP) ‘Transforming the lives of women and girls through EU
external relations 2016-2020’ was endorsed by the Council in October 2015, after one year of
preparation in consultation with Member States, and extensive cooperation between
Commission services. The new GAP is ambitious, and it emphasises a shifting of mind-sets
that hinder gender equality. Inside the Commission services and the EEAS, it aims to secure
greater leadership and promote a strategic approach that combines more investment, better
coordination and shared accountability. Externally, it proposes to act in transformative areas
of the lives of women and girls: the fight against violence and harmful practices; access to and
control over resources; and participation at all levels of decision making.
This approach is based on specific country-level analysis and fosters the effective inclusion of
the gender perspective in the programming process as well as in policy dialogues.
The new action plan focuses on results and strengthens monitoring and evaluation of results
for gender equality. It pays careful attention to the cultural shift needed to eliminate social
norms and practices that hinder a full enjoyment of human rights for women and girls, to
effectively change the mind-set which is the source of discrimination.
This reflects the Agenda 2030 that includes a stand-alone goal on gender equality and a
mainstreamed approach across all Sustainable Development Goals.
Across the world, the Commission supports a number of actions to directly address issues of
gender inequality including programmes to prevent and eliminate Female Genital Mutilation,
to reduce Violence against Women and Girls, to improve women's access to productive
resources such as land to increase employment possibilities and to reduce child marriage.
EUR 6.5 billion per annum of the EU’s budget within the scope of this report addresses
gender equality as either a significant or principal objective.
1.2.5. Policy Coherence for Development (PCD)
Through Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) the EU takes account of development
objectives in all its policies that are likely to affect developing countries. The promotion of
PCD aims to minimise contradictions and build synergies between different EU policies to the
benefit of developing countries.
In 2015, the Commission continued its efforts to increase PCD. It published the fifth EU PCD
Report which monitors progress on PCD at EU level and in Member States over the past two
years and highlights achievements and remaining challenges in procedural issues and across
different policy areas. The report also served as an awareness-raising tool through its official
launch by Commissioner Mimica and subsequent wide-scale distribution to stakeholders.
The Better Regulation Package adopted by the Commission in May 2015 contains new
guidelines for assessing impacts of future EU initiatives. In this framework, specific
16
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operational guidance is now provided on how to systematically assess the effects of new
policies on developing countries. This tool is considered pivotal for promoting the principle of
PCD within Commission services.
EU Delegations play a crucial role by providing feedback on the impact of wider EU policies
on our partner countries and increasing the evidence base on PCD. The Commission took
steps to strengthen the monitoring of country-level PCD issues, in particular by integrating
PCD into the annual reporting from EU Delegations.
At international level, the EU continued to promote policy coherence approaches, e.g. in the
run-up to the New York Summit on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There is
broad understanding within the EU that PCD will be a key element for the implementation of
the 2030 Agenda.
Research and innovation are a means to foster development by enhancing human potential
and infrastructures as well as designing new services and products. In addition, research
provides evidence in support of development policies.
The communication on 'Enhancing and focusing EU international cooperation in research and
innovation: A strategic approach'
22
, adopted by the European Commission in 2012, sets
"supporting the Union's external policies" as one of its three main objectives. A report on the
implementation of the strategy was adopted in November 2014
23
. Annexed to this report, is a
first set of 11 roadmaps with international partners (two regions and nine countries) of the
EU. These roadmaps are about setting priorities and making them visible, mirroring
developments in the EU’s policy-dialogues on research and innovation cooperation. These
roadmaps were implemented in 2015.
The European Commission continued to invest, through the new EU Framework Programme
Research and Innovation Programme, Horizon 2020 (2014-2020), in cooperation between
researchers and innovators in Europe and developing countries to contribute to the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other International
Commitments such as Rio+20, the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) or the
European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnerships (EDCTP). Directorate-
General Research and Innovation contributed also to the Sustainable Development Goals,
identifying research areas that can better address these.
The European Commission also continued to work on including science, technology and
innovation as important drivers in Agenda 2030.
1.2.6. Development effectiveness and Joint Programming
The Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) is a multi-
stakeholder platform for learning and knowledge exchange on development effectiveness. In
2015, the Commission represented the EU constituency in two GPEDC Steering Committees.
In January, the Commission hosted the planning workshop ‘Strengthening Coordination to
Deliver Results’ in cooperation with the Africa Platform for Development Effectiveness and
the Asia-Pacific Development Effectiveness Facility. The EU is fully cooperating with the
second round of monitoring of GPEDC commitments and proactively engages with partner
countries to facilitate the exercise.
22
23
COM(2012) 497 final, 14.9.2012
COM(2014) 567 final, 11.9.2014
17
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Joint Programming (JP) addresses aid fragmentation and transaction costs, and improves
transparency, predictability, coordination. JP aims at a coherent EU response on partner
country's development.
In line with commitments taken at the GPEDC 1
st
high level Meeting in Mexico 2014, a ‘Joint
Programming Guidance Pack’
24
addressed the demand from the field for an operational
framework to facilitate and inspire JP processes, building on Member States’ knowledge and
lessons learned.
Reporting from the field shows that in 25 partner countries, Joint Strategies were prepared or
finalised by end 2015, with 14 completed in 2015. JP has produced positive effects toward
more development effectiveness, and is perceived in many countries as promoting intra-EU
transparency, cooperation and information-sharing among EU Partners while improving
division of labour and coherence. JP facilitates a coordinated policy dialogue, notably at
sector level. JP is increasingly seen as a space for joint EU responses to new challenges such
as migration and climate change.
The Commission participates in the Practitioners' Network, a network of EU agencies to
improve coordination of implementation.
1.3.
Partnerships
1.3.1. Cooperation with civil society organisations and local authorities
The European Union’s political commitments to support civil society organisations (CSO)
and local authorities (LA) as key actors of governance and development in their own right, is
implemented by the Civil Society Organisation-Local Authorities Thematic Programme that
was adopted in July 2014 under the Development Cooperation Instrument that strengthens
these actors in partner countries. The Instrument for Pre-Accession as well as the European
Neighbourhood Instrument also provide substantial support to strengthen and promote the role
of civil society in building stronger democracies, improve accountability systems and
ultimately achieve better policy and economic and social development.
Indeed, localising the 2030 Agenda by empowering Civil Society Organisations and Local
Authorities will bring more relevance, efficiency and accountability to the implementation of
the Sustainable Development Goals. At regional and global level, Civil Society Organisations
networks and associations of Local Authorities are essential stakeholders playing a pivotal
role in linking local concerns, often caused by global challenges, to regional and international
debates. The European Union supports their enhanced contributions to development and the
2030 Agenda.
In 2015, to illustrate this commitment, the European Commission signed five Framework
Partnership Agreements (FPAs) with global and regional associations of local authorities and
23 similar FPAs with global and regional networks of Civil Society Organisations.
24
http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/joint-programming/minisite/eu-joint-programming-guidance-pack-2015
18
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1.3.2. Working with the private sector
The post-2015 consultations confirmed the private sector to be an essential actor for the
successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda to eradicate poverty and to achieve global
development goals with emphasis on inclusive and sustainable growth, through investing in
the creation of productive capacities and decent jobs.
The Commission has been supporting this new policy since 2014 through the implementation
of the Communication ‘A Stronger Role of the Private Sector in Achieving Inclusive and
Sustainable Growth in Developing Countries’
25
. The Communication contains 12 actions in
areas where the Commission can add value. These address better regulatory environments in
partner countries, business development support and access to finance, especially for micro,
small and medium-sized businesses in the formal and informal sectors that play a particularly
vital role in job creation. Key sectors identified (sustainable energy, sustainable agriculture,
infrastructure and the green sectors) have been already supported through blending
operations. There was an increasing recognition of the role of the private sector in fragile and
post conflict states in the context of migration.
In 2015, as part of the implementation of the Communication, the Commission promoted the
structured dialogue with private sector through some key events: the Policy Forum on
Development (PFD), the private sector side event during the third UN Financing for
Development Conference in Addis Ababa Conference in July 2015, and an expert group with
Member States.
The first action on the private sector was adopted and the Commission approved three
programmes related to Global Public Goods and Challenges (GPGC): the CGAP
(Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); IBAN (Inclusive Business Action network); and the
Standards and Trade Development Facility.
The private sector stands out as a significant component of the intra ACP strategy for the 11
th
EDF, adopted in November 2015, where EUR 600 million are allocated to support private
sector development (PSD) and investment, as established in relation to the ‘joint ACP-EU
Cooperation Framework for PSD support in ACP Countries’.
1.3.3. Cooperation with the donor community
The Commission continued participating actively in discussions in the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee
(DAC) on issues relevant to the future global development agenda, e.g. Sustainable
Development Goals, Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, and
Financing for Development.
Dialogues with non-EU partners were key in 2015 including the UN negotiations on the 2030
Agenda. As part of the
EU-US Strategic Dialogue,
the Commission chaired regular
consultations with its US counterparts to raise political awareness at global level around the
post 2015 development agenda and other issues of common interest. The development
dialogue at senior level in April 2015 in Washington DC provided further impetus.
Consultations were held at senior level with
Japan
in July 2015 in the framework of our
25
COM(2014)263 final, 13.5.2014
19
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development dialogue, while field cooperation between the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) and EU delegations has been enhanced. Contacts have been developed with
relevant authorities in
China
on global development and regional issues, to promote a more
structured dialogue on development issues. A senior level meeting was held with
Australia,
which discussed the successful implementation of the first bilateral delegated development
cooperation agreement with a non-EU Member State.
The Commission continued to deploy efforts to engage with
new donors
and graduated
countries to progressively shift relations towards more strategic partnerships on
global/regional development issues, in particular finalising a study on emerging donors in
Africa which was presented and debated in a variety of different fora.
The Commission has a leading role in bringing together donors response to challenges in the
neighbourhood and enlargement regions. This has been the case particularly for the refugee
crisis and migration related issues in 2015.
1.3.4. Cooperation with international organisations
2015 saw the adoption by the
United Nations
(UN) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). Strong Commission
involvement in the negotiations contributed significantly to their successful outcome.
The Commission contributed actively to the meeting of the UN High Level Political Forum
on Sustainable Development, which has the central role in the follow up and review of the
2030 Agenda at global level, to other UN high level meetings, and to the negotiation of more
than 50 development-related UN General Assembly (UNGA) and Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) Resolutions. Cooperation with UN agencies, funds and programmes was
actively pursued with emphasis on partnership visibility and to maximise the impact of the
EU's financial support.
The Commission also worked closely with the
Council of Europe,
implementing
programmatic cooperation in both the South and the East Neighbourhood as well as projects
in the Western Balkans and Turkey. This follows a Statement of Intent from April 2014 to
build a strategic and programmatic cooperation between the two institutions.
The Commission continued its cooperation with
International Financial Institutions (IFIs),
intensifying cooperation with Bretton Woods institutions on Africa, Neighbourhood, domestic
resources mobilisation, private sector and fragility issues, and with European financial
institutions and regional development banks in blending platforms.
The Commission continued to play an active role with
G7
leaders to take development issues
into account. Their commitment to development is reflected by initiatives launched on climate
insurance, sustainable textiles, hunger, health and gender.
The Commission also supported efforts to deepen
G20
Members' engagement in support of
the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as well as setting out a series of deliverables on
development: infrastructure, food security, financial inclusion and green finance.
20
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1.4.
External action policies and instruments
1.4.1. Responding to global challenges and supporting long-term reforms
The close interlinkage between security and development has long been recognised by the
EU
26
. There can be no sustainable development without peace and security, and no
sustainable peace without development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
reaffirms this at the international level, including through SDG 16. Tackling security and
development requires the whole EU toolbox and is a key part of the EU's Comprehensive
Approach.
The challenging security environment globally with protracted and complex conflicts, for
example in Syria, Yemen, Da'esh, Boko Haram, and Ukraine, is putting the traditional
concept and implementation of the European Commission’s development policy under
unprecedented pressure, with increasing requests to address issues such as the root causes of
irregular migration, terrorism and violent extremism.
To further promote the comprehensive approach on the security-development nexus in 2015,
the EU launched work on the Joint Communication from the Commission and the High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for an EU-wide strategic
framework for Security Sector Reform support. Work carried out in 2015 included an
extensive consultation process that reached out to a wide range of stakeholders including
academia, civil society organisations, NGOs, Members of the European Parliament and
Member State representatives.
On 9 February 2015, the Council adopted Conclusions on Counter-Terrorism. They call upon
the EU to intensify its external engagement and outreach and state that a greater emphasis is
needed on the prevention of terrorism. Under the long-term component of the IcSP, support to
counter-terrorism has grown to approximately EUR 20 million/year in the present multiannual
financial framework (MFF). In parallel, the term crisis response component of the IcSP
substantially increased its support to counter-terrorism and counter violent extremism- related
actions from EUR 24.5 million in 2014 to EUR 28.5 million in 2015 mainly in the Sahel and
MENA regions.
1.4.2. Security development nexus (CBSD)
In this context a Joint Communication on ‘Capacity Building in Support of Security and
Development’ was published in 2015
27
. In the short term, concrete projects in a number of
pilot cases are being taken forward. In the longer term, more systematic policy frameworks
and funding arrangements for Capacity Building for Security and Development (CBSD)
should be developed and should target all relevant actors (both civilian and military).
The Commission Work Programme (CWP) 2016 adopted on 27 October 2015 includes a
package on capacity building in the security sector, which covers security sector reform (SSR)
and a possible new dedicated financing instrument. As part of this, work towards an EU wide
26
See, for example , EU Agenda for Change (2002) which recalls the need to tackle the challenges of security
and fragility as a matter of priority and Policy Coherence for Development which includes security and
development as one of the five strategic challenges.
27
JOIN(2015) 17 final, 28.04.2015
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52015JC0017
21
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SSR strategy was carried out
28
, working closely across EU institutions and in consultation
with stakeholders. This shared policy framework, together with enhanced coordination and
better use of shared analysis, will help ensure a more coherent approach.
1.4.3. Making a difference: new instruments and aid modalities
In a world that is constantly facing uncertainties and crises, and where emerging economies
like China, India and Brazil are asserting their influence, Europe must stand together and play
an active role in shaping global change. Together, the external financing instruments funded
by the EU budget and the European Development Fund ensure that the EU speaks with a
strong, united voice: pursuing poverty eradication, democracy, peace, stability and prosperity,
both in our immediate neighbourhood and across the world.
Pursuing the external strategic objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy
29
, the instruments have
translated into operational terms the pillars of the Agenda for Change, namely prioritisation,
concentration and enhanced results focus in order to increase impact, differentiation and EU
coordination. Four policy priorities are at stake: enlargement, neighbourhood, cooperation
with strategic partners, and development cooperation.
The EU seeks to target its resources where they are needed most and where they can have
most impact. The partner countries most in need, in particular the least developed countries
and countries facing major crises, have been given priority.
The EU gave a greater focus to human rights and provided more support to democracy and
good governance, including through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human
Rights, to better support the development of thriving civil societies.
The Commission has committed itself to increase the share of EU aid through innovative
financial instruments. Therefore, during 2015, the Commission has continued to carry out
exhaustive work together with development finance institutions and other stakeholders in
order to identify specific instruments, key areas and sectors where blending can be
increasingly used
30
.
Finally, the external financing instruments have allowed more flexibility to further increase
the EU’s capacity to respond to unforeseen events in 2015, using simplified rules and
procedures for implementation and delivering assistance more effectively.
1.5.
Neighbourhood Policy Review
In 2015, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was reviewed. A Joint Consultation
Paper
31
was issued on 4 March, followed by a public consultation with stakeholders until the
end of June 2015. Consultations took place with Member States, partner governments, EU
institutions, international organisations, social partners, civil society, business, think tanks,
academia, and members of the public. Over 250 contributions were received.
28
See Roadmap for a Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council: Elements for an EU-
wide Strategic Framework for supporting Security Sector Reform (SSR) available at
http://ec.europa.eu/smart-
regulation/roadmaps/docs/2016_eeas_001_cwp_security_sector_reform_en.pdf
29
http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm
30
COM(2014) 733 final, 15.12.2014
31
JOIN(2015) 6 final, 4.3.2015
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As a result of this consultation, on 18 November 2015 the European Commission and the
High Representative adopted the Joint Communication 'Towards a new European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)'. The overarching theme of the review was stabilisation of the
neighbourhood
32
. Priorities of mutual interest for the EU and its partners were outlined such
as good governance, democracy, rule of law and human rights; economic development for
stabilisation; connectivity, energy and climate change; security; and migration and mobility.
Special emphasis was given to forging partnerships of mutual interest with partner countries,
strengthening cooperation with Member States, International Financial Institutions,
International Organisations and other donors, both at regional and local level. A key element
remains enhancing communication activities and visibility of EU funding as part of a strategic
and coordinated approach. On 14 December, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted
Conclusions welcoming the Joint Communication and stating that a democratic, stable and
prosperous neighbourhood was a strategic priority and a fundamental interest of the EU.
Over the course of 2016, further discussions are expected to take place with partner countries,
with a view to jointly determine the shape of future relations, based on the recommendations
outlined in the ENP review and the December 2015 Council conclusions.
32
JOIN(2015) 50 final, 18.11.2015
23
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2.
RESULTS FOR PROJECTS COMPLETED BETWEEN J
ULY
2014
2015
Introduction
AND
J
UNE
On 26 March 2015, the Commission services launched the EU International Cooperation and
Development Results Framework through the publication of the Staff working document
(2015)80 final
33
. It marked a significant step in improving the way the EU will manage and
report results in this area. This is one of the first systems within the Commission services that
systematically measures and reports results and publishes both aggregated and non-
aggregated results data.
The publication of the results framework has led to the preparation of the first report on the
basis of the results framework on selected results of projects completed between mid-2013
and mid-2014. The report, published in the form of the Staff working document (2016) 255
was a complement to the previous Commission Annual Report on development and external
assistance polices and their implementation.
This current chapter represents the second report on results, relating to projects completed
between mid-2014 and mid-2015. The reporting on results is, as was already announced in
afore mentioned Staff Working Documents, therefore becoming, as of this year, a structural
part of the reporting by the Commission on the implementation of EU international
cooperation and development cooperation.
While the first report included not only the aggregated results but also non-aggregated main
results per country, the non-aggregated results will from now on only be published online,
complementing the aggregated results in the present report.
The enhanced focus on results in managing external aid has led the Commission services to
setting up internal tools and support systems which should assist the Commission services in
stepping up the results focus of its activities, be it at the stage of design of new actions or for
the monitoring of their implementation. This also includes the starting up of the development
of an ambitious new operational information management system (Opsys) that should enable
the Commission services and EU Delegations to achieve a focus on results. The new system's
module for results management will be the first part of the system that is to be delivered, its
full deployment being planned for the second half of 2017. It is planned to be used as the
single system both for the management and monitoring of EU funded actions and the related
reporting by the Commission's HQ services and EU Delegations at country level and for the
results reporting by the implementing partners to the Commission. This will, together with
other measures implemented by the Commission services, help meet the objective, also
underlined by the Council in the conclusions it adopted in May 2015, to put the results
framework into practice to ensure that it reaches out through implementation processes which
can make a real difference on the ground.
In parallel, the Court of Auditors proceeded with a review of the risks related to a results
oriented approach in EU development and cooperation action, making a number of
recommendations to the Commission on results related issues which are important for
33
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/swd-2015-80-f1-staff-working-paper-v3-p1-805238_en.pdf
24
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implementing external aid, such as the importance of formulating clear results to be achieved
and the appropriate indicators to monitor their achievement and ensuring that we can proceed
on the basis of appropriate data availability and reliability. The Court also pointed to the
importance of good information management systems as a condition for results management.
The Court's report was a critical but welcome and timely support to the work undertaken by
the Commission.
The adoption and implementation of the new results framework will also be key for the
improvement of the coherence and functioning of the Commission's overall performance
management systems in the area of international cooperation and development. It is expected
to contribute to the further definition of the building blocks that should help strengthen the
Commission's internal management systems.
Finally, as also announced in the March 2015 SWD, the Commission's services will be
revising the results framework to take into account the adoption by the UN assembly of the
SDGs in September 2015 and the related adoption of the SDG indicators that should take
place in 2017.
This current chapter presents selected results which were achieved with EU support in EU
partner countries through EU funded projects and programmes which were completed during
the period July 2014 - June 2015. It should be noted that the results do not include the seven
countries involved in the Enlargement process, to which the EU Results Framework does not
apply.
This presentation of results follows the publication of the Commission’s first report on
selected EU International Cooperation and Development results July 2013 - June 2014
34
. It
further consolidates the fulfilment of a major commitment made by the European
Commission to improve accountability in the area of international cooperation and
development towards development partners, EU institutions, civil society organisations and
citizens.
It aggregates results achieved with EU support within priority sectors of
assistance in the countries where EU development cooperation has funded projects and
programmes.
The aim is to provide an overall picture of selected results achieved. Inevitably,
it only provides a
partial overview
as it uses a limited number of key indicators which allow
for quantifiable results data to be aggregated. These indicators have been defined in the EU
International Cooperation and Development Results Framework (hereafter referred to as the
EU Results Framework) launched by the Commission’s Staff Working Document of 26
March 2015
35
.
To understand the basis upon which the chapter has been drawn up, please remember the
following points. They further explain why the chapter can only provide a partial picture of
the results achieved:
1. Projects and programmes the EU has either financed or helped to finance often
produce results which by their very nature are not quantifiable (e.g. capacity building).
34
Staff Working Document: EU International Cooperation and Development first report on selected results, July
2013 – June 2014 (SWD (2016) 255)
35
Staff Working Document Launching the EU International Cooperation and Development Results Framework
(2015)80 final.
25
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2.
This reporting draws on the results of projects and programmes which ended between
1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015. The reason for selecting this timeframe as a basis for
this chapter is that data on final results are usually only reported some time after the
completion of a project. Reporting on completed projects also means that it does not
reflect the results of projects and programmes which were ongoing on 30 June 2015.
The results reported relate to projects and programmes, the majority of which began in
2010 or later.
3. The present reporting focuses on projects and programmes with EU funding of more
than EUR 750 000 in order to make data collection, processing and reporting
manageable during this first stage and concentrates on those projects and programmes.
As was also stated in the Staff Working Document, these represent some 90-95 % of
the total financial amount of the portfolio of development cooperation projects and
programmes ending in a given year. Thus, the present reporting does not include
results from the many smaller projects funded by the EU during that period.
4.
As
the results presented in this chapter reflect the policy and programming priorities at
the time of designing the projects and programmes under consideration prior to 2013,
certain key priority areas in the EU’s current work in international cooperation and
development are not covered extensively within this document.
Annex 1 in Chapter 6 provides more detailed explanations on the methodological basis for the
present reporting on results.
This current chapter provides different types of results and, to set the context, it presents the
development progress made by the partner countries. While the focus is on results in the field,
it also provides some data on the European Commission’s own organisational performance.
The various data are presented as follows, based on the structure of the EU Results
Framework:
Section 2.1: Setting the context – development progress in partner countries
To establish the background against which the EU contributions to partner countries’ results
should be understood Section 2.1 provides an overall picture of the development progress
made by EU partner countries, i.e. the longer-term development results (outcomes and
impact). It aggregates and reflects results achieved by the partner countries based on
collaboration between partner countries, donors and other development players, including the
private sector. The results presented in this section are based on a limited number of
quantifiable indicators and thus provide a snapshot of partner countries’ progress in
development.
The aggregated values presented in Section 2.1 include data from all those countries with
which the EU still has bilateral cooperation programmes over the 2014-2020 programming
period and not from those with which it had bilateral programmes under the programming
period 2007-2013, but no longer does (e.g. India). Data have been obtained from international
statistical sources (e.g. United Nations’ agencies, the World Bank, the International Monetary
Fund and others), the majority of which refer to 2014, the latest available data for the
predefined indicators when this publication was compiled
36
. A complete list of the data
sources for the indicators presented in Section 2.1 is provided in Annex 1.
36
In January 2016
26
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Section 2.2: EU contribution to results in partner countries: aggregated results
With a focus on results which can be more closely linked to EU development cooperation
projects and programmes, Section 2.2 gives an overview of aggregated results (outputs and
direct outcomes) from projects and programmes financed by the EU in order to demonstrate,
on the basis of EU Results Framework indicators, how the EU is contributing to development
progress in partner countries.
Information on results presented in this section has been drawn from reporting by partners
actually implementing the projects and programmes in question (i.e. partner countries
themselves, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, EU Member States’
development agencies, and international financial institutions). As mentioned above, the
results reported for these projects and programmes cover the full period of their
implementation, with the majority starting in 2010 or later and ending between 1 July 2014
and 30 June 2015.
The results reported have been calculated using a contribution approach, which is also used by
other donors such as the World Bank. This means that where a project has been financed by
the EU jointly with other funders – such as partner country governments or other donors – the
overall results of the collective effort are reported, rather than results attributed to the share of
funding provided by the EU.
Results achieved with EU contributions for individual countries and for thematic
programmes (non-aggregated results)
To complement the aggregated results given in Section 2.2, results from EU-funded projects
and programmes for individual countries and thematic programmes are published online, at
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/.
These country and thematic results have been drawn from the same projects as those which
contributed to the aggregated results reported in Section 2.1 – i.e. those of a value of over
EUR 750 000 and which were completed between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015. They
represent a selected sample of the results that have been recorded and are not an exhaustive
record.
While these results enable a wider picture to be drawn of EU contributions to results in
partner countries, the overview of the results achieved by these projects and programmes
remains for the reasons explained above partial and should not be regarded as providing a
comprehensive overview of the various activities carried out with EU funding in the partner
countries.
Section 2.3: European Commission’s organisational performance as the manager of EU aid
This section gives information on how European Commission services are managing their
operational processes and resources in order to contribute to achieving development results.
Some of the results presented in Section 2.3 relate to indicators for which the Union has
defined targets reflecting the political commitments the EU has made; others come from the
legal framework for implementation of the EU’s development and cooperation policy.
27
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Data reported in this section are based on the financing decisions taken by the European
Commission from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015 for projects and programmes in
support of development cooperation in partner countries.
As regards future steps with respect to the EU Results Framework, the present reporting on
completed projects, as set out in the Staff Working Document of March 2015 must be seen as
a transitional stage in an effort to progressively step up results reporting, in particular by
reporting results from ongoing operations, thus increasing transparency. This would widen the
reporting base when compared to reporting on projects coming to an end over a one-year
period, and give a more comprehensive picture of EU development and cooperation
assistance
37
.
37
The Commission services will be able to consider reporting of annual results from ongoing projects and
programmes when a new operational information system currently under development will become fully
operational. It is expected that this will be achieved by the end of 2018.
28
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Selected partner country results supported by the EU (July 2014 - June 2015)
38
The EU contributed to the following results which were achieved by projects and programmes
that ended between mid-2014 and mid-2015:
Good Governance
87 000 human rights defenders were supported in promoting civil, political, economic, social
and cultural rights
Four elections were supported where the electoral process was perceived by independent
observers as free and fair
80 000 individuals benefited directly from justice, rule of law and security sector reform
programmes
78 000 people benefited directly from legal aid programmes, central to ensuring equality
before the law by providing the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial
Conflict Prevention, Peace Building and Security
404 000 people benefited directly from programmes that specifically aimed to support civilian
post-conflict peace building and/or conflict prevention
Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition
184 000 hectares of agricultural and pastoral ecosystems were managed by sustainable land
management practices to reverse the degradation of agricultural ecosystems in partner
countries caused by factors such as climate change
1 130 000 people received rural advisory services to add value to their produce and improve
the links between farmers and markets
5 900 people secured tenure of land, building up their assets in order to enjoy sustainable
livelihoods
5 025 000 women of reproductive age and children under five years old benefited from
nutrition-related programmes
1 858 000 food-insecure people received assistance through social transfers
Energy
2 600 km of transmission/distribution lines were built or upgraded, as part of efforts to
provide access to secure, sustainable energy services
Public Financial Management
12 countries improved their overall public financial management, which is critical to the
efficient management of public resources and delivery of services in partner countries
38
Results for both 2013-14 and 2014-15 are shown in Table 16, along with the sum of those results across both
those years.
29
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Education
10 635 000 children were enrolled in primary education
7 603 000 children were enrolled in secondary education
175 000 teachers were trained, all providing a foundation for future learning and skills
Health
8 104 000 births were attended by skilled health personnel, helping to reduce maternal
mortality
5 548 000 children under one year were immunised, helping to reduce child mortality
13 238 000 women had access to a method of contraception
8 200 000 people with advanced HIV infection received antiretroviral therapy
204 000 000 insecticide-treated bed nets were distributed, to prevent the spread of malaria
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change
12 partner countries developed and/or implemented climate change strategies, to help them
adapt to global changes such as climate change and ecosystem degradation
3 951 000 hectares of protected areas were managed, to help ensure biological diversity and to
preserve natural heritage
6 200 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) applied sustainable consumption
and production practices to support a ‘green’ economy that generates growth, creates jobs and
helps to reduce poverty
Transport
27 000 km of roads were constructed, rehabilitated or maintained to provide better access to
transportation, particularly for the most disadvantaged groups
8 905 000 people were provided with access to all-season roads
Employment and Social Protection
195 000 people benefited from Vocational and Educational Training (VET)/skills
development and other active labour market programmes intended to improve employability,
productivity and competitiveness in partner countries
Trade and Private Sector Development
Nine countries improved their capacity to trade across borders
10 000 firms gained access to credit, to help them avoid risks and make investments
30
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80 quality certifications were issued to improve partner countries’ national quality
infrastructure in order to meet international standards and thus reap the benefits of the
multilateral trading system
Seven countries improved their business environment thereby enabling private enterprises to
develop, leading to economic growth.
2.1.
Development progress in partner countries
This section presents the development progress made by partner countries and sets the context
in which the EU's contributions to results should be understood. It focuses on the longer-term
development outcomes and impact in the countries and reflects the results from the collective
effort of partner countries, donors and other development actors.
The aggregate values in the tables on the following pages are based on data from all partner
countries in which the EU is financing bilateral programmes over the 2014-2020
programming period (see Figure 1 below and Annex 2 in Chapter 6, which gives the
breakdown of countries that form part of each OECD defined region). Annex 3 shows the
estimates broken down by funding instrument; and also the breakdown of countries for each
funding instrument.
The statistics used to report on the indicators are taken from international statistical sources
39
.
Under the 'baseline' heading they present information as published in the first EU
International Cooperation and Development Results Report
40
, which most commonly refer to
2013 data; and under the 'latest available' heading they show the latest available data at the
time of drafting this report
41
- most commonly this was from 2014. It should also be pointed
out that the Results Framework did not capture data for the majority of the IcSP as this is
managed by FPI.
It should be noted that whilst for most indicators in this section two consecutive data points
are now available, care should be taken when interpreting the numbers. Generally, for impact
indicators, trends cannot be established until data covering several years has been computed.
39
Such as United Nation agencies, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Detailed information
on data sources and calculations for each of the indicators can be found in their individual methodological notes
at http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/eu-rfi
40
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/eu-international-cooperation-and-development-first-report-selected-results-july-
2013-june-2014_en
41
January 2016
31
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Figure 1: Development progress in EU bilateral cooperation countries - Map of
countries grouped in OECD regions
32
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Table 1: Development progress – Summary
42
Baseline
INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION
Proportion of population living below the international poverty 29.0 (USD
line (%)
1.25)
Income share held by the lowest 40 % of income distribution
17.7
(% income, period averages)
Real GDP growth, latest available year (%)
3.8
Real GDP growth, average over 5 last available years (%)
4.5
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Average Rule of Law score (Worldwide Governance Index,
ranges from approx. -2.5 (weak) to approx. +2.5 (strong) -0.5 (2008)
performance)
Average Control of Corruption score (Worldwide Governance
Index, ranges from approx. -2.5 (weak) to approx. +2.5 (strong) -0.4 (2008)
performance)
Average Voice and Accountability score (Worldwide
Governance Index, ranges from approx. -2.5 (weak) to approx. -0.4 (2008)
+2.5 (strong) performance)
CONFLICT PREVENTION, PEACE BUILDING AND SECURITY
Number of violent deaths per 100 000
10.7
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
Agricultural value added per hectare (measured using proxy of
2 523
cereal yield per ha)
Prevalence of stunting (moderate and severe) of children aged
34.8
below five years (%)
42
Latest
value
29.8 (USD
1.90
43
)
17.7
3.7
4.5
-0.5
-0.4
-0.3
..
..
32.1
Data for the latest value as of January 2016 except for CO2 equivalent emissions (November 2016). Data for baseline as of May 2015 with the exception of primary and secondary
completion rates, the proportion of employed people living below the international poverty line (September 2015), agriculture value added and change in domestic revenue mobilisation
(October 2015), CO2 equivalent emissions (November 2015).
43
See below for further detail on the update of the international poverty line
33
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Prevalence of undernourishment (%)
16.7
ENERGY
Percentage of the population with access to energy services
62.6
Renewable energy production as a proportion of total energy
23.7
production (%)
PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT
Change in domestic revenue mobilisation as a percentage of
-1.4
GDP over three years
EDUCATION
Primary Education Completion Rate (%)
77.9
Lower Secondary Education Completion Rate (%)
54.5
Literacy rate of 15-24 year-olds (%)
80.6
HEALTH
Under-five mortality rate (per 1 000 live births)
69.9
Maternal mortality ratio (per 100 000 live births)
337.8
HIV prevalence among population aged 15-24 years (%)
0.8
NATURAL RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Number of deaths per 100 000 from climate-related and
2.3
natural disasters (average over ten years)
CO2 equivalent emission (kilo tons)
2 948 725
Proportion of population using an improved drinking water
78.4
source (%)
Proportion of population using an improved sanitation facility
54.4
(%)
Rate of net forest cover change, since 2000 (%)
-4.0
State of global biodiversity
3 038
Number of global species
Percentage change (1970-2010)
-52.0
TRANSPORT
Road density (km. of road per 100 sq. km of land area)
12.0
EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL PROTECTION
15.8
64.3
..
..
78.8
57.6
80.5
..
355.5
0.8
2.1
2 995 969
79.1
55.3
-4.5
..
..
12.5
34
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Proportion of employed people living below the international 29.7 (USD
poverty line (%)
1.25)
Share of older persons receiving pensions (%)
38.2
TRADE AND PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
Average Global Competitiveness score (range 1-7)
3.7
Exports of goods and services as percentage of GDP
31.9
GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (%)
19.2
Percentage of women aged 20-24 years old who were married
29.5
before their 18th birthday
..= no new data
29.3 (USD
1.90)
..
3.8
30.1
20.2
30.5
35
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INCLUSIVE
GROWTH
POVERTY
REDUCTION
Proportion of
population
living below
international
poverty line
(%)
Income share
held by the
lowest 40 %
of income
distribution
(% income,
period
averages)
Real GDP
growth, latest
available
year (%)
Real GDP
growth,
average over
5 last
available
years (%)
All
AND
partner
countries
Baseline
(USD
1.25)
Latest
value
(USD
1.90)
Baseline
29.0
Africa, Africa,
America,
North South
America,
North &
of
of
South
Central
Sahara Sahara
1.8
49.5
17.0
4.7
Asia,
Middle
East
4.4
Asia,
South
&
Central
23.9
Asia,
Far
East
11.6
Europe:
Belarus,
Moldova,
Ukraine
0.0
Oceania
More
advanced
developing
countries
-
8.7
29.8
17.7
2.8
20.5
46.8
15.5
17.0
12.1
5.1
12.0
0.2
20.5
24.2
21.6
8.9
17.3
0.0
24.2
34.2
15.0
-
14.2
Latest
value
17.7
20.6
15.7
11.8
12.2
20.5
21.8
16.8
24.5
14.6
14.2
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
3.8
3.7
4.5
1.1
0.9
2.8
5.1
5.0
4.9
3.4
4.4
2.5
4.6
3.9
4.8
-0.2
-0.1
5.9
5.8
5.7
5.4
6.1
6.0
6.3
-3.5
-4.1
0.8
4.6
4.7
5.6
2.6
2.4
3.3
4.5
2.7
4.8
3.5
5.2
5.9
5.7
6.2
-0.3
5.6
3.4
Table 2. Inclusive Growth and Poverty Reduction
36
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As a result of a revision in PPP (purchasing power parity) exchange rates, the international poverty line has been updated in the final quarter of 2015 to USD
1.90. This update has only minimal impact on the aggregate poverty rate, but it means that poverty rates for individual countries should not be compared with
poverty rates previously reported. Whilst over the last two decades extreme poverty globally has been reduced considerably, it has become more concentrated
in Sub-Saharan Africa, where despite a modest decline, the poverty rate remains very high (46.8 %).
It should be noted, that the apparent increase in the proportion of the population living in poverty in Oceania is due to the fact that in 2015 (baseline) only two
island states had recent poverty data available, whilst in 2016 (latest value) data has become available for eight island states.
Over the last 12 months the income share of the bottom 40 % of the income distribution has remained stable. The same is true for the average GDP growth over
the last five years, where North and Central America are showing some growth (2.5 % to 3.5 %), yet Europe (Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine) are showing a
drop, driven mainly by the instability of the situation in the Ukraine (+0.8 to -0.3).
37
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Table 3. Good Governance
All
partner
countrie
s
-0.5
Africa,
North
of
Sahara
-0.3
Africa,
America
South
, North
of
&
Sahar
Central
a
-0.7
-0.1
Asia,
Middl
e East
-0.7
Asia,
South
&
Centra
l
-0.8
Asia,
Far
East
-0.7
Europe:
Belarus,
Moldova
,
Ukraine
-0.7
More
advanced
developin
g
countries
0.9
GOOD GOVERNANCE
America
, South
Oceani
a
Average Rule of Law
score (as measured by the
Worldwide Governance
Index, ranges from approx.
-2.5 (weak) to approx.
+2.5 (strong) performance)
Average Control of
Corruption score (as
measured by the
Worldwide Governance
Index, ranges from approx.
-2.5 (weak) to approx.
+2.5 (strong) performance)
Average Voice and
Accountability score (as
measured by the
Worldwide Governance
Index, ranges from approx.
-2.5 (weak) to approx.
+2.5 (strong) performance)
Baselin
e (2008)
Latest
value
-0.8
0.2
-0.5
Baselin
e (2008)
-0.4
-0.6
-0.5
-0.7
-0.6
-0.3
0.1
-0.6
-0.5
-0.8
-0.8
-0.7
-0.8
-0.6
-0.9
-0.6
-0.7
-0.2
-0.3
0.6
1.0
Latest
value
-0.4
-0.6
-0.7
-0.1
-0.7
-1.0
-0.6
-0.7
-0.7
0.0
0.8
Baselin
e (2008)
-0.4
-1.2
-0.6
0.3
0.0
-1.0
-1.1
-0.6
-0.6
0.6
0.9
Latest
value
-0.3
-0.8
-0.6
0.3
0.0
-1.1
-0.9
-0.6
-0.5
0.7
0.9
38
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The Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) are compiled by the World Bank. They comprise several components which measure the quality of governance
in over 200 countries. The WGI is a relative index and scores are normalised against the global average. This means that at the level of all partner countries
very little change is likely to occur. However, differences in the various governance components at regional level can be observed.
The rule of law score measures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society – in particular the quality of
contract enforcement, the police and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence. Over the last six years (between 2008 and 2014), the score has
fallen in North Africa (from -0.3 to -0.6), North and Central America (from -0.1 to -0.3) and in the more advanced developing countries (from 0.9 to 0.6). For
the remainder of the regions, the score has either remained stable (Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania) or is showing some small improvements (South America,
South and Central Asia, Far East Asia and parts of Europe (Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine)).
The corruption score measures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and large-scale forms of
corruption, as well as 'capture' of the state by elites and private interests. Over the last six year (between 2008 and 2014) the score has fallen slightly in North,
Central and South America, in the Middle East-Asia and the more advanced developing countries; it has increased marginally in South, Central and Far East
Asia and Oceania.
The voice and accountability score measures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in electing their government, as well
as freedom of expression, freedom of association and a free media. Over the last six years (between 2008 and 2014), the score has improved in North Africa
(from -1.2 to -0.8) and in South and Central Asia (from -1.1. to -0.9) and stayed relatively stable in most of the other regions.
39
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Table 4. Conflict Prevention, Peace Building and Security
CONFLICT
PREVENTION, PEACE
BUILDING AND
SECURITY
Number of violent
deaths per 100 000
Baseline
Latest
value
All
partner
countries
10.7
..
Africa, Africa,
Asia,
America,
Asia,
North South
America,
South
North &
Middle
of
of
South
&
Central
East
Sahara Sahara
Central
2.4
..
14.4
..
30.5
..
19.3
..
5.1
..
6.1
..
Asia,
Far
East
6.2
..
Europe:
More
Belarus,
advanced
Oceania
Moldova,
developing
Ukraine
countries
4.6
..
8.8
..
6.5
..
.. =no new data
Since last year, no new data has become available for this indicator, when partner countries recorded an average of 10.7 violent deaths per 100 000 deaths.
40
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Table 5. Agriculture and Food Security
All
FOOD partner
countrie
s
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
2 523
..
34.8
32.1
16.7
15.8
Africa
,
North
of
Sahar
a
3 139
..
23.4
18.4
5.0
5.0
Africa
,
South
of
Sahar
a
1 433
..
37.4
34.8
19.5
18.8
America
, North America,
&
South
Central
2 164
..
26.5
24.4
17.9
18.1
3 420
..
18.4
16.4
11.4
9.5
Asia,
South
&
Central
3 353
..
40.2
37.7
18.1
17.6
Europe:
Belarus,
Moldova
,
Ukraine
3 870
..
4.4
4.1
-
5.0
More
advanced
developing
countries
3 696
..
5.3
5.3
8.3
5.3
AGRICULTURE
SECURITY
AND
Asia,
Middl
e East
1 796
..
28.3
28.5
21.1
20.8
Asia,
Far
East
4 273
..
31.1
27.1
13.0
12.8
Oceani
a
Agricultural value
added per hectare
(measured using proxy
of cereal yield per ha)
Prevalence of stunting
(moderate and severe)
of children aged below
five years (%)
3 342
..
43.4
44.1
7.4
7.0
Latest
value
Baseline
Prevalence of
Latest
undernourishment (%)
value
=no
new
..
data
Since 2015, no new data has become available on cereal yield per hectare (used as proxy to measure agricultural value added). Based on 2015 data, the yield in
partner countries stood at 2 523 kg per hectare; with the yield in Far East Asia being the highest (4 273 kg per hectare) and that in Sub-Saharan Africa being
significantly lower (1 433 kg per hectare).
Over the last 12 months, stunting has continued to fall and the average prevalence in all partner countries now stands at 32.1 %. The Commission recently
developed a tool that allows measuring country level progress of stunting. This tool forms the basis for a WHO global target tracker that is available online
44
.
The tool shows that in the 40 focus countries of the EU Nutrition Action Plan the rate of stunting reduction accelerated between 2012 and 2015; and that the
44
See
http://www.who.int/nutrition/trackingtool/en/
41
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
number of children expected to be averted from stunting in 2025 drops by almost one million. This drop, although relatively small, indicates a change in the
trajectory, which is significant, having occurred in the context of early stages of scaling up actions.
The proportion of undernourished people has also fallen further over the last 12 months and the average for all partner countries now stands at 15.8 %. Whilst
most regions have shown a small reduction in the rate of people who do not have enough to eat, the hunger rate continues to vary a lot by region – North Africa
is close to eradicating food insecurity, having maintained a prevalence rate of 5 %, whilst in Middle East Asia still a fifth of the population (20.8 %) suffer from
undernourishment.
42
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0043.png
Table 6. Energy
All
partner
countries
62.6
Africa,
North
of
Sahara
99.4
Africa,
America,
South
America,
North &
of
South
Central
Sahara
32.4
80.9
92.1
Asia,
Middle
East
83.3
Asia,
South
&
Central
73.7
Asia,
Far
East
84.4
Europe:
Belarus,
Moldova,
Ukraine
99.8
More
advanced
developing
countries
96.5
ENERGY
Percentage of
the
population
with access to
energy
services (%)
Renewable
energy
production as
a proportion
of total
energy
production
(%)
..
Oceania
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
22.9
64.3
23.7
100.0
6.6
35.7
22.0
81.3
26.6
94.8
78.0
85.4
6.3
76.3
32.0
87.7
28.6
100.0
5.0
26.2
_
97.4
0.4
Latest
value
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
=no new data
Over the last 12 months, the percentage of the population in all partner countries who have access to energy services has increased from 62.6 % to 64.3 %.
Despite an improvement of 3.3 percentage points, the rate in Sub-Saharan Africa remains low at only 35.7 %.
No new data for renewable energy production as a proportion of total energy production has become available since 2015. Based on the existing data, on
average just under a quarter of energy in our partner countries comes from renewable sources. The share is by far the highest in South America (78.0 %); and is
a lot lower in Europe (Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine) (5.0 %), North Africa (6.6 %) and Middle East Asia (5 %).
43
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0044.png
Table 7. Public Finance Management
Ameri
Africa
ca,
All
,
Africa, North
partne
North South
&
r
of
of
Centra
countr
Sahar Sahara
l
ies
a
Ameri
ca
-1.4
-2.1
-2.9
1.0
PUBLIC FINANCE
MANAGEMENT
Americ
a, South
Americ
a
Asia,
Midd
le
East
Asia
Asia,
South
&
Centra
l Asia
Asia,
Far
East
Asia
Europe:
More
Belarus,
advanced
Oceani
Moldov
developin
a
a,
g
Ukraine
countries
Change in
domestic
revenue
mobilisation as
a percentage of
GDP over three
years (%)
Baseline
0.7
-3.4
-0.3
-1.1
1.0
-
-2.0
Latest value
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
.. = no new data
No new data for the change in domestic revenue mobilisation as a percentage of GDP over three years has become available since 2015. Based on information
covering the period 2011 to 2014 the majority of partner countries increased the share of domestic revenues in their GDP. However, a significant number of
countries were affected by the slowdown in commodity prices, in particular large reductions in revenue in oil exporting economies such as Libya, Angola and
Nigeria, which contributed to an overall decline of 1.4 percentage points in domestic revenue mobilisation as share of GDP.
44
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0045.png
Table 8. Education
All
partner
countrie
s
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
75.9
77.1
79.8
80.5
77.9
78.8
53.6
56.9
55.5
58.3
54.5
57.6
77.1
77.0
84.2
84.1
80.6
80.5
Africa,
North
of
Sahara
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
82.7
78.1
77.7
69.8
80.1
73.9
85.6
85.6
92.8
92.8
89.3
89.3
Africa,
South
of
Sahar
a
64.3
67.0
70.8
71.1
67.6
69.1
29.0
35.5
36.3
41.0
32.6
38.3
64.6
64.5
76.0
76.0
70.1
70.0
America
, North
&
Central
90.3
94.8
89.1
93.3
89.7
94.0
68.3
68.6
65.5
64.5
66.9
66.5
91.5
91.4
91.9
91.9
91.7
91.6
45
EDUCATION
America
, South
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
80.7
93.4
74.4
85.9
77.5
89.6
98.7
98.7
98.3
98.3
98.5
98.5
Asia,
Asia,
South
Middle
&
East
Central
64.3
64.4
76.9
77.1
70.7
70.9
52.4
56.1
56.5
61.6
54.5
58.9
86.0
86.0
92.7
92.8
89.5
89.4
80.0
77.0
80.2
82.1
80.1
79.6
58.9
64.0
58.9
63.5
58.9
63.8
76.6
76.8
82.7
82.7
79.6
79.7
Asia,
Far
East
96.0
100.0
94.3
99.6
95.2
100.0
79.1
85.2
74.2
81.6
76.6
83.3
96.1
96.1
96.2
96.2
96.2
96.2
Europe:
Belarus,
Moldova
, Ukraine
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.6
96.9
98.3
97.3
97.9
97.1
99.8
99.8
99.7
99.7
99.8
99.8
Oceani
a
76.9
77.4
86.4
86.9
81.8
82.3
64.6
66.4
69.7
71.5
67.2
69.0
77.3
77.3
68.9
68.9
73.0
73.0
More
advanced
developin
g
countries
100.0
100.0
100.0
99.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
99.3
97.7
97.4
98.9
98.3
99.4
99.4
99.7
99.7
99.5
99.5
Female
Primary
Education
Completion
Rate (%)
Male
All
Female
Lower
Secondary
Education
Completion
Rate (%)
Male
All
Female
Literacy rate
of
15-24
Male
year-olds
(%)
All
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0046.png
value
For all three indicators, care should be taken when comparing baselines with latest values as the latter are dependent on country updates that are not necessarily
released each year
45
. That being said, the general trend over the last years is positive: children in developing countries are increasingly completing primary
education around the world. In partner countries the primary completion rate
46
currently stands at 78.8 %. Although also on an increasing path, Sub-Saharan
Africa is still below partner countries' average (69.1 %).
The completion rate in lower secondary education stands at 57.6 % in partner countries. Looked at from a regional perspective, wide discrepancies exist
between the highest rate in the more advanced developing countries (98.3 %) and the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa (38.3 %). In the Sub-Saharan Africa and in
Middle East Asian countries girls are more likely to lag behind boys (-5.5 points) than anywhere else in the world. The apparent decrease in North Africa's
lower secondary completion rate is mostly the consequence of a modification of Egypt figures by UNESCO for methodological reasons which otherwise would
result in a stable figure.
Remarkable progress goes along with some persistent challenges: inequalities are hitting the most disadvantaged groups (e.g. poorest families, ethnic
minorities, and girls) not only in terms of access but also of learning outcomes. Too many children are still not able to read, write and count despite attending
several years of schooling or because they were deprived of education. Conflicts and humanitarian crisis have a huge impact on education: more than 75 million
children and young people aged 3-18 currently have had their education disrupted or destroyed.
The literacy rate of 15-24 year-olds has steadily increased globally since 1990 (MDG baseline). In partner countries it stands at 80.5 %. Literacy rate in Sub-
Saharan Africa remains lower than in any other region at 70 %. Beyond rates and numbers, a wide array of situations exist in terms of literacy, ranging from
poor reading, writing and comprehension skills to the ability of individuals in "achiev[ing] their goals in work and life and participat[ing] fully in society"
47
.
45
46
The latest values range from 2003 to 2015 for primary completion rates; from 2004 to 2015 for lower secondary completion rates; from 2001 to 2013 for literacy rates.
Completion rate (for both primary and lower secondary) is measured through a proxy indicator called 'gross intake to the last grade'.
47
Education For All Global monitoring report 2015
46
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0047.png
Table 9. Health
All
partner
countries
69.9
..
337.8
355.5
Africa, Africa,
Asia,
America,
Asia,
North South
America,
South
North &
Middle
of
of
South
&
Central
East
Sahara Sahara
Central
23.7
..
69.1
70.2
92.3
..
503.6
542.5
32.2
..
155.7
139.4
20.8
..
102.4
87.9
32.8
..
120.1
148.7
62.3
..
173.6
179.3
Asia,
Far
East
30.6
..
106.5
100.1
Health
Baseline
Under-five mortality rate (per
Latest
1 000 live births)
value
Baseline
Maternal mortality ratio (per
Latest
100 000 live births)
value
Baseline
Female Latest
value
Baseline
Male Latest
value
Baseline
All
Latest
value
=no new data
Europe:
Mo
Belarus,
advan
Oceania
Moldova,
develo
Ukraine
count
9.5
..
19.3
20.5
54.1
..
193.9
185.8
6.
..
12
13
1.0
0.0
2.0
0.3
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
_
HIV
prevalence
among population
aged 15-24 years
(%)
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.5
1.6
1.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
_
0.
_
..
No new data has become available on the progress in reducing child mortality. The most recent data shows a decline by more than a half since
1990, with the under-five mortality rate standing at 69.9 deaths per 1 000 live births on average. Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest rate
(92.3 deaths per 1 000 live births) but achieved the highest absolute decline in child mortality over the last 20 years. The other region with high
rates of under-five mortality is Southern and Central Asia (62.3 deaths per 1 000 live births).
Maternal mortality is widely regarded as a key indicator of population health and the quality of health care delivery systems. It is however, a
challenge to assess the extent of progress due to the lack of reliable and accurate maternal mortality data – particularly in developing country
47
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0048.png
settings. As part of on-going efforts the UN refined its estimation methods to optimise use of country level data and provided updated estimates
in 2015. As a result, the latest value and the baseline data in the table above are not comparable. However, overall the maternal mortality ratio in
partner countries declined significantly over the last two decades; and the new UN estimates
48
indicate that this positive trend has continued over
the past 12 months with the exception of Syria, Central African Republic and Zimbabwe where data revealed an increase in the maternal
mortality ratio and several countries with no change.
In EU partner countries, the prevalence of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) among young people remained stable at 0.8 %. Whilst Sub-
Saharan Africa has recorded a decrease of 0.1 percentage points over the last 12 months (down from 1.6 % to 1.5 %), it remains the most affected
region with girls proportionally more affected than boys. Differences in the spread of the epidemic can be accounted for by a complex interplay
of sexual behaviour – determined by cultural and socio-economic context – and biological factors. In Sub-Saharan Africa impoverishment,
gender inequality and the subordinate role of women and lack of access to condoms and quality health care further contributed to the higher HIV
prevalence amongst girls compared to boys.
48
see
http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/DATA/aspx
48
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0049.png
Table 10. Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change
Natural Resources,
Environment and
Climate Change
Number of
deaths per 100
000 from
climate-
related and
natural
disasters
(average over
ten years)
CO
2
equivalent
emission (kilo
tons)
Proportion of
population
using an
improved
drinking water
source (%)
Proportion of
population
using an
improved
sanitation
facility (%)
Rate of net
Baseline
All
partner
countries
2.3
Africa,
North of
Sahara
0.1
Africa, America,
America,
South of North&
South
Sahara
Central
0.5
35.7
0.5
Asia,
Middle
East
0.1
Asia,
South &
Central
2.9
Europe:
More
Asia,
Belarus,
advanced
Oceania
Far East Moldova,
developing
Ukraine
countries
1.2
0.2
0.9
0.1
Latest
value
2.1
0.0
0.6
34.3
0.5
0.1
2.1
1.1
0.2
0.9
0.1
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
Latest
value
Baseline
2 948 725
2 995 969
78.4
480 961
502 120
91.1
654 010
672 643
64.6
99 272
100 232
86.0
183 605
197 278
89.2
256 460
257 925
80.0
487 488
513 098
86.4
274 084
310 353
90.8
390 288
324 567
98.3
8 862
9 295
52.2
113 696
108 458
99.0
79.1
92.2
67
86.5
89.7
79.5
86.3
92.4
96.1
52.1
99.2
54.4
91.4
30.0
71.1
75.4
81.4
59.3
71.1
93.6
30.6
98.3
55.3
-4.0
90.0
-4.3
29.8
-3.5
70.5
-8.4
49
77.8
-4.1
80.5
-6.7
66.5
-3.0
73.0
-7.5
94.3
-4.9
30.7
-1.6
98.5
-1.9
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0050.png
forest cover
change, since
2000 (%)
Latest
value
-4.5
-4.8
-4.2
-9.0
-4.5
3 038
..
-7.2
-3.6
-8.5
-5.2
-1.8
-52.0 %
..
-2.1
Baseline
State of global
Latest
biodiversity
value
Number of global species
Number of global species
Global percent change 1970-2010
Global percent change 1970-2010
International reporting on economic losses linked to climate related and natural disasters is incomplete. Reporting levels vary according to the
region and type of disaster and records are particularly partial from Africa where economic losses were reported from just 13 % of events that
took place over the last 20 years. Clearly, with climate related disasters likely to increase, it is important to establish a better evidence base than
currently available. For this purpose Commission services are funding a global project with UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) to
build capacity at country level to assess and record losses based on a standard methodology, and setting up national disaster loss databases. For
the above reason, it has been decided not to report against the indicator for economic loss as a proportion of GDP that forms part of the EU
Results Framework and to re-assess this indicator as part of the overall review of the EU results framework anticipated later in 2016.
Whilst reporting on deaths linked to climate related and natural disasters is also not complete (the existing reporting database (EM-DAT) doesn't
include climate events where less than 10 people were reported killed), it is much more systematic than that for economic losses. Between 2004
and 2013 an average of 99 700 deaths linked to climate related and natural disasters has been recorded globally. This large number partially
reflects the huge loss of life in the 2004 Asian tsunami, Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, but even without taking
account of these three disasters, the trend over the past 20 years would have shown an increase in the loss of live. Income levels impact on
disaster death tolls and, on average, more than three times as many people die per disaster in low income countries than in high income countries.
The CO2 equivalent emissions in partner countries stand at almost three million kilo tons. It is estimated that developing countries and emerging
economies currently have a share of more than 50% in current global greenhouse gas emissions and in their annual increase.
49
In this regard,
Commission services is focusing on the development and implementation of partner countries' Paris Agreement pledges (their Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs)). The NDCs contain partner countries' mitigation targets and, in most cases, their adaptation plans.
On average, 79.1 % of people in the partner countries are using improved drinking water sources, an improvement of 0.7 percentage points
compared with 12 months previously. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the highest proportion of population lacking sustainable
Trends in Global CO2 Emissions – 2014 Report: Background Studies.
PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency Institute for Environment and Sustainability
(IES) of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2104).
49
50
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
access to safe drinking water, but continues to show an increase in the percentage of people using improved drinking water sources (from 64.6 %
to 67 %).
The progress in the proportion of people using an improved sanitation facility continues. An average of 55.3 % of the population in partner
countries is now using a better sanitation facility. The proportion of the population with improved sanitation remains very low in Sub-Saharan
Africa and in Oceania, at 29.8 % and 30.7 % respectively.
In recent years, the net loss of forest area has slowed globally. In the partner countries, the average loss since 2010 is 4.5 %. The decline has
continued at a faster pace in North and Central America and Far East Asia (9.0 % and 8.5 % respectively) and at a slower pace in Oceania, South
and Central Asia and in the more advanced developing countries (3.6 %, 1.8 % and 2.1 % respectively).
No new data has become available on the state of global biodiversity, which over the last 40 years has fallen dramatically. This is reflected by the
size of populations of vertebrate species, which declined globally by 52.0 % between 1970 and 2010.
51
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0052.png
Table 11. Transport
All
partner
countries
12.0
Africa,
North
of
Sahara
7.2
Africa,
South
of
Sahara
9.4
America,
America,
North&
South
Central
28.2
11.3
Asia,
Middle
East
16.1
Asia,
South
&
Central
22.6
Asia,
Far
East
18.6
Europe:
More
Belarus,
advanced
Oceania
Moldova,
developing
Ukraine
countries
31.9
5.6
64.7
TRANSPORT
Road
density
(km. of
road per
100 sq. km
of land
area)
Baseline
Latest
value
12.5
7.2
9.7
30.1
11.6
17.4
22.9
20.8
33.6
5.6
66.1
On average, the road density in partner countries increased from 12.0 to 12.5 km of road per 100 km
2
of land area. The density is highest in the
more advanced developing countries (66.1 km per 100 km
2
) and lowest in Oceania (5.6 km per 100 km
2
) and North Africa (7.2 km per 100 km
2
).
52
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0053.png
Table 12. Employment and Social Protection
EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL
PROTECTION
Baseline
(USD
1.25)
Latest
value
(USD
1.90)
All
partner
countries
29.7
Africa, Africa,
Asia,
America,
Asia,
North South
America,
South
North&
Middle
of
of
South
&
Central
East
Sahara Sahara
Central
1.3
49.2
11.1
6.4
3.9
29
Asia,
Far
East
16.5
Europe:
More
Belarus,
advanced
Oceania
Moldova,
developing
Ukraine
countries
0.0
11.9
N/A
Proportion
of
employed
people
living below the
international poverty
line (%)
29.3
7.8
42.0
11.3
4.8
7.7
39.9
10.9
0.7
33.8
N/A
Share
of
older Baseline
persons
receiving
Latest
pensions (%)
value
… = no new data
38.2
..
43.5
..
22.5
..
16.5
..
37.2
..
26.6
..
32.9
..
25.7
..
93.8
..
4.9
..
76.7
..
As a result of a revision of PPP (purchasing power parity) exchange rates, the international poverty line has been updated in the final quarter of
2015 from USD 1.25 to USD 1.90. This update means that the number of employed people living in poverty that was reported in last year's EU
Results Report (baseline) is not directly comparable with the latest available data (latest value) shown in the above table.
Important progress has been made in reducing the share of extreme working poverty in total employment since 2000 and the global rate of
working poor dropped from 33.2 % in 2000 to 12.0 % in 2015. Whilst this downward trend continues, progress since 2013 has been more
limited, in particular in the least developed countries. More specifically, for developing economies the rate of decline in the number of working
poor has slowed: between 2012 and 2015 the number of extreme poor decreased by around 0.9 percentage points per annum, whereas the number
of moderately and near poor (those living on between USD 1.90 and USD 5.0 per day in PPP terms) increased by around 5.2 percentage points
50
.
50
International Labour Organisation World Employment and Social Outlook report, January 2016
53
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
No new data has become available on the share of older persons receiving pensions. On average, 38.2 % of older people in EU development
cooperation partner countries receive old-age pensions, with great variation across the regions.
54
kom (2016) 0810 - Ingen titel
1705501_0055.png
Table 13. Trade and Private Sector Development
Ameri
ca,
Africa,
North
South of
&
Sahara
Centra
l
3.6
3.6
28.8
27.7
3.7
3.8
26.5
27.3
More
advance
d
developi
ng
countrie
s
4.4
4.5
35.5
33.8
TRADE AND PRIVATE
SECTOR
DEVELOPMENT
All
partner
countrie
s
3.7
3.8
31.9
30.1
Africa,
North
of
Sahara
3.9
3.9
32.7
26.8
Amer
ica,
South
Asia,
Middle
East
Asia,
South &
Central
Asia,
Far
East
Europe:
Belarus,
Moldova,
Ukraine
4.0
4.0
50.8
51.7
Ocea
nia
Average Global Baseline
Competitiveness Latest
score (range 1-7) value
Exports of goods Baseline
and services as
percentage
of Latest
value
GDP
3.9
3.9
23.3
22.1
3.7
4.0
38.4
39.4
3.8
3.9
24.6
20.6
3.9
4.1
49.6
51.5
_
N/A
57.9
56.6
The Global Competitiveness Index assesses the relative competitiveness of an economy. The index takes into account a number of key aspects of
the macroeconomic and microeconomic environment of each country, which contribute to creating the conditions for competitiveness.
The average score in the partner countries increased from 3.7 to 3.8 on a 1-7 scale, where higher average score means higher degree of
competitiveness. The more advanced developing countries obtained the highest score (4.5) and sub-Saharan Africa the lowest (3.6).
Exports of goods and services as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in partner countries stood at 30.1 % on average, 1.8 percentage
points less than twelve months earlier. Whilst Far East Asia, North and Central America, Middle East Asia and Europe (Belarus, Moldova,
Ukraine) recorded a modest improvement, exports dropped in North Africa (from 32.7 % to 26.8 %) and in South and Central Asia (from 24.6 %
to 20.6 %).
55
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Table 14. Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
GENDER EQUALITY
AND WOMEN'S
EMPOWERMENT
Proportion of
seats held by
women
in
national
parliaments
(%)
Percentage of
women aged
20-24 years
old who were
married
before
their
18th birthday
Baseline
All
partner
countries
19.2
Africa, Africa,
Asia,
America,
Asia,
North South
America,
South
North&
Middle
of
of
South
&
Central
East
Sahara Sahara
Central
13.9
21.7
23.4
20.5
13.3
15.2
Asia,
Far
East
25.4
Europe:
More
Belarus,
advanced
Oceania
Moldova,
developing
Ukraine
countries
13.0
3.2
22.8
Latest
value
Baseline
20.2
29.5
13.9
11.9
21.1
37.1
23.3
30.4
26.5
21.3
13.8
22.6
18.9
35.4
25.3
13.3
14.9
8.4
3.7
21.6
22.8
10.8
Latest
value
30.5
11.2
39.4
30.4
21.5
21.9
35.4
13.3
9.0
21.2
8.1
Over the last decade, women's representation in parliament has almost doubled. This trend continued over the last 12 months with an increase of
one percentage point (up from 19.2 % to 20.2 %). The increase at the aggregate level for all partner countries is linked mainly to 6 % more
women in parliament in South America and 3.7 % more women in South & Central Asia.
The percentage of women aged between 20-24 years who were married before they reached their 18
th
birthday stands at 30.5 %. This is an
increase of one percentage point compared with last year, which can be linked to the percentage of women in Sub-Saharan Africa who got
married early having gone up to 39.4 % (from 37.1 %).
56
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2.2.
EU contributions to results in partner countries: aggregated results
The results presented in this section have been aggregated on the basis of indicators in the EU
Results Framework. They have been aggregated across all countries against each indicator.
Along with the aggregated results, project examples with their achievements for EU Results
Framework sectors are also given.
In terms of coverage, the results presented here refer to the financing instruments managed by
the Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development and
the in the course of 2015: the European Development Fund (EDF)
51
, the Development
Cooperation Instrument (DCI)
52
, the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), part of the
Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP)
53,54
, the European Instrument for
Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
55
, the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation
56
and the Instrument for Greenland
57
.
The March 2015 European Commission’s Staff Working Document that presented the EU
Results Framework also raised the possibility that not all output/outcome indicators of the
Framework would be covered in the results reporting on the Framework. This is the case for
the following indicators: ‘Renewable energy production supported by the EU (MWh)’ and
‘Number of people provided with access to sustainable energy services with EU support’.
For these indicators, there was insufficiently reliable information on the results to reflect the
scale of interventions.
The Staff Working Document of March 2015 also announced that, where possible, results
data will be sex-disaggregated for those indicators for which this is relevant. These data are
presented in Annex 6 in Chapter 6. There are further breakdowns of partner country results in
Annex 7 (by country, region and thematic programmes), Annex 8 (by OECD region) and
Annex 9 (by funding Instrument). All these annexes can be found in Chapter 6.
Table 15 presents the list of countries covered by the data collection.
Table 16 presents the aggregated results achieved with EU support for the EU Results
Framework indicators, for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15. In the final column of Table 16,
results for each indicator are then cumulated across both these years. For certain indicators
the same beneficiaries could be double counted, because the EU support has been continuous
over a period of time that is longer than one year. On this basis, this risk of double counting
was considered for all EU Results Framework indicators; and assessed as relevant essentially
for the indicators below. So, whilst it is correct to report those beneficiaries in each year
Council Regulation (EU) 2015/322 on the implementation of the 11
th
EDF, and Council Regulation (EU)
2015/323 on the financial regulation applicable to the 11
th
EDF
52
Regulation (EU) No 233/2014 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation for the period
2014-2020
53
Regulation (EU) No 230/2014 establishing an instrument contributing to Stability and Peace
54
Key data refer only to activities under Article 5 of the IcSP which represents a small proportion of the overall
financial envelope. The remainder is managed by the FPI under Article 3 (crisis response) and Article 4 (conflict
prevention, peace building and crisis preparedness)
55
Regulation (EU) No 235/2014 establishing a financing instrument for democracy and human rights worldwide
56
Council Regulation (EURATOM) No 237/2014 establishing an Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation
57
Council Decision 2014/137/EU on relations between the European Union on the one hand, and Greenland and
the Kingdom of Denmark on the other
57
51
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(because they received support in both years), any duplication has been removed for the total
numbers for beneficiaries across both years in that final column for these indicators:
Number of countries where overall public financial management has improved
Number of children enrolled in primary education
Number of children enrolled in secondary education
Number of women using any method of contraception
Number of countries/regions with climate change strategies either being developed
and/or implemented with EU support
Number of countries whose capacity to trade across borders has improved
Number of countries where the business environment has improved
As mentioned previously, additional selected results achieved in a number of individual
countries with the support of the same EU-funded geographic and thematic projects and
programmes in 2014-15 are available online and can be found here
58
. Some of the results
presented for individual countries are also included in the aggregated results presented in this
section, but most of them reflect other achievements in the specific country context. These
results can be both qualitative and quantitative.
58
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/countries-territories-and-regions-where-we-are-active_en
58
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Table 15. Partner country results supported by the EU – list of countries covered by this reporting exercise broken down by OECD-
defined region
Africa,
North
of
Sahara
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Morocco
Tunisia
More
Asia, South
advanced
CEEC
Europe Oceania
and Central
developing
/NIS
countries
Angola
Anguilla
Argentina Cambodia Iraq
Afghanistan
Belarus Cook
Aruba
Russia
Benin
Antigua
Bolivia
China
Jordan
Armenia
Moldova Islands
Bahamas
Botswana
&and
Brazil
East Timor Lebanon
Azerbaijan
Ukraine Fiji
Barbados
Burkina
Barbuda
Colombia Indonesia
Occupied Bangladesh
Kiribati
Bermuda
Faso
Belize
Ecuador
Laos
Palestinian Bhutan
Marshall
Bonaire
Burundi
Cuba
Greenland Malaysia
Territory
Georgia
Islands
British
Cameroon
Dominica
Guyana
Mongolia
Syria
India
Micronesia Antarctic
Cape Verde Dominican Paraguay North
Yemen
Kazakhstan
Nauru
Territory
Central
Republic
Peru
Korea
Kyrgyzstan
Niue
British Indian
African
El
Suriname Philippines
Myanmar
Palau
Ocean
Republic
Salvador
Uruguay
Thailand
Nepal
Papua
Territory
Chad
Grenada
Venezuela Vietnam
Pakistan
New
British Virgin
Comoros
Guatemala
Sri Lanka
Guinea
Islands
Congo, Rep. Haiti
Tajikistan
Samoa
Cayman
Democratic
Honduras
Turkmenistan
Solomon
Islands
Republic of Jamaica
Uzbekistan
Islands
Curação
the Congo
Mexico
Tonga
Falkland
Djibouti
Montserrat
Tuvalu
Islands
Equatorial
Nicaragua
Vanuatu
French
Guinea
St. Kitts-
Wallis and Polynesia
Eritrea
Nevis
Futuna
French
Ethiopia
St. Lucia
Islands
Southern and
Gabon
St. Vincent
Antarctic
Gambia
&
Territories
Ghana
Grenadines
Israel
Africa,
South
Sahara
America,
America,
of North and
South
Central
Asia,
Asia, Far
Middle
East
East
59
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Guinea
Guinea
Bissau
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
St. Helena,
Ascension
Island, and
Tristan
da
Cunha
São Tomé
and Principe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Swaziland
60
New
Caledonia
and
Dependencies
Pitcairn
Saba
Saint
Barthelemy
Saint. Pierre
and Miquelon
Sint Eustatius
Sint Maarten
South
Georgia and
South
Sandwich
Islands
Trinidad and
Tobago
Turks
and
Caicos
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Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
61
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Table 16. Aggregated results achieved with EU support: (2013-2014) and (2014-15)
59
EU Results Framework indicator
Number of human rights defenders who have received
EU support
Number of elections supported by the EU where the
electoral process is perceived by independent observers
as free and fair
Number of individuals directly benefiting from justice,
rule of law and security sector reform programmes
funded by EU external assistance programmes
Number of people directly benefiting from legal aid
programmes
Number of individuals benefiting directly from EU-
supported programmes that specifically aim to support
civilian post-conflict peace building and/or conflict
prevention
Agricultural and pastoral ecosystems where sustainable
land management practices have been introduced (in
hectares)
Number of people receiving rural advisory services
Number of people who have secure tenure of land
Results
2013-14
32 000
19
Results
2014-15
87 000
4
Total results
2013-14/
2014-15
120 000
23
197 000
372 000
80 000
78 000
277 000
450 000
651 000
404 000
1 055 000
2 883 000
528 000
51 000
184 000
1 130 000
5 900
3 067 000
1 658 000
57 000
59
Total results may not equal the sum of results from both years to avoid double counting, or because of rounding, or both
62
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Number of women of reproductive age and children
under five benefiting from nutrition-related programmes
Number of food-insecure people receiving assistance
through social transfers
Kilometres of transmission/distribution lines built or
upgraded
Number of countries where overall public financial
management has improved
Number of children enrolled in primary education
Number of children enrolled in secondary education
Number of teachers trained
Number of births attended by skilled health personnel
Number of one-year-olds immunised
Number of women using any method of contraception
Number of people with advanced HIV infection
receiving antiretroviral therapy
Number of insecticide-treated bed nets distributed
Number of countries/regions with climate change
strategies either being developed and/or implemented
with EU support
Number of hectares of protected areas being managed
4 544 000
988 000
1 300
16
19 447 000
9 562 000
33 000
1 160 000
934 000
43 053 000
4 233 000
60
150 000 000
19
49
13 785 000
5 025 000
1 858 000
2 600
12
10 635,000
7 603 000
175 000
8 104 000
5 548 000
13 238 000
8 100 000
19
204 000 000
19
12
3 951 000
9 569 000
2 846 000
3 900
21
30 082 000
17 164 000
208 000
9 263 000
6 482 000
56 291 000
8 100 000
19
354 000 000
19
59
17 737 000
60
These results were achieved primarily or exclusively through Global Fund programmes, which the EU part financed.
63
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Number of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
(MSMEs) applying sustainable consumption and
production practices
Total length of road constructed/ rehabilitated/
maintained (km)
Number of people with access to all season roads
Number of people who have benefited from VET/skills
development and other active labour market
programmes
Number of countries whose capacity to trade across
borders has improved
Number of firms with access to credit
Number of quality certifications issued
Number of countries where the business environment
has improved
3 900
11 000
8 431 000
326 000
-
450
140
7
6 200
27 000
8 905 000
195 000
9
10 000
80
7
10 000
37 000
17 336 000
519 000
9
11 000
220
14
64
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Expenditure by sector for projects and programmes reporting results aggregated on the
basis of the EU Results Framework indicators
Figure 2 shows the expenditure for the projects and programmes covered by this chapter,
broken down by sector.
In the period for which this chapter refers, for the results of projects and programmes
completed, i.e. from mid-2014 until mid-2015, total expenditure on projects and programmes
reported against EU Results Framework indicators was EUR 2 770 million. This compares to
an overall spend of EUR 4 470 million on all projects and programmes with results
information and with a value above EUR 750 000. The difference between the two sums can
be explained by the fact that some of those projects and programmes delivered results which
did not correspond to, and therefore were not captured by, the EU Results Framework
indicators.
65
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Figure 2 Expenditure by sector for projects/programmes reporting results against EU
Results Framework indicators (million EUR)
61
Humanitarian Aid
1%
General Budget
Support
22%
Non-specified
1%
Education
13%
Employment and
Social Protection
5%
Natural Resources,
Environment and
Climate Change
3%
Health
20%
Sustainable and
Inclusive
Agriculture, Food
Security and
Nutrition
18%
Good Governance
7%
Conflict prevention,
Peacebuilding and
Security
2%
Trade and Private
Sector Development
2%
Energy
2%
Transport
4%
61
Please note that:
a) Information on spend is based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development -
Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) sector codes assigned to each project and programme; and a
clear one-to-one mapping between the sectors, as defined by the OECD-DAC and by the EU Results
Framework, is not always possible
b) There are some OECD-DAC sectors that are not explicitly covered by the sectors of the EU Results
Framework; in particular, General Budget Support (GBS) has its own OECD-DAC sector code, but it is not
covered by a specific sector in the EU RF – results achieved through GBS programmes are reported under
different sectors, mainly health and education
c) Other expenditure includes multi-sector aid, urban development, actions relating to debt, and programmes on
culture and recreation
66
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Results by sector
Good Governance
EU Results Framework indicator
Number of human rights defenders who have received EU support
Number of elections supported by the EU where the electoral process is
perceived by independent observers as free and fair
Number of individuals benefiting directly from justice, rule of law and
security sector reform programmes funded by EU external assistance
programmes
Number of people directly benefiting from legal aid programmes
Total results
87 000
4
80 000
78 000
Good governance is vital for inclusive and sustainable development. EU support in this sector
is focused on partners’ commitments to democracy, human rights, democracy and the rule of
law, and to meeting their peoples’ demands and needs.
In
Mauritius,
EU support consisted of technical assistance to the administration focussing on
developing operational skills amongst Mauritian officials to ensure that the elections ran
smoothly. There was
increased voter turnout
(over
73
%, compared to the 53 % of
registered voters who had voted in the 2010 Presidential elections) in the parliamentary
(Nation Representatives) and municipal elections held in early 2015.
In 13 municipalities of the North-East Department of
Haiti
over the period 2013-2014,
45 000
members of 853 community-based organisations were reached by targeted awareness-
raising activities on the rights of women, children and people with disabilities under the
Project for Strengthening the Action Capacity of Civil Society Organisations. Such activities
sought to educate marginalised groups as well as competent authorities on decisions and
strategies for the protection of the rights of women, children and people with disabilities, as
well as to develop a set of specifications on the needs of women of the community that would
serve as an advocacy document guiding public policy. In a region where trafficking, violence
against women and children and discrimination against disabled individuals has increased in
recent years, EU support under this project made a valuable contribution to educating civil
society actors and helping them develop clear common ideas about the needs of marginalised
groups and the social protection framework.
In
Afghanistan,
over the period 2012-2014
7 400
individuals took part in 283 three-day
training sessions on property law, family law and inheritance law, run by the Information,
Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) capacity building team with support from the EU.
There were 2 900 female participants being trained on women's housing and property issues.
In
Georgia,
over the period 2012-2014 the EU supported
5 150
police investigators to be
trained on changes in the criminal procedure code interview techniques for criminal
investigations, and 160 police officers received training on Human Rights and the national
and international standards on non-discrimination.
67
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Conflict Prevention
EU Results Framework indicator
Number of individuals benefiting directly from EU-supported
programmes that specifically aim to support civilian post-conflict peace
building and/or conflict prevention
Total
results
404 000
The purpose of the EU’s development, foreign and security policy initiatives is to create a
more coherent approach to peace, state-building, poverty reduction and the underlying causes
of conflict. Where conflict has occurred, the EU aims to contribute to a smooth transition
from humanitarian aid and crisis response to long-term development cooperation.
In
Colombia, 40 000
people were trained in human rights, international humanitarian law or
conflict resolution, as part of three ‘peace laboratories’ in those regions affected by the
conflict with the drugs cartels.
Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition
EU Results Framework indicator
Agricultural and pastoral ecosystems where sustainable land-
management practices have been introduced (in hectares)
Number of people receiving rural advisory services
Number of people who have secure tenure of land
Number of women of reproductive age and children under five
benefiting from nutrition-related programmes
Number of food insecure people receiving assistance through social
transfers supported by the EU
Total results
184 000
1 130 000
5 900
5 025 000
1 858 000
In agriculture, the EU aims to support sustainable practices, including safeguarding
ecosystem services, prioritising locally developed practices and focusing on smallholder
agriculture and rural livelihoods, the formation of producer groups, the supply and marketing
chain, and government efforts to facilitate responsible private investment. The EU continues
to work on strengthening nutritional standards, governance of food security and reducing
food-price volatility at the international level.
Land tenure is important in rural development interventions which emphasise building
people’s endowments of assets so that they can enjoy sustainable livelihoods. Property rights
to land, together with labour, form the most common endowments used to produce food for
home consumption as well as cash crops that allow the family or individual to pay for other
needs, such as health and education.
68
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In the Gogrial East region of
South Sudan, 4 200
people from 600 vulnerable households
participated in various cash-for-work activities, such as production of bricks for the
construction of community buildings (e.g. seed banks and schools) over the period 2012-
2015. The cash-for-work scheme enabled most of the beneficiaries to transition from
depending on hand-outs to earning a living through their labour. Payments were made before
the start of the planting season, to facilitate the purchase of food items and seeds, and to
increase beneficiaries' food security and prospects for agricultural income. Vulnerable
households were also able to acquire assets such as goats and sheep, which enhanced their
ability to withstand adverse climatic events such as droughts or floods that destroy
agricultural production.
In
Madagascar
extreme poverty rates in some regions are as high as 97 %, and food
insecurity rates as high as 65 %.
Over the period 2013 -2014 the EU supported
220 000
primary school children and teachers
from food insecure areas in the regions of Atsimo Andrefana, Anosy and Androy, who
received approximately 38 million school meals. This increased beneficiaries' food security,
but also maintained school attendance in the affected regions.
Malnutrition has negative effects on children's cognitive development and school attendance,
as well as their productivity as adults.
Energy
EU Results Framework indicator
Kilometres of transmission/distribution lines built or upgraded
Total results
2 600
In energy, the EU aims to offer technology and expertise focusing on three main challenges:
price volatility and energy security; climate change, including access to low-carbon
technologies; and access to secure, affordable, clean and sustainable energy services.
In
Madagascar,
the Ihosy region has faced frequent power disruptions in the past. Over the
period 2008-2014 the EU supported a project to provide access to electricity to
20 000
inhabitants of the region, as well as street lighting and basic public services. The reliable
supply of electricity will also benefit the development of small businesses as well as other
new economic activities.
Education
EU Results Framework indicator
Number of children enrolled in primary education
Number of children enrolled in secondary education
Number of teachers trained
Total results
10 635 000
7 603 000
175 000
69
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Support for basic (primary and lower secondary) education is the foundation for future
learning and skills development. However, in 2013, the number of children and young
adolescents out of school stood at 124 million
62
. Many of these children live in conflict-
affected areas or are from disadvantaged backgrounds (e.g. rural or remote areas, ethnicity,
disabilities, poverty, and girls).
In
Zambia,
the EU supported up to
3 135 000
primary school children (1 567 000 girls and 1
569 000 boys) to be enrolled in school. Over the lifetime of the project, the proportion of
children completing primary school rose from 53 % to 64 %.
Health
EU Results Framework indicator
Number of births attended by skilled health personnel
Number of one-year-olds immunised
Number of women using any method of contraception
Number of people with advanced HIV infection receiving anti-
retroviral therapy
Number of insecticide-treated bed nets distributed
Total results
8 104 000
5 548 000
13 238 000
8 100 000
63
204 000 000
The EU is taking action to develop and strengthen health systems, reduce inequalities
regarding access to health services, and increase protection against global health threats so as
to improve health outcomes for all.
A key policy area is enabling women to have access to skilled health personnel during
pregnancy and childbirth, to ensure prevention, detection and management of complications.
Assistance provided by trained health personnel with adequate equipment is key to lowering
maternal deaths.
In December 2015, Directorate-General Research and Innovation organised the conference
‘Together for the next generation: Research and innovation for maternal and new-born
health’
64
. Around 200 researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, research funders,
advocates, and NGOs active in low- and middle-income countries participated. The
conference was carefully timed to take place within weeks of the announcement of the SDGs
and the relaunch of the UN Secretary General’s Every Woman, Every Child Campaign. The
meeting was also convened at the very end of 2015, just as the final results of the MDGs
were emerging, including estimates for the maternal mortality ratio and other important
impact indicators.
62
63
UNESCO:
http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/Documents/fs-31-out-of-school-children-en.pdf
These results were achieved primarily or exclusively through Global Fund programmes, which the EU part
financed.
64
http://ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2015/mnh/index.cfm
70
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In
Somalia,
over the period 2011-2014
20 000
births were attended by skilled health
personnel. Under this project, training was provided to 18 midwives and other health staff,
which improved their capacity to manage routine emergency obstetric and neonatal cases as
well as to make referrals for complications to a higher tertiary level of patient care. This
resulted in lower maternal and child mortality.
Another policy priority is the immunisation of children under one year old, as this is an
essential part of reducing under-fives mortality rates. It is also one of the specific actions to
increase protection against global health threats.
In the
Philippines,
the EU supported
5 402 000
to be fully immunised, as part of a Budget
Support programme. The children were immunised against the standard three diseases of
Diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough) and Tetanus, and also measles.
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change
EU Results Framework indicator
Number of countries/regions with climate change strategies either
developed and/or implemented with EU support
Number of hectares of protected areas being managed
Number of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)
applying sustainable consumption and production practices
Total results
12
3 951 000
6 200
One of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) is to promote the transparent management
of natural resources, including raw materials and maritime resources. The EU is also
promoting a ‘green economy’ that can generate growth, create jobs and help reduce poverty
by giving value to and investing in natural capital. This includes supporting market
opportunities for cleaner technologies, energy and resource efficiency, low-carbon
development while stimulating innovation, the use of information and communications
technologies, and reducing the unsustainable use of natural resources.
In China,
by the end of 2014,
3 400
Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) suppliers signed
supply contracts for environmentally friendly products (commonly referred to as ‘green
products’) with large supermarkets in Beijing and Tianjin. This project promoted resource-
efficiency and environmentally friendly economic development through mainstreaming
sustainable individual consumption. By increasing the supply of green products, it is
estimated that approximately 44.1 Peta Joules of energy, as well as 141 million tonnes of
water, were saved.
Transport
EU Results Framework indicator
Total length of road constructed/rehabilitated/maintained (km)
Number of people with access to all season roads with EU support
Total results
27 000
8 905 000
71
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Roads are the principal means of transport in the majority of partner countries and account
for 80-90 % of passenger and freight transport. Often, roads are the only way of reaching
most rural communities, and they provide a means of transportation that is readily accessible
to the most disadvantaged sections of the population.
However, the development of road networks frequently outstrips the resources available to
properly maintain them – resources that are estimated at approximately 5-10 % of the
operating budgets of many partner country governments. The EU supports not only the
building but also the rehabilitation and maintenance of the road network in our partner
countries.
In the region of Central Mindanao in the
Philippines,
which has suffered from more than
four decades of conflict resulting in the destruction of social infrastructure and an overall
degradation of living standards,
140
km of farm-to-market roads were rehabilitated in the
period 2012-2014, using food as well as cash-for-work schemes. The communities thus
benefited not only from the rehabilitation of the roads but also from income-generating
activities.
Employment and Social Protection
EU Results Framework indicator
Number of people who have benefited from VET/skills
development and other active labour market programmes with EU
support
Total results
195 000
Through capacity-building and exchange of knowledge, the EU supports vocational
education and training (VET) to enhance employability, productivity and competitiveness,
especially among the young, who are more likely to be unemployed because of a lack of
appropriate skills that match the demands of the current labour market.
In
India,
the EU supported the training of
31 000
marginalised women across 12 districts in
the regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan over the period 2010-2014. The main objective was to
enhance participants' knowledge and income-generating skills across 10 sectors: agriculture
& nursery (most popular), para-veterinary (second most popular), food processing, para-
medical, renewable energy, ICT, construction, textile & garments, salt production, and micro-
enterprises. The vision was to empower poor, vulnerable women dependent on wage-labour
to turn themselves into self-reliant and successful entrepreneurs. A sample survey at the end
of the programme indicated that the majority of trainees (97 %) were employed and
respondents' monthly income increased by 46 % on average. Respondents were able to use
their increased income to finance their children's education, provide better nutrition for their
families, reduce debt, create assets and invest in further expanding their trade.
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Trade and Private Sector Development
EU Results Framework indicator
Number of countries whose capacity to trade across borders has
improved
Number of firms with access to credit
Number of quality certifications issued
Number of countries where the business environment has
improved
Total results
9
10 000
80
7
The EU supports the development of competitive local private sectors, including by building
local businesses and institutional capacity, promoting SMEs and cooperatives, supporting
legislative and regulatory framework reforms and their enforcement, and facilitating access to
business and financial services. This enables partner countries, especially the poorest, to
harness the opportunities offered by globally integrated markets. The EU is helping SMEs to
achieve quality certification standards so that their goods and services meet international
standards and they can reap the benefits of the multilateral trading system.
In
Morocco,
more than
6 600
MSMEs over the period 2009-2014 were provided with access
to new lines of credit. More specifically, the Central Guarantee Fund expanded the range of
credit and guarantee products offered to cover the needs of MSMEs in the entire business
cycle, including innovation.
2.3.
aid
European Commission’s organisational performance as the manager of the EU
This section provides a set of key data on how the European Commission services are
managing their operational processes and resources in order to contribute to achieving
development results in all partner countries except those involved in the enlargement process.
Some of the indicators in this section have targets for which the Commission has either made
political commitments or included in the Regulations which constitute the legal framework
for the implementation of the EU’s development and cooperation policy (see Table 17
below).
All indicators presented in this section have been calculated with reference to the calendar
year 2015, with the sole exception of the indicator ‘Amount of EU-funded international
cooperation and development assistance directed towards nutrition’ which reports on the
basis of 2014 data. Therefore the data in this section covers a different subset of projects and
programmes from those presented in the previous section (partner country results supported
by the EU).
In terms of coverage, the figures presented here refer to the financing instruments managed
by the Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development in
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the course of 2015: the European Development Fund (EDF)
65
, the Development Cooperation
Instrument (DCI)
66
, the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP)
67,68
, the
European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
69
, the Instrument for
Nuclear Safety Cooperation
70
and the Instrument for Greenland
71
.
In all cases, the sources of data are the European Commission’s internal monitoring systems.
EU organisational performance is assessed across three results areas:
i.
Quality at entry (design of projects and programmes)
ii. Quality of portfolio performance (ongoing operations)
iii. Policy priorities
Indicators of performance are presented in Table 17, and described in further detail below.
65
Council Regulation (EU) 2015/322 on the implementation of the 11
th
EDF, and Council Regulation (EU)
2015/323 on the financial regulation applicable to the 11
th
EDF
66
Regulation (EU) No 233/2014 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation for the period
2014-2020
67
Regulation (EU) No 230/2014 establishing an instrument contributing to Stability and Peace
68
Key data refer only to activities under Article 5 of the IcSP which represents a small proportion of the overall
financial envelope. The remainder is managed by the FPI under Article 3 (crisis response) and Article 4 (conflict
prevention, peace building and crisis preparedness)
69
Regulation (EU) No 235/2014 establishing a financing instrument for democracy and human rights worldwide
70
Council Regulation (EURATOM) No 237/2014 establishing an Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation
71
Council Decision 2014/137/EU on relations between the European Union on the one hand, and Greenland and
the Kingdom of Denmark on the other
74
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Table 17. EU organisational performance
Performance
area
Indicator
Value
attained
(2015)
Value
attained
(2014)
Cumulated
Value
(2014-2015)
Target
(reference
period)
Quality at entry (design of projects and programmes)
Quality of
project
documents as
assessed by
Directorate-
General (DG)
International
Cooperation
and
Development's
internal
Quality
Support
Groups
% of project
documents
assessed as
satisfactory
72
in internal
peer review
(yearly)
98 %
67 %
n/a
No target
Quality of portfolio performance (ongoing operations)
DG
International
Cooperation
and
Development's
internal
assessment of
ongoing
projects
(activities)
DG
International
Cooperation
and
Development's
internal
assessment of
ongoing
projects
(results)
Budget
execution
% of projects
with red
traffic lights
concerning
progress on
implementati
on
3.6 %
3.6 %
n/a
No target
% of projects
with red
traffic lights
concerning
the
achievement
of objectives
4.4 %
2.8 %
n/a
Below 10
% (2015)
EU
international
EUR 8.176
billion
EUR 6.155
billion
n/a
100 %
72
i.e. well-designed or giving rise to only minor issues to be addressed
75
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Performance
area
Indicator
(commitments) cooperation
73
and
development
assistance
committed
(value and %
of execution
of available
budget)
Value of EU
international
cooperation
and
development
assistance
paid (value
and % of
execution of
available
budget)
% of invoices
paid within
the period of
30 days
within the
framework of
EU
international
co-operation
and
development
assistance
Value
attained
(2015)
(130.7 %)
Value
attained
(2014)
(92.3 %)
Cumulated
Value
(2014-2015)
Target
(reference
period)
Budget
execution
(disbursements
)
74
EUR 5.694
billion
(101.7 %)
EUR 7.502
billion
(101.2 %)
75
n/a
100 %
Time needed
to disburse
65.9 %
64.6 %
n/a
66 % (2015)
Policy priorities
73
74
EU Budget Heading 4, year credits (C1) and EDF
EU Budget Heading 4, year credits (C1) and EDF
75
Disbursements have been even higher than 100% due to the reuse of unused payment credits from the previous year
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Performance
area
Indicator
Value
attained
(2015)
Value
attained
(2014)
Cumulated
Value
(2014-2015)
Target
(reference
period)
Nutrition
Amount of
EU-funded
international
cooperation
and
development
assistance
directed
towards
nutrition
EUR 454.6
million
76
EUR 466
million
77
EUR 920.6
million
The EU
pledged to
finance EUR
3.5 billion by
2020 to
combat
malnutrition
– ‘Nutrition
for Growth’ –
during the G8
Summit in
Northern
Ireland on 8
June 2013.
(by 2025)
One of the
objectives of
the EU
Gender
Action Plan
2016-20 is to
show the
percentage of
new EU
actions that
score gender
either as the
principal
objective
(G2) or as a
significant
objective
(G1). The
target is for
85 % of new
Gender
mainstreaming
Proportion of
EU-funded
cooperation
and
development
initiatives
promoting
gender
equality and
women’s
empowermen
t
51.6 %
31.3 %
40 %
76
77
Data referring to 2014
Data referring to 2013
77
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Performance
area
Indicator
Value
attained
(2015)
Value
attained
(2014)
Cumulated
Value
(2014-2015)
Target
(reference
period)
actions to
score G1 or
G2 by 2020.
Fragile states
Amount of
EU-funded
international
cooperation
and
development
assistance
directed
towards
fragile states
(a)
Investment
leverage ratio
(b) Total
eligible
financial
institution
leverage ratio
(c) Private
loans/ equity
leverage ratio
Share of EU-
funded
international
cooperation
and
development
assistance
directed
towards
supporting
human
development
EUR 2.831
billion
(commitmen
ts)
EUR 2.274
billion
(payments)
EUR 1.424
billion
(commitmen
ts)
EUR 2.495
billion
(payments)
EUR 4.255
billion
(commitme
nt)
EUR 4.769
billion
(payments)
No targets
Leverage of
blending
operations
financed by
EU
international
cooperation
and
development
assistance,
measured as
78
:
(a) 14.1
(a) 15.5
n/a
(b) 9.5
(b) 9.2
n/a
No targets
(c) 2.2
(c) 2.3
n/a
In its
Communicati
on on the
Agenda for
Change
COM(2011)
637, the
Commission
set an overall
benchmark of
spending 20
% of the
cooperation
and
Human
development
21 %
15.8 %
19 %
78
Calculation methodology revised in 2015. Figures for 2014 here presented are also based on the new method.
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Performance
area
Indicator
Value
attained
(2015)
Value
attained
(2014)
Cumulated
Value
(2014-2015)
Target
(reference
period)
development
budget on
social
inclusion and
human
development.
(2014-2020)
The EU has
made the
commitment
to step up its
contribution
to averting
global
biodiversity
loss by 2020
(EU
biodiversity
target as part
of the EU
Strategic Plan
for
Biodiversity
2011-2020).
The
Development
Cooperation
Instrument
(DCI)
Regulation
contains a
commitment
to contribute
to the
objective of
addressing at
least 20% of
the EU
budget to a
low-carbon
and climate-
resilient
society (DCI
recital 20).
(2014-2020)
Amount and
share of EU-
funded inter-
national
cooperation
and
development
assistance
contributing
to:
(a) protecting
biodiversity
(a) 4.3 %
(a) 2.5 %
(a) 4 %
Environment
and climate
change
(b) climate
change
(adaptation
and
mitigation)
(b) 12.6 %
(b) 11.4 %
(b) 12 %
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Performance
area
Indicator
Value
attained
(2015)
Value
attained
(2014)
Cumulated
Value
(2014-2015)
Trade
facilitation
Amount of
EU-funded
international
cooperation
and
development
assistance
contributing
to trade
facilitation
EUR 33.6
million
EUR 73
million
EUR 106.6
million
Target
(reference
period)
In 2014, on
signing the
WTO Trade
Facilitation
Agreement,
the EU
committed to
maintain at
least its
current level
of support to
trade
facilitation
over a five-
year period;
starting from
signature of
the
Agreement,
namely EUR
400 million
over five
years, or over
a third of
developing
countries’
estimated
needs,
primarily
through
regular EU
aid channels.
(2014-2019)
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Quality at entry (design of projects and programmes)
Proposals for EU-funded projects and programmes are screened through a dedicated internal
peer-review process (Quality Support Groups – QSG) within the European Commission to
ensure the adequate quality of their design. In 2015, 98 % of projects were assessed as
satisfactory at the final QSG at the end of the design stage, which is a substantial
improvement compared to 2014.
Quality of portfolio performance (ongoing operations)
Project implementation is assessed by Commission services on a yearly basis in terms of
advancement of activities and reaching stated objectives.
Budget execution is above 130 % in terms of commitments since the EDF has committed
more than its yearly target mainly in support of a newly established Trust Fund on migration.
Disbursements have been again higher than 100 % as for the previous year. Timeliness in
disbursement was ensured in 65.9 % of the payments, in line with previous years, and very
close to the set target of 66 %.
Policy priorities
Nutrition (2014)
The European Commission has made a commitment with respect to the global target to
reduce the number of stunted children by 70 million by 2025, which has been agreed by the
World Health Assembly (Global Hunger Event, London, August 2012). It has also accepted
responsibility for supporting EU partner countries so that at least 10 % of this target,
benefiting at least seven million children, is met through EU-funded programmes. The
Commission also pledged to finance EUR 3.5 billion to combat malnutrition, at the ‘Nutrition
for Growth’ event during the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland on 8 June 2013.
Using the methodology agreed by the members of the SUN Donor Network, which the
European Commission was instrumental in designing, EU nutrition commitments in 2014
totalled EUR 454.6 million. This was almost equally divided between Directorate-General
International Cooperation and Development commitments (EUR 229.9 million) and
Directorate-General European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
commitments (EUR 224.7 million). 85 % of Directorate-General International Cooperation
and Development’s commitments were for nutrition-sensitive projects.
Of the total commitments made by Directorate-General International Cooperation and
Development in 2014 (EUR 229.9 million), 60.3 % (EUR 138.6 million) was allocated to 40
nutrition priority countries through bilateral support. Additional funds have also been
committed through regional commitments, for example on research, information systems or
capacity building. 25 of the 40 priority countries committed to new nutrition programmes
with Directorate-General International Cooperation and Development managed funding
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instruments in 2014. In descending order, the five largest commitments went to Afghanistan,
Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar and Yemen.
Gender mainstreaming
The best available benchmark by which to measure financial contributions to gender equality
and women's empowerment is the OECD-DAC gender marker. Measuring the amount of
funding support to gender equality is important both in terms of accountability and to identify
where more resources may be needed.
The target set by the first Gender Action Plan for 2015 meant that 75 % of all new EU-funded
cooperation and development projects and programmes would score G1 or G2 indicating that
they would either have a significant gender equality dimension (G1) or would have gender
equality as a principal objective (G2). However, the marker does not measure multilateral aid,
general budget support, debt relief or emergencies.
Despite the target of 75 % remaining far from being met, we can underline a clear
improvement obtained in 2015, reaching 51.6 % in Directorate-General International
Cooperation and Development projects, against only 31.3 % for Directorate-General
International Cooperation and Development and the European Neighbourhood Instrument
(ENI) projects in 2014. This illustrates at the same time the success of the efforts deployed on
gender equality, but also the need to continue them. It could also point to possible difficulties
in implementing or using the marker adequately.
The new Gender Action Plan 2016-2020 imposes the systematic application of the DAC
gender marker. The target to score G1 or G2 has been increased to 85 % of all new
programmes by 2020. Where no inherent impact on gender is identified, the score (G0) will
require justification; and efforts will be made to ensure the marker is applied consistently.
Fragile states
In its Communication on the Agenda for Change, the European Commission committed to
give priority to countries “most in need and fragile” and highlighted the importance of
tackling the challenges of fragility with the objective of building peaceful states and societies
and improving long term development outcomes and poverty reduction. Overall EU
commitments to fragile states are set out through National and Regional Indicative
Programmes for 2014 – 2020. Multi-year programming means that annual disbursements may
vary by year. In 2015, Directorate-General International Cooperation and Development has
spent 43 % of the funds disbursed in fragile states, which is in line with the amount recorded
in 2014
79
. However, in terms of commitments, the EU has doubled its yearly engagement
compared to the previous year, showing that greater attention is being directed towards
fragile states in the new Multiannual Financial Framework.
79
As defined in the OECD list of fragile states and economies for 2015
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Leverage of blending operations
The EU intends to use its blending operations to mobilise external financing to realise
investments in partner countries. The leverage ratios presented are those expected in the
blending operations approved under its blending facilities, as estimated by the financial
institutions involved.
On the 2015 decisions, it is expected that for each EUR 1 granted by the EU, the financial
institutions concerned will invest EUR 9.5, while the total investments expected to be
mobilised amount to EUR 14.1. The mobilisation of private financing reached a leverage of
2.2 (i.e. every EUR 1 of EU funds has leveraged an additional EUR 2.2 from private
financing). The Commission is further exploring possibilities to increase private sector
involvement.
As compared to 2014, there have been minor fluctuations of the leverage ratios reflecting
project specificities. Regarding the methodology, as from 2015 the Neighbourhood
Investment Facility, the blending instrument financed from ENI, is not included in
Directorate-General International Cooperation and Development data. Moreover the
definition of the Finance Institutions leverage has been extended to include all finance
institutions contributing to the project.
Human development
Human development is an important component of EU aid policies, with a 20 % benchmark
set in the Communication on the Agenda for Change COM(2011) 637. In line with the EU
Council of Ministers' Conclusions of 14 May 2012
80
on the Agenda for Change, the European
Commission has defined human development as including funding in the following sectors:
health; education; and social protection and services (including social transfers).
In 2015, the EU committed EUR 1.6 billion towards actions contributing to human
development, representing 21 % of the total commitments made in the same year and
doubling the amount committed in the first year of the Multiannual Financial Framework
(2014-2020). This represents a significant step forward in order to reach the target of 20 % by
2020.
The distribution of commitments across sectors is shown below with a prevalence of
commitments towards Social Protection and Services representing close to 45 % of the total
allocated to Human Development.
“As for inclusive and sustainable growth, support for inclusiveness will be focused primarily on social
protection, health and education. Support to social inclusion and human development will continue through at
least 20% of EU aid.”
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/130243.pdf
80
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Figure 3. Commitments towards human development in 2015 (% by sector)
29%
45%
Health
Education
Social Protection and Services
26%
Source: European Commission
Environment and climate change
The climate-relevant part of all EU budgetary commitments made in 2015 for actions funded
in the context of international cooperation and development was estimated at around 12.6 %,
while the biodiversity-relevant part was estimated at 4.3 %. For several years now, climate
change has been more integrated into EU development strategy and the Commission remains
strongly committed to mainstreaming environment and climate change considerations into the
project design process, building on the momentum created by the new 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and the international climate change negotiations leading up to the
adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015.
A range of dedicated environment and climate activities are supported under the Global
Public Goods and Challenges (GPGC) programme. These include a new phase for the Global
Climate Change Alliance programme which fosters policy dialogue with partner countries,
mainly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with
eight international conferences realised to date. It provides support for climate action, such as
mainstreaming climate change either in national plans or through specific projects. The
GPGC Programme also funds activities aiming at universal access to modern energy services,
doubling energy efficiency and to increase substantially the share of renewables in the global
energy mix by 2030.
GPGC activities are also the core funding source for the Biodiversity for Life (B4Life)
Flagship Initiative. This aims to strengthen a reciprocal integration of biodiversity priorities –
the conservation of wildlife and ecosystems and the sustainable use of their services – into
the development agenda, in accordance with international commitments such as target six of
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the ‘EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020’ and target 20 of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets under
the ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’.
The better performance achieved in 2015 with regard to 2014 in terms of investments in
biodiversity reflects the fact that the operational phase of the 2014-2020 financial framework
has effectively started, after a 'transition' year mostly dedicated to completing the multi-year
indicative programming. A significant effort is being made through the regional programme
of the EDF in the ACP countries to address biodiversity, along with wildlife conservation and
the combat against wildlife poaching and trafficking.
Trade facilitation
Funds to support the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement are a component of
the broader Aid for Trade assistance provided by the EU. Funds programmed under the EU’s
2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework cover trade-related needs well in excess of the
EU’s commitment of EUR 400 million for trade facilitation. Compared to 2014, the level of
payments decreased to approximately EUR 30 million.
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3.
IMPLEMENTATION: GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW
3.1.
Enlargement
The EU’s enlargement policy is an investment in peace, security and stability in Europe.
According to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, any European State which respects
the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to promoting them may apply to become
a member of the Union.
Enlargement is a strict but fair process built on established criteria and lessons learned from
the past. It supports candidate countries and potential candidates in carrying out the reforms
and fundamental changes needed to meet the obligations of European Union membership.
Ensuring future Member States are well prepared is crucial for the credibility of enlargement
policy, as well as for public support in both current and future Member States. The main tool
for the Commission's assessment and guidance is the annual Enlargement package.
In November 2015, the European Commission set out a medium-term strategy for EU
enlargement policy to cover the mandate of this Commission. It confirmed a continued
commitment to the principle of "fundamentals first", which remains essential for all
enlargement countries. The Commission continues to focus efforts on the rule of law,
including security, fundamental rights, democratic institutions and public administration
reform, as well as on economic development and competitiveness. These remain the
fundamentals for meeting the Copenhagen and Madrid membership criteria. A number of
changes to the reporting methodology was introduced, with the aim to further increase the
sharpness of the assessments as well as the usability of the Enlargement package as a source
of information and guidance for all stakeholders. It also provided greater transparency in the
enlargement process, setting out more clearly where countries stand overall.
The current enlargement agenda covers the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey.
Accession negotiations have been open with Turkey since 2005 but are still moving forward
slowly. Accession negotiations have been underway with Montenegro since 2012 and with
Serbia since 2014. The EU accession process with the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (a candidate country since 2005) remains at an impasse. Albania was granted
candidate status in 2014 and is addressing a number of key priorities before the Commission
can recommend the opening of accession negotiations. A Stabilisation and Association
Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia and Herzegovina entered into force in June 2015 and the
country submitted a membership application in February 2016. An SAA with Kosovo
81
was
also signed in October 2015.
The firm prospect of EU membership, as continuously reaffirmed by all Member States,
continues to drive transformation and anchor stability and security in the countries of
Southeast Europe. Enlargement policy continues to deliver results and reforms are moving
81
This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and
the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
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forward in most countries, albeit at different speeds. Given the complex nature of the
necessary reforms, it is a long-term process and structural shortcomings persist, notably in the
key areas of rule of law and the economy.
3.1.1
Introduction
The instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA) supports the EU's enlargement policy, with
a view to implementing Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, which offers the
prospect of EU membership to all European countries that respect the fundamental values of
the EU and are committed to promoting them. Current beneficiaries are: Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and
Turkey.
The new instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA II) was launched in 2014. Through
IPA II, the EU provides EUR 11.7 billion in the period 2014-2020 to support the enlargement
countries in their preparation for accession as well as for regional and cross-border
cooperation. IPA II builds on the results already achieved under its predecessor IPA I in the
period 2007-2013, which had a budget of some EUR 11.5 billion. Implementation of IPA II
started in 2015 and continued for IPA I.
In 2015, IPA II assistance remained focused on addressing the "fundamentals first", i.e.
democracy, the rule of law, public administration reform and economic development and
competitiveness, in line with the Commission's enlargement strategy. In addition, IPA
funding supported countries in aligning with the
acquis
and progressively meeting the
membership criteria. EUR 185.5 million were allocated in 2015 to border, migration and
asylum management and to tackling the consequences of the migration crisis. Through the
Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), IPA also supported investments in key
sectors of the economy including energy, transport, environment, social issues and private
sector development. Boosting connectivity within the region and with the EU remained a key
priority.
The EU provided short-term technical assistance through the TAIEX instrument in a number
of key areas such as the justice and home affairs, internal market, environment, agriculture,
etc. In 2015,
816 events
were implemented in the Western Balkans and Turkey. In 2015,
60
Twinning projects
have been launched with IPA beneficiaries. During the year, the
Twinning instrument has been most actively used in Turkey with 16 projects and in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with 14 projects. The key area in which the
Twinning instrument provided support is Justice and Home Affairs with a total of 28 projects
circulated.
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3.1.2. Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
IPA II provides for an effective delivery and implementation of EU financial assistance. In
2015, IPA II continued to ensure a close link between political priorities as set out in the
annual enlargement strategy and priorities for financial assistance.
Moreover, the implementation of the sector approach continued in 2015. It became the key
principle for programming financial assistance, i.e. emphasising the importance of sector
policy dialogue and structural reforms enabling a closer link between enlargement policy
objectives and financial assistance.
In addition, the focus on performance and delivering results under IPA II was further
developed. In 2015, an IPA II performance framework was set up which provides for a better
measurement of results and the impact of pre-accession assistance. A key element of this
framework is set out by the IPA II regulation, i.e. the use of strategic indicators (in indicative
strategy papers) and operational indicators (in action programmes) and related targets to
measure the progress made by beneficiaries towards fulfilling the required policy reforms,
namely in relation to prospective EU membership.
Implementation of sector budget support, another novelty under IPA II, also continued in
2015 across the country beneficiaries, with two additional programmes in Albania (Support
to Public Administration Reform, and Support to implementation of Employment and Skills
strategy), one programme in Serbia (Support to Public Administration Reform) and one
programme in Montenegro (Support to the Integrated Border Management Strategy). The
Regional School for Public Administration was mobilised to organise training sessions for the
authorities in the enlargement countries, to increase the capacity of the beneficiary countries
to design the first budget support programmes.
Coordination between IPA support and the support provided by other International Financial
Institutions (IFIs) to the countries of the Western Balkans continued to be ensured through
the WBIF, where most of the work to be jointly done is discussed, technically assessed and
decided, with the full participation of the beneficiary countries. The WBIF allows all
partners around the table to be aware of each other’s priorities and projects and provides a
good framework to seek partnerships that maximise the value-added for each project.
Coordination between the Commission and other donors also continued at field level,
including through regular consultations and exchanges of information during all phases of the
assistance cycle.
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3.1.3. Implementation
Bilateral cooperation
Albania
During 2015, Albania has advanced with the programming and implementation of EU
assistance through the sector approach by supporting sector strategies, namely public finance
management, public administration reform and employment and skills supported through IPA
sector reform contracts. In the area of public finance management the assistance contributed
to improved reform coordination structures, increased focus on transparency on budgetary
information, the clearance of arrears, enhanced fiscal controls, and medium term budget
planning, stepping up of the fight against informality, and increase of compliance, further
alignment of external audit work to the standards. With regard to public administration
reform the sector reform contracts contributed to the application of the new civil service law
and the rolling out of the human resource management systems.
The parliament adopted legislation for a new territorial administrative reform to reduce the
number of local governments from over 300 to 61 new municipalities. The reform aims at
generating savings in the delivery of local services and streamlining settings and procedures.
The reform process, at national and local level, is coordinated in the framework of the
decentralisation strategy and is in line with the public administration reform strategy 2014-
2020, which is monitored by the Government through the Integrated Policy Management
Group and on the side of the Commission through intensive policy dialogue and financially
supported by IPA funds.
To improve the everyday life of citizens, the Commission has mobilised funds to build water
supply installations, construct two crucial road by-passes, notably Vlora and Rrogozhina, and
upgrade the Shengjin port with direct effects on the economy of the country.
Case Study – Floods recovery
As a response to the floods emergency, which hit Albania in January/February 2015, the
Commission devised a recovery programme of approximately EUR 15 million aimed at
increasing floods resilience with better early warning and disaster prevention mechanisms
and strengthened flood protection infrastructures. The Commission reacted quickly to the
emergency with a post-disaster needs assessment undertaken in conjunction with the
government and the main development partners and promptly made financial support
available. A few months after the emergency, works were already on-going to build new
flood protection embankments and the most affected farmers had been compensated for the
damage.
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Bosnia and Herzegovina
Politicisation of EU assistance limited the development of country-wide strategies and the
extension of IPA support to key sectors such as transport, energy, agriculture and
environment. The 2006 Public Administration Reform Strategy expired at the end of 2014
and a revised strategy remains to be drafted. The Justice Sector Reform Strategy was adopted
in September after a long delay; this delay and issues linked to budget transparency delayed
the release of the second tranche of support for the processing of war crime cases, negatively
impacting the nationwide processing of war crimes.
Strengthening of the rule of law has however continued with further capacity building,
reduction of the backlog of war crime cases and further work on missing persons, and an
increased role for the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight
against Corruption. The first EU assistance programme for flood recovery was successfully
implemented. The country established the National Investment Council, which adopted the
Single Project Pipeline, for the time being covering only the transport sector. Subject to the
adoption of relevant strategies, the Single Project Pipeline can be the basis for the
programming of EU funds as well as of national and other donors' funds.
Rule of law, democracy and governance were selected as priorities for IPA 2015
programming.
The IPA II Framework Agreement was ratified in August following a significant delay.
Consequently, the IPA 2014 Financing Agreements (with a specific focus on flood recovery
efforts) were signed only in November 2015, therefore affecting the timely preparation of the
projects foreseen in these Financing Agreements.
Case Study – Taxation
The implementation of an EUR two million twinning project with the Indirect Taxation
Authority (ITA) resulted in a significant improvement of the legislation and procedures for
indirect taxation through alignment with the
acquis
and the strengthening of ITA institutional
and administrative capacities in line with EU best practices. While the ITA was the direct
beneficiary, indirect beneficiaries were the State-level Ministry of Foreign Trade and
Economic Relations, the business community and ultimately all citizens. Progress in the field
of indirect taxation is crucial for the country's development, because it represents the largest
source of national income.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
In line with the urgent reform priorities presented by the European Commission in June 2015
in order to address systematic rule of law challenges, IPA assistance continued to actively
support the implementation of reforms in the areas of rule of law, the judiciary, the de-
politicisation of public administration, electoral reform and freedom of expression. In
particular, projects focused on the judiciary, the training of judges and prosecutors, support to
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anti-corruption bodies and the Ombudsman, continued support for public administration
reforms, support for dialogue with the media and civil society organisations. Through the
Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) instrument, IPA provided valuable
advice during the drafting of various laws as well as training.
The programming of IPA II has continued, focusing on reforms in the area of governance,
democracy and rule of law, fundamental rights, environment, agriculture and transport,
allowing the country to further advance in the implementation of sector strategies, and
supporting the administration’s capacity to plan, design and implement projects, in
accordance with the rules of sound financial management.
In addition, the Commission supported the country with an IPA special measure of EUR
three million to cope with the refugee crisis (in addition to wider IPA regional assistance, past
and future IPA assistance to deal with border and asylum issues, and EU humanitarian
assistance). EUR ten million was also provided as an emergency response to flooding in
early 2015.
Case Study – Custom reforms
On 1 July 2015, the country joined the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure and
became a part of the European common transit network. The Customs Administration now
exchanges standardised electronic messages with around 3 000 customs transit offices in 34
countries, including the Member States of the European Union, European Free Trade
Association (EFTA) signatories and Turkey. The annual 360 000 paper customs declarations
were replaced by electronic declarations, which save both time and money. The faster
transport of goods, made possible by the new system, will lead to an increased
competitiveness of the economy. The electronic transit system provides for a greater
efficiency in detecting fraud and increases safety during the conduct of transit operations. The
development of the New Computerised Transit System and the support for its implementation
were financed by the European Union with EUR three million.
Kosovo
The Commission continued to engage in policy dialogue with the Ministry of European
Integration as well as relevant line Ministries in programming IPA assistance. In 2015, as a
result of the structured dialogue with Kosovo institutions, specific actions in priority areas
were developed in consultation with other donors present in Kosovo as well as with civil
society organisations following the sector approach.
Rule of law, energy and agriculture were identified as priority sectors in 2015, given the
existence of public policies and a genuine commitment from the Kosovo government to
achieve strategic objectives in these sectors in the long-term.
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Preparations also started in 2015 for a pilot Budget Support in the sector of Public
Administration Reform.
Case Study – Integration of minorities and the local economy
Northern Kosovo municipalities, inhabited by the Kosovo Serb minority, continue to suffer
the consequences of the 1999 conflict and related structural changes, including the collapse of
an extensive mining industry which used to be the major employer in the region. Since then,
the EU has provided assistance to address these challenges, facilitated the reconciliation
process and improved the socio-economic and environmental conditions in the region. In
2013, EUR 38.5 million were allocated to projects in areas including the rule of law,
infrastructure, economic development, environment and protection of cultural heritage. EU
assistance has played an essential role in the economic recovery of this region and the
improvement of the living standards of the local population as the local economy kick-started
in 2015.
Montenegro
The implementation and programming of EU financial assistance took place in the context of
on-going accession negotiations and the new sectoral approach under IPA II.
As regards programme implementation, during 2015 Components I and II of IPA I (2007-
2013) continued to be managed by the EU Delegation in Podgorica, while the management
for Components III and IV was conferred to Montenegro. The EU funds from 2012-2014
were implemented to support efforts on rule of law and public financial management, to
address key requirements of the accession negotiations across a broad number of chapters and
to improve safety in the transport sector.
As regards programming of new IPA II assistance, efforts during 2015 focused on the
preparation of the 2015-2017 Multiannual Action Programme on Employment, Education
and Social policies and the 2015 Annual Action Programme which, through a Sector Budget
Support programme, will support the implementation of the Integrated Border Management
(IBM) strategy that will enhance Montenegro's capacity to manage migration flows.
Case Study – Health system
As for many countries in transition, Montenegro is facing considerable challenges as it
modernises its health system. The construction, equipment and the furnishing of the Blood
Transfusion Institute in Podgorica as well as the training received by its staff represent an
important landmark in the development of Montenegro's health system. The EU provided
laboratory equipment, furniture, IT equipment and consumables for an amount of EUR 1.1
million. Technical assistance was also funded by IPA, amounting to EUR 0.7 million. The
technical assistance was delivered by the World Health Organisation, which supported the
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Health authorities in harmonising national legislation with the relevant parts of the EU
acquis
and related standards in the area of blood safety. This support also addressed the vital issues
of quality assurance. This intervention is an example where preparations to align with EU
standards is directly beneficial for Montenegrin citizens. It thus improved the health sector in
Montenegro and the quality of care in visible ways. For example, in addition to improved
health standards, voluntary blood donations have increased substantially.
Serbia
In line with the approach of tackling the "fundamentals first", the 2015 national IPA
Programme focused on a limited number of sectors, namely: rule of law and fundamental
rights; economic governance and the economic reform programme, including support to
public administration reform and public financial management; and some key investments in
interconnectivity to support the economy and growth.
A major development in Serbia was the adoption of the Public Administration Reform
Strategy and the related Action Plan in March 2015, as well as the adoption of the Public
Financial Management Reform Programme in November 2015. The EU has supported this
development by providing the first Sector Budget Support to Serbia amounting to EUR 80
million.
A quick and efficient response to the migrant crisis was ensured through the programming of
a special measure and its subsequent contracting via direct grants, which were concluded very
rapidly.
The first EU assistance programme for flood recovery was successfully implemented,
resulting in the inclusion of this programme in a list of "best EU projects for results". The full
contracting of the second EU assistance programme for flood recovery was ensured.
The establishment of the National Investment Council and the prioritisation of investment
planning based on the Single Project Pipeline, developed with the support of IPA, serves as
an example of good practice for other countries of the region. It also provides a solid basis for
the identification of projects and the preparation of priority investments in the areas of
transport, energy, environment and business related infrastructure.
Case Study – E-business development
The EUR 2.4 million “E-Business Development” project helped Serbia to pave the way for
more e-commerce and e-business activities, thereby contributing to the EU’s objective to
boost Serbia’s economy and the SME sector. This multifaceted project included a number of
activities to improve Serbia’s digital infrastructure. Amongst other things, the project
provided training for government employees, helped to set up an e-commerce observatory
unit, develop two websites and an e-consumer e-learning platform, started mentoring 50 high
potential e-commerce SMEs, and supported the Serbian government in aligning with EU
targets on e-government under the Digital Agenda.
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Turkey
The migration crisis contributed to profoundly reshaping the landscape of EU-Turkey
relations and the Commission has developed a wide range of proposals to enhance relations
in areas of common interest and to support Turkey’s migration policies and extraordinary
efforts to host refugees from the Syrian crisis. A key milestone was the EU-Turkey Summit
held on 29 November which agreed to activate the Joint Action Plan on migration concluded
ad referenda
on 15 October. In this respect the Commission established in November 2015
the Facility for Refugees in Turkey to coordinate the mobilisation of EUR three billion both
from the EU budget and contributions from Member States. The facility comes on top of the
EUR 351.8 million that had already been allocated to refugee support in Turkey since the
beginning of the crisis.
In 2015, IPA programming and implementation continued in the framework of the Indirect
Management by Beneficiary Country (IMBC) system. The entry into force in June 2015 of
the IPA II Framework Agreement (FWA) setting out the rules for implementation of pre-
accession assistance, the ratification of the first IPA II Financing Agreement on the 2014
Annual Action Programme (EUR 366 million) and the adoption of the 2015 Annual Action
Programme (EUR 255 million) are important steps to be mentioned. Entrustment of budget
implementing tasks to the national authorities was successfully completed in 2015 in the
fields of environment, competitiveness and innovation, employment, education and social
policies, providing for the start of implementation of the related multiannual programmes
(2014-2016) in those sectors.
In particular, under the IPA 2015 Annual Action Programme (AAP) keys areas for financial
assistance remained Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights as well as helping Turkey address
the refugee crisis, to build up capacities in the field of migration and asylum (including
protecting victims of human trafficking). As in previous years, several activities programmed
under Home Affairs are directly related to the implementation of the Visa Liberalisation
Roadmap (VLR), the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement and the EU-Turkey Joint Action
Plan on Migration. Activities related to migration management, borders and document
security have been fast-tracked to be contracted as soon as possible in 2016. In general,
actions in support of Turkey's efforts to host more than 2.5 million refugees have gained
increasing importance. Moreover, first actions under the newly established EU Regional
Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis have also been programmed and
implementation started in cooperation with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to
provide educational services to refugee children as well as psycho-social support, and the
World Food Programme (WFP) to support food security of refugees in three camps with an e-
voucher card system.
In the aftermath of the November Summit, the accession negotiations in the area of economic
and monetary policy (chapter 17) were opened in December 2015. Turkey participated in
multilateral
economic dialogue
with the Commission and Members States. Regarding the
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energy sector, a high level
energy dialogue
was launched in March 2015 and funding for
renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives as well as to improve the reliability,
efficiency and operational performance of the Turkish gas network has been allocated under
IPA 2015. In addition, institution building activities linked to the
acquis
were agreed in the
field of agriculture, phytosanitary policy and fisheries.
The move towards the IPA II sector approach has further advanced in close cooperation with
the Turkish authorities. Despite some progress, efforts will have to continue to fully move
towards the IPA II sector approach where the ultimate goal will be to co-finance the
implementation of Turkey's own national sector reform strategies and action plans. As far as
the Sector Budget Support (SBS) modality is concerned, various training and information
sessions have been held and preparatory work for the assessment of SBS eligibility criteria
have been organised. However, there is no final decision yet by the Turkish authorities on the
use of the SBS modality.
Regional cooperation
Significant progress is being made in the context of the 'Berlin process' and the Western
Balkans Six format, which is supporting a regional approach to setting realistic priorities for
core connectivity infrastructure projects and investments as well as encouraging necessary
reforms. In Vienna in August 2015, heads of State and government from both the region and
a number of Member States took stock of progress and agreed priorities for further
infrastructure developments.
In the area of transport, agreement has been made on establishing a core network and on
extending three Trans-European Transport Networks core corridors to the Western Balkans.
The countries identified the priority projects along sections of these corridors to be
implemented by 2020. For energy, a selection of priority projects among the already agreed
35 Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECI) was also identified, notably power
interconnectors.
The investment projects identified will require significant funding and co-financing including
through the Western Balkans Investment Framework in order to support investments boosting
jobs and growth and promoting connectivity in the region.
The second regional conference in Belgrade on 28-30 April 2015 for the monitoring of the
Guidelines for EU support to Civil Society in the enlargement countries was attended by
representatives of Government offices in charge of cooperation with civil society, as well as
representatives of civil society resource centres, TACSO (Technical Assistance to CSOs) and
representatives from the EU Delegations. The participants jointly improved indicators and
revised targets for each country providing relevant inputs for the 2015 enlargement package.
By the end of year additional grants had been signed bringing to 50 regional CSO networks
for advocacy and policy reforms in all beneficiaries financially supported by the Civil Society
Facility (CSF).
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Case Study - Connectivity agenda
In the Western Balkans connectivity is at the very heart of the Commission's efforts to
promote integration among the individual countries and between them and the EU. Such
efforts also serve to drive forward their European perspective. Improving connectivity
requires both investments to improve transport and energy infrastructure and the
implementation of "soft" measures to open markets, remove barriers to integration and create
a transparent regulatory environment.
The European Union has set aside up to EUR one billion for connectivity investment projects
and technical assistance for the period of 2014-2020. In 2015 the Commission provided EUR
200 million in co-financing for ten priority projects valued at EUR 600 million. For
Transport, they include an intermodal terminal, two bridges and three railway projects. For
energy, they cover power interconnectors and reinforcement to the region’s electricity
transmission system.
The funding is made available primarily through the Western Balkans Investment Framework
and as a result coordination with international financial institutions (IFIs) has been
strengthened. The Western Balkan countries have established National Investment
Committees that have elaborated draft single project pipelines which will need to become
credible planning and prioritisation mechanisms ensuring that the countries have the
budgetary resources and fiscal space to take up the necessary loan financing to get all the
projects implemented on time.
In addition to making funding available for investments, the Commission insists that there
should be progress on the soft (or policy) measures agreed by the countries in Vienna. In
transport, road-building work will be accompanied by improvements in border crossing
procedures, maintenance and road safety as well as the opening of the railway market. In
energy, the regional power market has been designed to integrate the growing renewable
energy generation capacity of the Western Balkans.
Cross-Border Cooperation
In 2015, the Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) Programmes 2007-2013 between IPA
Beneficiaries (i.e. at intra-Western Balkan borders) were still ongoing. In addition,
programming continued for the eight bilateral CBC programmes for the period 2014-2020
between IPA II Beneficiaries-adopted in 2014 – along with annual Action Programmes for
the same year. Thematic priorities of CBC programmes under IPA II include tourism, cultural
and natural heritage, environmental protection, employment, mobility and social inclusion.
In July 2015, Action Programmes for the following three years (i.e. 2015, 2016 and 2017)
were adopted, covering three years of allocations, subject to the approval of the yearly
budget, with a view to improving the efficiency of the programming process and to reducing
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the administrative workload. In December 2015, the Financing Agreements were signed and
ratified by the participating countries and the technical assistance was launched for
supporting the operating structures.
In addition, ten cross-border cooperation programmes between the Western Balkans, Turkey
and EU Member States were adopted.
3.2.
European Neighbourhood
In 2014 President Juncker asked the Commission to review the European Neighbourhood
Policy (ENP) within the first year of his mandate. A review was thus undertaken in 2015.
As a first step, a Joint Consultation Paper
82
was issued on 4 March 2015 by the High
Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and the Commission, followed by a public
consultation with stakeholders until the end of June. Consultations took place with Member
States, partner governments, EU institutions, international organisations, social partners, civil
society, business, think tanks, academia, and members of the public. Over 250 contributions
were received.
As a result of the consultation process, on 18 November 2015 the European Commission and
the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy adopted the Communication
'Towards a new European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)'. The overarching theme of the
review was stabilisation of the neighbourhood through the four refocused priorities - good
governance, economic development, security and migration and mobility - to be achieved by
establishing closer and more effective relations with neighbouring countries on a
differentiated basis, with an increased ownership of partners
83
. On 14 December, the Council
adopted conclusions welcoming the Joint Communication and stating that a democratic,
stable and prosperous neighbourhood was a strategic priority and a fundamental interest of
the EU.
2015 saw a continuation of a general instability both in the South and the East. In the South,
conflicts, rising extremism and terrorism, human rights violations and other challenges to
international law, and economic upheaval, have resulted in major refugee flows. These have
left their marks across North Africa and the Middle East, with the aftermath of the Arab
Uprisings and the rise of Da'esh. In the East, an increasingly assertive Russian foreign policy
has resulted in the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Protracted conflicts primarily in Syria and Libya are continuing to hamper stabilisation and
development in the region.
Yet, 2015 was also marked by some positive developments: local actors took action to initiate
reforms to obtain rule of law, social justice, and increased accountability, as illustrated by the
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Tunisian Quartet.
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JOIN(2015) 50 final, 18.11.2015
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In addition to the review process, the regional dimensions of the policy, as expressed through
the Eastern Partnership and the Union for the Mediterranean, have continued to evolve.
Over the course of 2016, further discussions are expected to take place with partner countries,
with a view to jointly determine the shape of future relations and priorities, based on the
recommendations outlined in the ENP review.
3.2.1. European Neighbourhood East
3.2.1.1.
Introduction (Policy Developments)
During 2015, the EU continued to advance its relations with its Eastern European partners
through the regional dimension of the Eastern Partnership (EaP), notwithstanding the
challenging regional situation including the crisis in Ukraine.
The May 2015 EaP Summit in Riga reaffirmed the importance of the Eastern Partnership that
remains the shared priority of the EU and its Eastern partners. Conclusions of the Riga
summit outlined the need to focus on economic development and market opportunities;
strengthening institutions and good governance; connectivity, resource and energy efficiency;
and mobility and people-to-people contacts. Work in this areas aims at further building up the
partner countries' resilience as they face challenges to their stability. The revised ENP
highlighted the need to have an inclusive, but also differentiated cooperation, leading to
enhanced ownership by partner countries and EU Member States alike.
Provisional application during 2015 of the Association Agreements, including Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (AA/DCFTAs)
84
, have taken the EU's relationship with
Georgia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to a new level. The reform agenda contained
in the AA/DCFTAs is a key part of the EU's relations and cooperation with these countries.
Meanwhile, the EU is advancing its relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus in a
more differentiated manner. With Armenia, the EU has completed a scoping exercise for a
future agreement, compatible with the country's other international commitments, and
negotiations started at the end of 2015. With Azerbaijan, exploratory work for a future
agreement is taking place. Carefully calibrated mutual steps are being taken with Belarus to
gradually re-engage.
The EaP multilateral framework continues to be crucial for keeping our partnership inclusive.
Involving the broader society in shaping the Eastern Partnership remains important. Building
human capacities and a strong, proactive and independent civil society ensures that the voice
of the regions' citizens is heard.
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With Ukraine, provisional application of the DCFTA part started on 1 January 2016.
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3.2.1.2.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
EU joint programming is progressing in the Neighbourhood East. In 2015, three EU
Delegations (Moldova,
Georgia,
and
Armenia)
formally agreed on a joint road-map with
Member State local embassies and donor agencies and started work on joint analysis; the first
“building block” of joint programming. For
Ukraine,
the EU stepped up collaboration with
Member States in the design of major support programmes to improve effectiveness and
coherence of the EU response to the country's crisis situation.
This joint EU work builds on and reinforces larger donor coordination with major
development partners. In Moldova, for example, it follows the publication of a ‘Briefing
Book from Development Partners’ (co-drafted with World Bank, United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) and the UN) on the country's key reform challenges and
opportunities. Coordination with European Financial Institutions takes place through the
governance system of the Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF).
3.2.1.3.
Working towards the MDGs
EU assistance has contributed to poverty reduction in
Belarus
primarily though the regional
and local development programmes and in
Georgia, Moldova
and
Armenia
through EU
support programmes on agriculture, rural and regional development (MDG
1).
Gender equality (MDG
3)
and empowerment of women was not only highlighted in all the
programmes in the East through mainstreaming and specific budget support programmes, but
it was also included, along with United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR)
1325
85
, in the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) adopted in November
2015, which sets the priorities for the years ahead. Work began on the implementation of the
new EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) and the Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan,
which also include gender equality.
The EU's commitment in the area of health (MDG
4-6)
is reflected in regional projects
supporting non-state actors in preventing and treating HIV-AIDS as well as in more sensitive
local projects in Georgia's breakaway region Abkhazia where the EU contributes to reducing
child mortality and to improving maternal health. In addition, the EU is supporting reforms
relating to sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS), including veterinary and plant
protection standards, in those countries which have concluded Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Agreements (DCFTA) with the EU.
Environmental sustainability (MDG
7)
represents a particular challenge and is one of the
EU's key priority sectors. Through the NIF, the EU supports urban investments in better
water supply and sanitation, water and solid waste management, energy efficiency and
renewable energies. In
Belarus
the EU funds environmental education, sustainable waste
management, and from 2016 onwards, air quality and environmental management.
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3.2.1.4.
Implementation
Bilateral cooperation including budget support
Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan, EU assistance in 2015 has continued to support reforms in the education
sector, and specifically on vocational and educational training (VET), to better match labour
skills market demands. In 2015 the EU has supported the modernisation of the higher
education and vocational education system of Azerbaijan in line with EU standards and best
practices through assistance and advice. As in previous years, the Twinning instrument has
proved to be a successful instrument in supporting the government's efforts to modernise its
administration and to align with European standards and practices in selected sectors.
Enhanced dialogue on public finance management has also continued in 2015.
Armenia
EU assistance to Armenia continued to support the areas of labour market efficiency/
employability, public administration and justice sector reform, amongst others. In 2015, the
implementation of the programme supporting Vocational Education has led to progress in
areas such as VET college infrastructure, quality and performance management in the sector
and career guidance. With EU support there has been a stronger focus on public finance
management to ensure a more efficient, effective, accountable and transparent use of public
funds. As regards justice sector reform, in 2015 progress was made in the development and
implementation of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the adoption of a
comprehensive data protection law. In addition, EU support has increased the
competitiveness of the country's agricultural economy by improving the performance of
agricultural-related institutions, building up the capacity of farmers' associations and
cooperatives, and by improving the accessibility and affordability of food for Armenian
citizens.
Belarus
EU cooperation with Belarus continued to support sustainable social and economic
development for the benefit of the whole population. EU support to Belarus focused on key
priorities such as social inclusion (including employment, vocational education and training),
environment, and local and regional development. For instance, 2015 saw the start of the
MOST programme
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fostering people-to-people contacts through mobility schemes, after
almost five years of preparations. EU support to civil society organisations, independent
media and the European Humanities University continued.
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Georgia
In Georgia, EU assistance supported reforms for the implementation of the Association
Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTA), including a
tailor-made facility to support SMEs to foster a sustainable economic development and
inclusive economic growth. In the field of agriculture, the EU promoted the establishment of
over 800 cooperatives, which contributed to a more than 10 % increase in the output of the
agriculture sector and increased expertise in agriculture products. In 2015, EU assistance in
criminal justice continued to help improve healthcare in the penitentiary. Progress was also
made in the field of regional development with the establishment of a new strategy and
support for isolated mountainous regions. Following severe floods in Tbilisi, the EU
supported the Georgian government to deliver housing for the victims of floods.
Moldova
In Moldova, as part of the implementation of the DCFTA, EU support contributed to sizable
increases of exports to the EU in the field of agriculture, such as sugar and wine. In this
regard, the development of an SME development strategy with EU support was a significant
step towards developing a comprehensive institutional framework for the SME sector. As
regards energy efficiency, alignment with relevant EU legislation continued, with the support
of the EU, leading to new tariffs for gas and electricity. Moldova experienced a smooth
transition to visa-free travel to the Schengen area.
Ukraine
EU assistance to Ukraine continued during 2015 in line with the government’s reform
programme and the priorities set out in the AA/DCFTA. A focus on economic development
contributed to the promotion of more effective and efficient delivery of public services and
increased investment and employment in the private sector. EU support also continued in the
main areas of the Ukrainian reform programme, including justice, public administration,
public finance management, public procurement, regional development, the private sector,
agriculture, energy, and transport. In the area of justice and anti-corruption, significant
progress was made to prepare the adoption of new legislation including the law "On ensuring
the right to a fair trial" and the law "On Public Prosecution". Assisted by the EU, the
implementation of the Justice Sector Reform Strategy 2015-2020 started in 2015. In 2015 the
National Anti-Corruption Bureau was established and 70 detectives were hired through open
competitions. The staff went through specialised training (supported by an EU-funded
project) and started first investigations in early December shortly after the Anti-corruption
Prosecution Office was created. EU support to decentralisation contributed to the adoption of
important legislation on state regional policy, fiscal decentralisation as well as on cooperation
and amalgamation of local communities. Particular attention was devoted to the internally
displaced population in the east of the country.
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TAIEX and Twinning
The EU provided short-term technical assistance through the TAIEX instrument in a number
of key areas such as the justice and home affairs, internal market, environment, agriculture,
etc. In 2015,
243 events
were implemented in Neighbourhood East countries. In 2015,
17
Twinning projects
have been launched. The main beneficiary was Ukraine with eight
projects.
Regional cooperation
Through regional cooperation, the EU provides support to the multilateral dimension of the
Eastern Partnership (EaP) region and assists in addressing common challenges and trans-
boundary issues. In 2015, cooperation took a progressively more strategic approach in key
areas such as economic development, energy and transport. For instance, a new regional
strategy was developed to promote connectivity with well-functioning, safe and secure
transport systems. Similarly, the flagship programme on small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) provides a framework for support to economic development. In the context of the
AA/DCFTA, EU assistance in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia was considerably scaled up in
2015 to support SMEs` compliance with the new rules and regulations. The East Invest
project has further developed its network of EU and EaP business support organisations.
Furthermore, contacts between citizens were supported, among others, thanks to the
Erasmus+ programme. The EU also provided short-term technical assistance through the
TAIEX instrument to strengthen regional cooperation in a number of key fields such as the
fight against organised crime and the management of migration flows.
Given the situation of EU-Russia relations, cooperation programmes with Russia focused on
support for civil society, human rights, democracy, academic cooperation and outreach to the
broader Russian society as well as cross-border cooperation.
Cross-Border Cooperation overview
Cross Border Cooperation (CBC) is an important element of the EU's policy towards its
neighbours from the East and South. In 2015, a new package of 14 ENI-CBC programmes
was adopted for the period 2014-2020, totalling around EUR one billion. The projects aim at
supporting sustainable economic development along the EU's external borders, thus reducing
differences in living standards and addressing common challenges across these borders. For
each of the new programmes the participating countries can select up to four thematic
objectives such as SME development, culture or environment and climate change. CBC
addresses the issue of territorial cooperation on the external borders, thus adding the
dimension of cohesion and territorial cooperation dimension to the EU's relations with its
neighbours.
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Case Studies
Case study – Georgia Criminal Justice Reform Support
The EU's EUR 18 million ‘Support for Criminal Justice Reforms in Georgia’ sector support
programme was provided to the Georgian government in 2012 in part as a response to the
strong public criticism of the Georgian Penitentiary Sector at that time, when evidence of
mistreatment of prisoners was publicly exposed. While parts of the EU programme focused
on reforms of the legal framework of the justice system, a key priority was improving the
physical well-being of inmates.
In that area, the Ministry of Corrections was able, with EU assistance, to substantially
improve policies and the provision of healthcare to prisoners, and double the budget of the
penitentiary healthcare system.
These reforms have brought visible improvements to the conditions of inmates: prison
premises have been refurbished, minimum space requirements per inmate have increased to
4m
2
, and torture and ill-treatment have been eradicated as systemic problems. Thanks to EU
support, there has also been a radical improvement in health statistics:
Prison mortality rates have decreased by over 80 %, from 70 inmates per 10 000 in 2011 to
12 inmate deaths per 10 000 in 2015;
Tuberculosis transmission rates among inmates have fallen by over 90 % from 601 in 2012 to
49 in 2015;
The recovery rate of inmates affected by Hepatitis C is now over 90 %.
The close cooperation between the EU and the Georgian government that brought about these
successes is set to continue and expand with a follow-up EUR 50 million sector support
programme signed in 2015.
Case study - Armenia: Modernisation of Public Administration through E-Governance
EU support for public administration reform and in particular in the fields related to e-
governance has contributed to significant benefits to citizens across the country in terms of
faster services and increased transparency and accountability when dealing with public
institutions.
Thanks to EU support there have been visible improvements following the introduction of an
electronic document management system called Mulberry in 40 public institutions. This
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system established paperless workflow and e-Signature systems throughout Armenia. As a
result, citizens are able to track online their applications submitted to public institutions.
In addition, the EU has supported the creation of a system that allows the submission of tax
statements electronically with over nine million electronic statements submitted by 2015.
As a result of EU assistance all civil status registrations in Armenia are now completed only
electronically which means, for example, that deceased individuals are eliminated from
electoral registers.
Finally, citizens are able to track their fines online and pay them using the government e-
payments portal.
Case study - Ukraine: Support for Regional Development Policy
EU assistance triggered a comprehensive reform of Ukraine’s regional policy system and first
steps towards an effective regional development governance system were taken. The EU
support programme contributed to an effective approximation of Ukraine's regional policy
with EU policies through the development of a regional development strategy and the
financing of regional development projects.
Thanks to EU support the financing of regional policy has become more efficient, in
particular through the reform of the State Fund for Regional Development. The Fund
currently finances bottom-up projects in line with strategic priorities. The fund is an
innovation in the Ukrainian Budget system as it provides a stable and predictable budget to
regions using a formula for calculating the share each regions gets (related to size of
population, regional GDP in comparison to the Ukraine-average). EU support also allowed
the Ministry to establish a transparent online system to manage the fund and inform citizens
about implemented projects, raising standards in terms of credibility and transparency.
Case study - Regional Air Quality
In 2015 EU assistance at regional level contributed to the improvement of air quality across
the countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood. Thanks to regional cooperation, partner
countries undertook policy actions to make significant progress in the area of air quality
management.
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Thanks to EU support in the sector, partner countries elaborated air quality management
strategies, put in place air monitoring systems and developed legislation.
In addition, through EU support staff in public institutions improved their skills and
knowledge on air quality assessment, pollution prevention and control.
Case study - ‘NOT FOR SALE – Say stop to human trafficking’
The Project ‘NOT FOR SALE – Say stop to human trafficking’, under the ENPI Cross
Border Cooperation Programme Romania-Ukraine-Moldova, contributes to raising awareness
of the necessary actions to meet individual, family or relevant group needs in order to prevent
and overcome difficult and vulnerable situations created by cross-border human trafficking.
People trafficking is a common problem in the border region between Romania, Ukraine and
Moldova. To tackle the problem the project, through a partnership of local non- governmental
organisations (NGOs) from the three border regions, conducted a series of activities to
prevent cross-border human trafficking with a focus on 1) public awareness of the existence
of people trafficking, 2) lowering the vulnerability of young people towards human
trafficking, and 3) raising awareness of teenagers as regards the existence of a trafficking
risk.
The project contributes to the elimination of barriers in trilateral relations through:
collaboration between experts in the field of human trafficking; long term development of
social relations among the volunteers involved from the border area; development of
independent life skills of volunteers that empower them to help others learn about different
problems in an innovative way; development of closer relationships between people at risk/
or victims of human trafficking within rehabilitation courses; constitution of the necessary
psychological support for their positive reintegration; and establishment of permanent and
sustainable contacts between institutions and experts from border areas, forming the basis for
future joint projects.
The EU contributed with EUR 150 000 to implement the project in the period from
November 2013 to May 2015.
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3.2.2. European Neighbourhood South and Middle East
3.2.2.1.
Introduction (Policy Developments)
2015 in the Southern Mediterranean was marked by increased instability and a broad regional
security crisis. The region struggled with the ever growing terrorist threat (especially from
Da'esh), dire economic conditions and refugee/migratory pressures (as a consequence of the
civil war in Syria). Security concerns have directly impacted the political agenda of many
states, determining the work and priorities of their governments.
Syria for the fifth year continued to be embroiled in a bloody civil war with a devastating effect
on the country and across the region. The
Syrian refugee influx,
combined with other
migratory movements continued to affect heavily the whole region (with more than three
million refugees), causing as well the largest migratory pressure on the EU since decades
(more than a million refugees/migrants entered the territory of the EU in 2015). In November
the EU and African countries participated in a special summit in La Valetta on migration.
Beyond Syria, Da'esh succeeded in finding followers in the region and took responsibility for
the 2015 terrorist attacks in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, as well as in Europe (France). The
political and security situation in Libya declined further due to the persistent lack of
agreement on the creation of a government of national accord. No new efforts were
demonstrated to relaunch the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP), and violence between the
sides continued in 2015.
The EU is still the region's largest donor and foreign aid provider.
Relations with Jordan and Lebanon are progressing and aim at the adoption of new
Partnership Priorities. Morocco has an advanced status in its relations with the EU and
Tunisia is a privileged partner. Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia agreed Mobility Partnerships
with the EU, and DCFTAs are negotiated with Morocco and Tunisia.
However, the region remains the least integrated - politically and economically - in the world.
Strengthening regional cooperation in the Mediterranean continues to be high on the
European agenda. Cooperation was reinforced through relevant regional organisations,
especially the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), a valuable forum for political and
economic discussions and a framework for cooperation on common issues and on operational
projects. A series of high level meetings, including at ministerial level, were conducted in
2015, among them the UfM high-level Barcelona conference ‘Towards a common
development agenda for the Mediterranean'. The EU has also intensified relations with the
League of Arab States (LAS) and
in November 2015 the EU-LAS Strategic Dialogue was
established.
3.2.2.2.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
Donor coordination and aid effectiveness in Neighbourhood South countries has been
strengthened through more formalised coordination approaches. Some countries launched a
Joint Programming process in 2015.
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In particular,
in Morocco and Egypt,
the EU and its Member States have agreed to start a
joint analysis of development constraints as a first step towards Joint Programming. In
Palestine,
joint programming is under preparation and will be launched in 2017 for a
programming period aligned to the Palestinian National Development Plan.
In
Libya,
at the end of 2015, the EU and concerned Member States agreed to start a joint
conflict analysis, but it was considered premature to start full Joint Programming due to the
lack of a national plan or clear counterparts.
Concerning
Tunisia,
the 2016-2020 Strategic Development Plan should lay the groundwork
for an EU structured and coordinated support for Tunisia.
In Algeria,
beyond the coordination mechanism with EU Member States with cooperation
programmes chaired by the EU, thematic coordination groups have been established.
At the end of 2015, the EU and its Member States held initial discussions on the
formalisation of the donor coordination in
Lebanon.
In
Jordan,
the EU and the Jordanian authorities have provided funding for the organisation
and the setting up of a data platform which would enable donor coordination.
As regards
the Syria crisis,
the Commission hosts biannual meetings of donors and
international agencies involved in supporting Syria and other countries affected by the crisis
and who participated in the London Conference.
At regional level,
the Southern Mediterranean Investment Coordination Initiative (AMICI)
coordinates the EU's regional activities relating to growth, investments and job creation, by
finding synergies between the European Commission, EU Member States, and European
Financial Institutions (EFIs). In 2015 collective EU investments in the region amounted to
around EUR 5.3 billion and led to an increase of joint EU operations in private sector
development and key infrastructure investments.
3.2.2.3.
Working towards the MDGs
Poverty reduction, provision of and access to good social services and gender equality are
strong dimensions of the EU cooperation with Neighbourhood South countries.
Algeria:
The EU focuses on promoting gender equality and safeguarding women's rights.
Egypt:
EU assistance contributes to the eradication of poverty, through rural and urban
development programmes, initiatives fostering emergency employment and technical and
vocational training, as well as economic and local development projects with SMEs and
CSOs. Environmental sustainability is being fostered through EU sector support programmes
and through specific blending grants of more than EUR 160 million. Gender mainstreaming
activities are included in most of the programmes.
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Morocco:
A EUR 100 million programme to support healthcare system reform ensures
equitable access to healthcare in the most impoverished regions. Budget Support
programmes, totalling EUR 38 million, continued in education, human development, social
protection and gender equality.
Palestine:
The Palestinian Cash Transfer programme for the poorest Palestinian families
contributes to poverty\ and hunger reduction, as does funding to the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The EU supports
primary education via the
‘Mécanisme
Palestino-Européen
de
Gestion
de l'Aide
Socio-
Economique’
(PEGASE) and UNRWA, and tackles gender inequality in East Jerusalem.
Syrian crisis:
Beyond humanitarian relief, ENI support concentrates on providing basic
education for children inside Syria and in neighbouring countries.
Tunisia:
The EU ensures a sustainable environment to those excluded from the formal
housing sector by rehabilitating housing and providing sanitation. It promotes gender equality
and women's empowerment by improving access to their rights and promoting involvement
in the democratic process and active citizenship.
Regional programmes
also have a strong focus on gender equality, such as the regional
programme called 'Spring Forward for Women', aimed at the political and economic
empowerment of women in the region. More generally, gender equality is mainstreamed in
bilateral and regional actions.
3.2.2.4.
Implementation
Bilateral Cooperation
Algeria:
The EU's continued support for civil society has been one of the main achievements
in 2015 in Algeria. In this context, two large calls for proposals were launched which will
allow a reinforced role of CSOs as key actors in development efforts at local level and as key
actors of change in local political life.
Egypt:
In 2015, assistance to Egypt continued to focus on assistance in the socio-economic
sector and support for civil society. A financial package of EUR 105 million was allocated to
the following programmes: Citizen Rights Programme (EUR 10 million); Promoting
Inclusive Economic Growth in Egypt Programme (EUR 15 million); Upgrading Informal
Areas’ Infrastructures (EUR 26 million), and; Fostering Reforms in the Egyptian Renewable
Energy and Water Sectors through Developing Capacity Building (EUR eight million). An
additional EUR 46 million was allocated for two blending operations with European
Financial Institutions (EFIs): Phase III of the National Drainage Programme (NDP III) and
the Gulf El Suez Wind farm Programme.
Israel:
As a developed OECD Country, Israel only benefits from a yearly budget of EUR
million for Institutional Twinning under the ENI envelope. Ongoing twinning projects
include one with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on veterinary
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diagnostics, one with the Ministry of Environmental Protection on the improvement and
modernisation of environmental regulatory and management tools for Israeli industry and one
with the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics in Improving the Quality of Official Statistics.
Jordan:
As a result of increasing EU Support for the Ministry of Education, the number of
Syrian children being educated in Jordanian public schools has increased to over 140 000.
Funding is also devoted to providing livelihoods for refugees and Jordanians in those
municipalities most affected by the refugee crisis. Notwithstanding this, major investments
are made in renewable energy and energy efficiency, to support the reform of the justice
sector and to improve the quality of and access to Technical and vocational Education and
Training.
Lebanon:
In addition to providing funds to support the government's RACE (Reaching All
Children in Education) programme for Syrian refugees and poor host communities, bilateral
cooperation has concentrated on support for reform of the security services and of justice, as
well as attempts to boost economic development by providing support to small businesses in
selected areas with the greatest potential for development, including fruit production and
furniture manufacture.
Libya:
Following the resumption of hostilities in 2014, the EU cooperation portfolio was
reviewed and largely suspended. The suspension concerned most projects involving
institutional cooperation with government bodies. Other projects were reoriented to better
respond to the needs of the Libyan population. In 2015, prospects for stabilisation remained
unclear. Fighting continued to affect the Libyan population and there was limited access in
the field. Hence, most projects and programmes still active operate by remote management
and/or through brief in-country visits where the situation allowed it.
Morocco:
2015 was a dynamic year in terms of financial commitments: three programmes in
the areas of penitentiary reform, growth and competitiveness and reform of the vocational
training system were adopted under the annual programmes for 2015 and 2016.
In addition, EUR 30 million of funding under the Umbrella programme was adopted, topping
up previous programmes (support for the reform of public financial management, reform of
justice, healthcare reform, support for economic growth and competitiveness). EUR 30
million were allocated under the NIF in support for SMEs. The decision of the EU court in
December 2015 to uphold Polisario's appeal against the Agriculture Agreement led to firm
reaction from the Moroccan government, which appears to have decided to suspend contacts
and cooperation with the EU. If the current freezing of contacts is confirmed in coming
months, the Moroccan reaction could provide a serious challenge to the solidity of bilateral
relations, representing a high risk for policy dialogue and the cooperation programme.
Palestine:
EU bilateral support for Palestine under the ENI has a baseline budget of EUR 300
million per year. More than half of this support goes into direct financial support to the
Palestinian Authority (EUR 178 million in 2015) via the PEGASE mechanism; the second
largest share is for Palestine refugees through UNRWA (EUR 82 million plus a top up of
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EUR 20 million in 2015). Direct financial support is now accompanied by a Result-Oriented
Framework, agreed with the Palestinian Authority, to monitor reforms in key sectors. The
development package of EU support to Palestine focuses on three focal sectors, namely:
Governance at local and national levels; private sector, trade and sustainable economic
development; Water and land development (overall EUR 30 million in 2015).In addition
there is an annual support programme for East Jerusalem of EUR 10 million.
Syria:
Bi-lateral cooperation has been halted since 2011. Assistance continues to be provided
on a large scale to the Syrian people by continuing efforts to ensure their resilience inside the
country and in neighbouring countries by the provision of access to education and basic
services.
Tunisia:
The EU ensured speedy delivery of assistance in 2015, with the urgent adoption of a
EUR 186.8 million assistance package providing a comprehensive short and mid-term
response to the exceptional challenges faced by Tunisia. The six new programmes aim at
supporting Tunisia's sustainable socio-economic and regional development while promoting
the basic elements of democracy – including support to the integrated development of regions
and decentralisation (EUR 43 million), for the private sector, vocational training and
employment (EUR 32 million), and a EUR 70 million programme in support of economic
recovery, notably in the tourism sector. The EU has also supported Tunisia in the
implementation of needed security measures, in the context of counter-terrorism. Several EU-
funded counter-terrorism/security programmes and initiatives with a regional or thematic
perspective were accelerated or refocused on Tunisia in 2015, including the recently signed
EUR 23 million comprehensive Security Sector Reform programme to support security sector
and border management.
Tunisia was the main beneficiary of the umbrella programme in the Neighbourhood South in
2015. An allocation of EUR 71.8 million was granted in recognition of the major democratic
headways the country had accomplished in 2014 and 2015 including adoption of a
democratic Constitution, organisation of democratic Parliamentary and Presidential elections.
TAIEX and Twinning
The EU also provided short-term technical assistance through the TAIEX instrument in a
number of key areas such as the justice and home affairs, internal market, environment,
agriculture, etc. In 2015,
120 events
were implemented in Neighbourhood South countries. In
2015,
20 Twinning projects
have been launched. The main beneficiary was Tunisia with 12
projects.
Regional Cooperation:
Regional cooperation in the Southern Neighbourhood is increasingly
framed by the ministerial meetings of the Union for the Mediterranean which sets priorities
across a wide range of sectors and provides the strategic orientations for regional
programmes and projects financed by the EU. In 2015, regional actions were implemented in
the fields of private sector development and financial inclusion, civil society, culture, media,
energy, transport, security and gender equality.
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In 2015, the Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF) continued to mobilise additional
funding to finance infrastructure projects in the Southern Neighbourhood in sectors such as
transport, energy and environment. The NIF also supported the private sector, mainly through
credit lines and risk capital operations targeting small and medium-sized enterprises.
A political and strategic dialogue was launched in 2015 with the League of Arab States
(LAS) aimed at broadening the scope of EU-LAS discussions to humanitarian assistance and
security issues including crisis management, transnational organised crime and counter-
terrorism.
Cross-border cooperation
Cross Border Cooperation is an important element in the EU policy towards its neighbours
from the East and South. Two new Cross-Border Cooperation programmes in the
Neighbourhood South were adopted under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) in
December 2015: the Italy-Tunisia programme and the Mediterranean programme with a total
budget for the period 2014-2020 of EUR 33.35 million and EUR 209.05 million respectively.
These programmes complement and follow previous Cross-Border Cooperation programmes
in the region.
The projects selected for funding will be implemented jointly by partners from at least one
Member State and at least one partner country. These projects will have a clear cross-border
impact bringing tangible benefits to the concerned regions on both sides of the EU border.
Case Studies
Case study - Egypt: improving living conditions
The Commission is helping to improve the living conditions and social and socio-economic
infrastructure of two million people living in nine selected informal settlements of the Greater
Cairo region. With 60 % of Greater Cairo's inhabitants living in informal areas characterised
by extreme poverty and population density, high pollution and lack of basic services, the
Commission is assisting local communities in enhancing their services and environmental
conditions. The Commission provides funding for around 100 local small and medium-scale
pilot initiatives in a variety of priority sectors, accompanied by specific capacity building
measures for local leaders and community members. Particular emphasis is put on
empowering local youth, women and grassroots organisations. With positive results and a
good reception from local stakeholders, this innovative participatory programme looks set to
continue receiving EU funding and could be replicated in other of Cairo's numerous informal
areas as well as in other major cities in the country.
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Case study - Israel/Palestine: reducing the effect of conflict
The overall objective of the project 'The heart of the matter' funded under the Partnership for
Peace programme is to help reduce the effects of the conflict between Palestinians and
Israelis by focusing on issues of common concern and by changing the perception of the
“other” through collaboration and cooperation within the health sector. In particular, the
project provides cardiac care to Palestinian children and outreach training to physicians from
the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Case study - Morocco: reforming the judiciary
In 2015, the EU and Morocco signed an ambitious programme to accompany the reform of
the judiciary in Morocco. This ambitious programme follows the adoption by Morocco of its
first judiciary reform strategy, adopted following a two-year consultation process aimed at
ensuring the independence of the judiciary system, to safeguard the fundamental rights of
citizens enshrined in the country's 2011 constitution, to improve the efficiency of the
judiciary and to ensure an equitable access to justice for all citizens. The EU programme
amounting to EUR 75.5 million is implemented through budget support. It includes a
commonly agreed benchmark and performance indicators which, over a period of four years,
will allow the implementation of this emblematic reform to be followed in all its components.
Case study - Palestine: rights for disabled children
The objective of the follow-up project under the East Jerusalem programme ‘People with
Disabilities in East Jerusalem enjoy Improved Living conditions - Phase II’ is to promote and
contribute to increased realisation of the rights and entitlements of adults and children with
disabilities from East Jerusalem. In particular, the project tackles disabilities stemming from
autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Case study - Tunisia: increasing healthcare capacity
The ‘Projet
d'Appui à la réduction des inégalités sociales et aux services de soins de santé
pour les régions défavorisées’
proved extremely successful in 2015, reinforcing capacities of
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healthcare workers in thirteen impoverished regions of the interior, while furnishing
biomedical
equipment
and
medical
transport,
including
ambulances
and
building/rehabilitating local hospitals and medical centres, substantially contributing to the
improvement of healthcare coverage of vulnerable communities. Media coverage of the
delivery ceremonies of ambulances and medical equipment, followed by the opening of
rehabilitated hospitals was excellent, and the Delegation has worked hard to ensure the
visibility of its actions is positively received by local population and authorities.
Case study - Syria: access to education
The project ‘Creating a Path to Early Recovery through Education in Syria’ has resulted in
improved access to education for two million children over the school years 2013/14 and
2014/15. Medical education and psycho-social support has been provided in 180 schools. 100
schools were refurbished and 200 000 children had access to a self-learning programme. 1
500 teachers have received training on special needs children.
Case study - Regional Cooperation: creating jobs
The project ‘Development of Clusters in Cultural and Creative Industries in the Southern
Mediterranean’ project aims at supporting job creation in the area of cultural heritage in the
South Mediterranean Region by improving competitiveness and market access for its
enterprises. The project completed 144 clusters in the creative and cultural industries in the
seven beneficiary countries. 292 firms and 200 craftsmen received technical assistance in
design improvement, business development, and marketing including 74 women-led
businesses and 126 youth organisations.
Case study - Cross-border cooperation: promoting dairy production
The LACTIMED, cross-border cooperation to promote typical dairy products in the
Mediterranean, project is about the cooperation of investment centres, chambers of
commerce, universities and agronomic institutes from France, Italy, Tunisia, Egypt, Greece
and Lebanon to support dairy producers and create new business opportunities for the agro-
food sector. LACTIMED
87
aims to foster the production and distribution of typical and
87
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innovative dairy products in the Mediterranean. It supports the development of a joint
strategy to activate a Mediterranean network of dairy producers, improve the visibility of
traditional Mediterranean dairy products on the international and local markets and establish
an inventory of investment opportunities. The project was implemented under the ENPI CBC
Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme (MED), and was financed with EUR 4.35 million by
the European Union through the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. From
November 2012 to May 2015, ANIMA and its 11 partners organised a hundred operations
targeting the various stakeholders of the dairy value chains in Alexandria and Beheira
(Egypt), the Bekaa and Baalbeck-Hermel (Lebanon), Bizerte and Beja (Tunisia), Sicily (Italy)
and Thessaly (Greece).
Research and innovation
In the area of research and innovation, 2015 marked the second year of the implementation of
the Horizon 2020 research framework programme. By the end of 2015 Mediterranean partner
countries (MPCs) recorded 37 participations amounting to an EU contribution of EUR 5.1
million. During the same period the participation figures for Eastern Partnership countries
comprised 82 participations amounting to an EU contribution of EUR 6.2 million.
The
ERANETMED
project funded through the previous research framework programme,
FP7, and introduced in 2014, launched the first joint call between the EU and Southern
Mediterranean partners. The call mobilised more than EUR 12 million both from EU member
states and MPCs, on Food and Water as the two main pillars, and on the nexus between these
two areas and Energy related research topics. At the end of 2015 Tunisia was the first Arab
Mediterranean country that concluded successful negotiations for association with Horizon
2020. In early January 2015 Horizon 2020 was launched in a regional conferences in Cairo
and in Amman – the latter jointly with the launch of the ‘Support for Research and
Technological Development’ (SRTD II) programme funded by ENI. The work on the
Partnership on Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), focusing on the
development and application of innovative solutions for food systems and water resources in
the Mediterranean basin, has also progressed and resulted in the launch of a public
consultation and impact assessment.
In November 2015, the European Commission organised the 20th meeting of the Euro-
Mediterranean Group of Senior Officials in Research and Innovation (EU-Med GSO)
together with the Euro-Mediterranean Industrial Cooperation Working Party Coordinators.
The conference was organised by Directorate-General Research and Innovation in
cooperation with Directorate-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
and Directorate-General Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations. The meeting, which
marked the 20th anniversary of the Barcelona process and focused on innovation, gathered
together more than 70 major public and private innovation stakeholders from the Euro–
Mediterranean area. The speakers analysed the ongoing steps towards a Common Research
and Innovation Agenda.
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The number of Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries associated to the Horizon 2020
programme will soon be four. The association of Moldova became effective as of 1 January
2014 and the association of Ukraine as of 1 January 2015 and negotiations on the association
of Georgia and Armenia were successfully completed in 2015. Georgia's Association
Agreement will be provisionally applicable upon signature as of 1 January 2016. As for
Armenia, the Association Agreement will enter into force once Armenia notifies the
Commission that its internal procedures have been completed, but no provisional or
retroactive application is foreseen.
Russia is the most active international cooperation partner country in research and innovation
with Russian participants involved in over 300 grant agreements in FP7 and receiving over
EUR 60 million of EU funding.
2015 has seen important developments for the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science
and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) research and technology centre in Jordan.
Earlier this year the European Commission became an observer to the SESAME Council on
behalf of the European Union following a visit to Jordan by the EU Commissioner for
Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas. This status reflects the EU's considerable
engagement and contribution for the development of SESAME (more than EUR 12 million
so far). The EU's support for this flagship science diplomacy initiative is highlighted in the
recently published Horizon 2020 Work Programme in the area of Research Infrastructures for
the period 2016 to 2017 which foresees a specific action to support training and staff
exchange efforts of SESAME with a budget of EUR two million.
The Middle East Research and Innovation Dialogue (MERID) science diplomacy project was
launched in February 2015. In its framework the first Horizon 2020 visibility workshop took
place in Iran in December 2015 and was attended also by the Iraqi partners in the project.
3.2.3
Iraq, Iran, Yemen and Gulf Countries
3.2.3.1.
Introduction (policy developments)
The political situation in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Yemen worsened during 2015. In
Iraq and Yemen, the escalation of violence has also undermined the stability of the region.
However, the nuclear deal with Iran could lead to a new chapter in development cooperation
with this country.
The planned opening of an EU Delegation in Tehran will further trust-building between Iran
and the EU, while Human Rights, support for civil society, and culture-related initiatives
remain sensitive issues. The escalation of tensions between Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia (KSA) are likely to make the delivery of EU assistance more difficult in the short- and
medium-term in Yemen and Iraq.
The current airstrikes and blockade organised by the Saudi-UAE led coalition have created a
desperate humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The international community does not pay enough
attention to this crisis, which is the largest one in the world in absolute figures: there are
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currently 13 million people in need of humanitarian aid in Syria compared to 21 million
people in Yemen. The Yemen crisis should be addressed simultaneously through
(geo)political, humanitarian and developmental dimensions.
The insurgency led by Da’esh and the burden of more than 3.3 million IDPs and 250 000
Syrian refugees are heavily affecting Iraq through the destruction of, or increased pressure
on, infrastructures, trade disruptions, impeded access to fuel and electricity, and deterioration
of investor confidence. IMF projected slow growth in 2015 due to the negative impact of the
Da’esh insurgency and lower oil prices.
3.2.3.2.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
The Commission was instrumental in setting up and funding multi-donor trust funds in Iraq.
This multilateral approach has allowed the priorities of the Iraqi authorities to be taken into
account alongside those of the EU. EU cooperation is therefore moving from joint assistance
with UN agencies to more direct cooperation targeting the development of sector policies and
strategies. This is a key factor in developing a culture that targets national interest via
national policies and will also be the opportunity to improve donor coordination and division
of labour.
As regards Yemen in 2015, in the absence of a structured dialogue between the Yemeni
partners and the development partners the EU (with UN and World Bank) supported
consultative meetings, such as the one in Larnaca in October 2015. These meetings provided
the opportunity to build and share visions on the current situation as well as prospects for the
future by identifying and prioritising immediate and short-term needs and developmental
(plus humanitarian) responses, with a view to preparing EU cooperation in 2016 and
enhancing partnerships aiming at addressing these prioritised needs.
3.2.3.3.
Working towards the MDGs
According to the latest UNDP report (2013), Iraq has made progress enrolling children in
primary education with enrolment at 98.1 %. However, the net enrolment ratio in secondary
education is still low (48.6 %). Iraq faces considerable challenges in its efforts to meet the
2015 MDGs, particularly in gender equality (27 % of seats are held by women in national
parliaments) and access to improved water sources (at 70.6 %). The EU is addressing these
challenges by mainstreaming gender equality and strengthening water management services
as well as enhancing access to quality secondary education.
Most MDG indicators have worsened in the aftermath of the 2011 crisis in Yemen: poverty
and food insecurity affect half the population and many children remain out of school. The
EU addresses these challenges by improving basic services in social protection and health
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(including an important focus on nutrition), and by launching economic development
programmes, primarily targeting youth, the unemployed and women.
3.2.3.4.
Implementation
The 2015 EU programme for Iraq (EUR 23 million) aims at improving the Iraqi education
sector. Two specific objectives are pursued: 1) to improve the quality and equality of the
education system; and 2) to strengthen institutional capacities in the educational
administration at central and local level and promote decentralisation on education
management. The current crisis and in particular the inflow of refugees and IDPs, have
increased the need to provide a quick response to the arising needs in the education sector.
The EU has therefore adopted a EUR 12.6 million action plan providing a swift response to
the current crisis in Iraq through the provision of basic services in the field of primary and
secondary education in Iraq (e.g. rehabilitation of damaged educational infrastructures).
As regards Yemen, in 2015 two contracts were signed with UNDP (EUR 35 million for rural
resilience) and UNICEF (EUR 15.7 million for community health workers). These
programmes contribute to MDG 1 (Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger) and MDGs 4, 5
and 6 (Reduce child mortality, Improve maternal health, and Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and
other diseases) respectively.
EU cooperation in Iran in 2015 remained limited to supporting civil society organisations
working with vulnerable people and communities such as Afghan refugees, drug addicts and
nomadic tribes. In line with the EU’s dual track approach, these activities have been
implemented alongside the EU’s efforts to engage with Iran on reaching a nuclear
programme agreement (Join Comprehensive Plan of Action endorsed on 7 July 2015) in
meaningful negotiations.
Case study - New Model Schools in Iraq
A set of standards adopted by the Iraqi government in 2013 seeks to transform
primary schools across the country into ideal learning environments. “These
standards are critical to ensure that all primary school-age children will have the
best educational and learning experience possible,” said Mohammed Ali Tamim,
Iraqi Education Minister at the time.
Backed by the European Union and UNICEF, these standards relate to five main
areas: the learning environment, school management, boosting the capacity of
teachers, involving local communities, and inclusiveness and participation.
“As each school, one by one, applies these standards across the country, the quality
of education for every child will be greatly enriched,” said the former UNICEF
representative to Iraq Marzio Babille.
One major objective is to keep children in school and prevent them from falling
behind. While nine out of ten Iraqi children enrol in primary school, fewer than half
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complete primary school at the normal age.
“The adoption of these standards will make schools more engaging and attractive
for children, which will help to ensure they enrol and stay in school,” emphasised
Jana Hybaskova, the former EU ambassador to Iraq.
This project was developed in the context of the ‘Child-Friendly School’ global
initiative, which works with well over one thousand Iraqi schools.
Case Study - Safeguarding Iraq’s water supply
With upstream irrigation, agricultural and other pollution, as well as poor
wastewater treatment, the Ministry of Health reports that only 70 % of Iraq’s water
supply complies with minimum standards, while heavy metals have been reported
in the water at a number of locations.
This situation has serious environmental and public health implications. For
example, children in Iraq suffer from diarrhoea on average up to 18 times a year,
reports UNICEF, which is much higher than the two to three episodes children with
access to clean water experience.
One vital component in enhancing quality is to establish effective and efficient
water monitoring systems, which can keep an eye on the water supply and detect
pollution incidents fast. Currently, Iraq’s monitoring system only measures water
quality at waste treatment plants and with end-users.
An EU-funded project to establish a ‘Water monitoring task force’ was launched at
the end of 2014 to help coordinate the efforts of the relevant ministries and other
stakeholders.
With over EUR five million in European Union funds, the project will seek to put in
place an efficient and integrated monitoring system that will enhance the quantity
and quality of supplies, as well as protect the water supply chain from
contamination.
Case Study - Breaking the silence on gender violence in Iraq
Violence against women is a major challenge across Iraq in its various forms,
including domestic violence, and is often accentuated by instability and poverty,
political violence and the recent shocking phenomenon of sexual slavery of
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minority women introduced by Da’esh militants. Moreover, moves in parliament to
lower the marriage age have set off alarm bells in Iraq’s civil society.
The EU-backed ‘Protecting the human rights of vulnerable civilians in Iraq’ project
focuses on the rights of vulnerable women in five provinces: Sulaymaniah, Duhok,
Kirkuk, Erbil and Mosul.
The three-year project has developed a methodology for recording, monitoring and
reporting on violence against women as defined by international and national law. It
has mobilised and trained local NGOs to conduct a survey on violence against
women in the target communities. “We need to know the real situation in which
women live and this can be achieved only by monitoring their actual status in Iraqi
society,” explains Dr Rewar Mahmoud Karim, the project’s coordinator.
The EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) provided technical support, in terms of
ad hoc
analyses and technical studies, to the EEAS Iran Task Force working on the technical
negotiations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
3.3.
3.3.1
African continental, Sub-Saharan Africa & all ACP programmes
Sub-Saharan Africa
3.3.1.1.
Introduction (policy developments)
At the continental level,
Africa-EU relations are framed by the Joint Africa-EU Strategy
(JAES)
adopted at the Lisbon Summit in 2007, and reaffirmed at the Fourth EU-Africa
Summit held in April 2014 in Brussels. The Summit adopted its roadmap 2014-2017 that
focused cooperation on five strategic areas: peace and security; democracy, good governance
and human rights; human development; sustainable and inclusive development and growth
and continental integration; and global and emerging issues.
Peace and Security on both continents are at stake.
This is a major challenge for
development. Cooperation in the field of peace and security is one of the most important
priorities. Through an enhanced political dialogue, common positions and implementing
approaches were reached on challenges to peace and security in Africa. Shared interests exist
in fighting terrorism and tackling the root causes of radicalisation, violent extremism and loss
of state authority. Since the EU-Africa Summit, cooperation in the area of
Democracy, Good
Governance and Human Rights has intensified
with the signature of a Joint Programming
Arrangement between the African Union (AU) Commission and the EU and its Member
States to step up support for the Political Department's work programme. The 11
th
AU – EU
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Human Rights Dialogue
took place on 24 November 2015 in Kigali, Rwanda. Both sides
reaffirmed their commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights on both
continents and to collaborate on the effective implementation of continental and international
human rights instruments.
The EU and Africa have a common interest in increased economic cooperation.
The EU
is Africa's biggest trading partner; being Africa's prime source of imports and export.
3.3.1.2.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
To improve the effectiveness of European Aid, the EU and its Member States are moving
towards better coordination of their development assistance through joint programming. In 26
Sub-Saharan African countries, joint programming is going to be used: 11 of them are in
West Africa, seven in Eastern, five in Southern and three in Central Africa.
EU Member States, the EU and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have committed to
make joint programming effective in
Senegal
as of 2018. A Joint Programming Document,
first phase towards joint programming, was signed on 25 November 2014 between the
government of Senegal, seven Member States engaged in bilateral cooperation with Senegal
(Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and The Netherlands), the EU and the
EIB. The second phase of the 11
th
EDF National Indicative Programme for Senegal for the
period 2018-2020 will therefore be the subject of joint programming, which should
strengthen the coherence of EU action and results on the ground. The EU strategy will be
synchronised with and aligned to the Senegal national strategy.
In
Mali,
a Joint Programming (JP) document was signed in 2015. It is a very comprehensive
document, including a joint results framework and use of national indicators. A review of the
JP document is planned for 2016 when the current Malian government can be brought on
board, as they were not directly associated with this exercise at the beginning of the process.
In the
Central African Republic,
discussions have started amongst donors on joint
programming for the future NIP. The ‘Bêkou Trust Fund’ for the Central African Republic,
established in 2014, provides a useful experience, having been the subject of discussions and
coordination among the different partners contributing to the fund. In Eastern Africa,
Ethiopia
has demonstrated good progress in the implementation of joint programming, with
the adoption of a Roadmap and Joint Analysis.
3.3.1.3.
Working towards the MDGs
Notwithstanding the constant economic growth that has characterised the economies in Sub-
Saharan Africa, progress towards the Millennium Development Goals has been uneven.
According to UN statistics
88
, more than 40 % of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa still
lived in extreme poverty in 2015. Despite falling by 28 %, the proportion of people living on
88
UN Millennium Development Goals Report, 2015
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less than USD 1.25 a day has not been halved in sub-Saharan Africa between 1990 and 2015
as was envisaged. In a similar vein, the rate of undernourished people in the region is at
present around 23 % compared to 33 % in 1990, i.e. it has decreased by 31 %, which does not
meet the target of reducing this indicator by half. It should be noted that despite this decrease,
the absolute number of undernourished people has increased by 44 million since 1990,
reflecting the region’s high population growth rate. However the situation varies widely
across the sub-regions. Northern, Southern and Western Africa have already met or are close
to meeting the
MDG 1
target. But in Central Africa progress has been hampered by rapid
population growth, armed conflicts and environmental fragility as well as economic and
political upheaval.
Despite achieving the greatest progress in primary school enrolment among all developing
regions, Sub-Saharan Africa still faces daunting challenges (e.g. rapid growth of the primary-
school-age population, high levels of poverty, armed conflicts and other emergencies) and did
not manage to ensure that all children, boys and girls alike, complete a full course of primary
schooling (MDG
2).
Nevertheless, in absolute numbers the region’s enrolment more than
doubled, from 62 million children to 149 million.
Regarding
MDG 3
‘Promote gender equality and empower women’ it should be noted that
for the indicator for ratios of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education, have
improved respectively from 84 % to 93 %, from 77 % to 87 % and from 54 % to 62 %.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest child mortality rate, but the absolute decline in
child mortality has been the largest over the past two decades. The under-five mortality rate
has fallen from 179 deaths per 1 000 live births in 1990 to 86 in 2015. Yet the region still
faces an urgent need to accelerate progress to reach the
MDG 4
target of reducing the under-
five mortality rate by two-thirds.
On the health side, in 2014 Ebola spread to urban areas and cities, causing rapid, intense
transmission in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. High transmission rates of the disease were
due to multiple factors, including unfamiliarity with the disease, poor health infrastructure
and the rapid spread to urban centres.
Regarding the
MDG 7
target of halving the proportion of the population without sustainable
access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, in Sub-Saharan Africa the proportion of
population not using an improved drinking water source has decreased from 52 % to 32 %
between 1990 and 2015.
In this context, EU cooperation has maintained a strong focus on cooperation with the Sub-
Saharan region and has focused more specifically on countries and sectors of cooperation
where MDGs were most off-track. The examples below illustrate how EU support has
translated into effective action in Malawi and Kenya.
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Case Study - Malawi Social Cash Transfer Programme
68-year-old Elefina Kondwani lives in Gwali-gwali village with her husband and their four
orphaned grandchildren, all of whom suffer from HIV-AIDs. Their village lies in the north-
east of Mchinji district, one of the beneficiary districts of the Malawi Social Cash Transfer
Programme (SCTP). Through receiving only EUR five per month, beneficiary families are
able to strengthen their household's resilience to both income and food shocks.
Mr. Kondwani highlights how beneficial this programme and the village savings and loans
group have been to his household. “The social cash transfer programme is a very good
initiative. Out of it we are managing to provide food for our family and renovate our home.
From social cash transfers and additional earnings through the village savings and loans
(VSL) scheme we managed to buy a piglet for MK 9000 (EUR 11) which then farrowed its
own litter. We are now able to meet the educational needs of our grandchildren and hire farm
help without any problems.”
Elefina and her family are among 4 500 households throughout Mchinji included in a pilot
project for electronic payments of Social Cash Transfers in which the EU together with the
German Government are supporting Save the Children both with the pilot project and also by
enhancing SCTP linkages with other programmes on VSLs and health and nutrition.
Support for the Social Cash Transfer Programme in Malawi is now benefiting more than 700
000 extremely poor people. On average beneficiary families receive about EUR five per
month. The programme pays a monthly school bonus for each enrolled primary and
secondary school student within beneficiary households. By providing reliable income
sources over a long period of time, the programme achieves several results which contribute
to progress towards improved access to maternal health services, improved nutrition,
improved primary school attendance and roll retention, and encouraging savings and
investment within the beneficiary communities.
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Case Study - Tapping into the power of the sun to save lives and livelihoods in Kenya
Solar powered boreholes provides an uninterrupted water supply for farmers and migrating
livestock. For a community from West Pokot County in Kenya, life has not been the same
since their previously hand pump-operated borehole was fitted with a solar powered pump
and a storage tank. The women tell of a time when they spent nights queuing for water,
having to compete for the precious commodity with livestock. It was a laborious endeavour at
the hand pump and the only way they managed was to work in groups to meet the demand of
thousands of livestock and their own domestic use.
But today, thanks to the abundance of sunlight, all they have to do is open a tap at the
communal water point and water gushes out. Mama Rael Chemukeya is lost for words when
asked how the borehole upgrade by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA)
through support from the EU-funded ASAL Drought Contingency Fund Project (ASAL-
DCFP) has changed their lives. "Cases of diseases (water borne) are now fewer because of
the reduced competition for water. We have separate points for domestic use and livestock
troughs which ensures that water does not get contaminated," says Rael Cheposangiy, another
resident.
According to the NDMA West Pokot County Drought Response Officer Mr Timothy
Letooyia, the solar powered pump works as long as there is sunlight, which is not lacking in
this semi-arid area. "The borehole now pumps water throughout the day and the tank is
always full. In case of an overflow the water goes into the livestock troughs," adds Letooyia.
Other interventions in the county supported under the ASAL-DCFP include: the promotion of
the use of safe and clean drinking water at household level, the provision of aqua tabs for
water treatment, livestock vaccination against foot and mouth disease (FMD), support of
mobile health community outreach and accelerated drought information dissemination,
including use of radio broadcasts.
3.3.1.4.
Implementation of bilateral cooperation, regional cooperation and
budget support
In 2015, as a key response to the unprecedented levels of irregular migration and continuing
insecurity affecting the region, the EU Commission coordinated the creation and
establishment of the ‘EU Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of
irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa’. In less than half a year, through intense
work with European donors, partner countries and regional organisations, Commission
services and the EEAS, a EUR 1.8 billion EU Trust Fund for Africa was established and
signed by President Juncker, along with 25 EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland, and
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launched at the Valletta Summit on Migration on 12 November 2015 by European and
African partners.
Across Africa, a lack of economic opportunities is often intertwined with a lack of human
rights, high levels of corruption and poor governance, which contribute to create strong
incentives for illegal migration, smuggling and trafficking networks. By contributing to
fighting poverty and supporting democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human
rights in Sub-Saharan Africa, EU development cooperation addresses some of the causes of
migration and thereby contributes to the successful implementation of the European Agenda
on Migration. International law, including human rights and refugee law, and respect for
principles such as non-refoulement remain at the heart of the EU's approach.
Through the Horn of Africa and Sahel channels of the above mentioned trust fund, the EU
will be able to respond in a rapid and flexible manner with actions to address the root causes
of destabilisation, forced displacement and irregular migration by promoting economic and
equal opportunities, security and development. A first pipeline of projects worth some EUR
350 million were approved for the Horn of Africa and the Sahel and Lake Chad windows by
early January 2016.
2015 was the real start-up year for actions financed by the 11
th
European Development Fund.
In early 2015, high priority actions were still financed through the Bridging Facility, a
transition mechanism put in place to avoid any major gaps in our support. The 11
th
European
Development Fund entered into force on 1 March 2015. Overall, the Commission approved
new actions worth EUR 5.2 billion in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2015, including the new ‘EU
Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced
persons in Africa’.
All programmes in the region have been prepared in accordance with existing national and
regional development policies, following the principle to focus on the sectors that best
contribute to poverty eradication and in which the EU can achieve maximum impact.
East Africa, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean
By the end of 2015, all the National Indicative Programmes (NIPs) and the Regional
Indicative Programmes (RIPs) were signed, with four exceptions: Sudan (which is not
eligible for bilateral cooperation as it has not ratified the first revision of the Cotonou
Agreement), South Sudan (where ratification is still pending), Eritrea and Mauritius (both
will be signed in early 2016). The 19 NIPs (including DCI South Africa), the PALOP
programme for the five Portuguese speaking African countries (PALOP – namely Angola,
Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe) and one RIP that
were signed represent a total amount of EUR 7.5 billion. The PANAF (Pan-African) Multi-
annual Indicative Programme was also finalised in 2015.
The following additional issues are affecting EU interests in certain countries of East and
Southern Africa with particular relevance: lack of security and subsequent political
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instability, violent extremism, migration and forced displacement. In these regions, the
Commission is working with all actors to re-establish security conditions, through peace
building and conflict resolution, to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, and to
promote the role of women in the stabilisation process.
Addressing these challenges requires interventions in peripheral areas and across borders, and
demands a more synchronised approach to the political, humanitarian, developmental,
economic, migration-related, gender-based and security aspects of these issues. In this regard,
the Commission is working closely at national level with the hosting Governments, through
appropriate political dialogue in accordance with Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement, and
through the tools identified in the National Indicative Programmes, in particular in those
countries where governance and the rule of law are focal sectors. Appropriate dialogue is also
carried out with regional and key international partners such as the United Nations (UN), the
African Union (AU) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional
Mechanisms (RMs) to synchronise efforts to achieve peace, security and development.
Some other substantive examples of interventions under this logical approach include EU
support to Somalia through the Somali Compact which is coordinating efforts and assistance
of several donors present in the country. Throughout 2015, the EU has also provided active
support to democratisation, free and fair elections, the functioning of institutions, media
freedom and access to the internet, protection of minorities, the rule of law and judicial
systems in partner countries such as Zambia and Comoros. In Mozambique, the EU has
recently launched a ‘Good Governance and Development Contract’.
Overall, the identification and implementation of new programmes continued in a satisfactory
manner in 2015 in East Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean. In some cases, the
political context has adversely affected the preparation of EU projects such as in Botswana,
Lesotho and Malawi. In Southern Africa, budget support payments were below expectations
in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi and the Seychelles as a result of insufficient progress in the
implementation of sectoral policies and a lack of performance in the area of public finance
management. In East Africa, some budget support payments could not be realised as
envisaged, for instance in the cases of Tanzania and Uganda.
West and Central Africa
In 2015, several crises, old and new, exacerbated the already fragile and unstable contexts
which affect many of the countries we work with. Transnational issues, including terrorism
and irregular migration, continued to evolve and grow. The Ebola crisis further affected EU
partner countries (in particular Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea), while food insecurity and
political instability were also part of the everyday reality in West and Central Africa. All of
these underlying threats represented major challenges for partner countries as well as for the
work of the EU through development programmes.
Despite these challenges, most of the National Indicative Programmes (NIPs) and the two
Regional Indicative Programmes (RIPs) establishing the framework for EU bilateral and
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regional cooperation with ACP countries for the programming period until the end of 2020
had been prepared by the first half of 2015 and were signed with relevant Governments and
regional institutions. Overall, 23 NIPs and two RIPs were signed for a total amount of EUR
nine billion.
The two outstanding exceptions are the NIP for Guinea Bissau, which will be prepared for
adoption during 2016, and the NIP for the Central African Republic also remained
outstanding pending the end of the transitional government foreseen for early 2016.
Cooperation with the Central African Republic was successfully implemented in 2015
through a range of resilience-focused projects under the EU Bêkou Trust Fund.
The EU response to the Ebola epidemic continued throughout 2015. Additional budget
support was paid to Liberia (EUR 31 million) and Sierra-Leone (EUR 43 million) to cushion
the economic impact of the epidemic and provide the countries with valuable funds to
stabilise the state budget, for example, to pay salaries and other important recurrent costs. A
number of strategic projects under the programme linking humanitarian assistance with
development were launched, e.g. strengthening health systems, resilience of livelihoods in
Guinea or access to water in schools in Liberia. The first recovery programmes were also
launched in Guinea (health) and in Liberia (education and energy).
At a global level, the Commission services and the EEAS organised the international Ebola
high-level conference on 3 March 2015. The conference was a major success in maintaining
the momentum and a focus on the continued fight against the disease. By the end of the year,
the three affected countries were all on the path to being declared Ebola-free.
Many important electoral processes took place in West Africa in 2015 and more are to come
in 2016 and 2017. The EU has provided support for electoral processes in Nigeria, Burkina
Faso, Guinea, Togo and Niger. Human rights continue to be mainstreamed through all EU
development programmes in the region. By adopting this approach, the EU makes sure it is at
the forefront of democratic progress and that it makes the best use of its political power as a
global actor and as a leading example of support for good governance, democracy, human
rights and justice in West and Central Africa.
Case study - Djibouti Waste water, solid waste treatment and sanitation
In a country where almost 60 % of the population live in the capital city and its suburbs,
sanitation infrastructures play an essential role. Djibouti is a country confronted by extreme
drought, made worse by its fragile ground waters being polluted by waste. The wastewater
and solid waste treatment and sanitation programme in the city of Djibouti (EUR 17.7
million) has helped to tackle this problem. This project consists primarily in the construction
of a technical landfill site serving about 350 000 inhabitants and the wastewater treatment
plant, located in the town of Douda serving 70-100 000 inhabitants. This has helped to avoid
the dispersion of solid waste in the environment. It also reduces the pollution of waste water
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by infiltrating the underground water table, which is heavily relied upon to provide fresh
water. As a result, the living conditions of the inhabitants of the poorest neighbourhoods have
improved.
Case study - Bêkou's health project
The Bêkou health project, run in Bangui and five other cities across the Central African
Republic, aims at ensuring access to basic health services to one million people in a context
where most of the health structures and services have been disrupted in the aftermath of the
2013 crisis. Humanitarian organisations have been the main providers of health services and
no prospect of improvement of the health system was foreseen in the short-term, due to
limited funding as well as the weakness of local administrations. In coordination and
complementarity with humanitarian interventions in this field, some of them funded by the
EU, several noteworthy results were observed in 2015, as the project has ensured access to
basic health services in six cities across the country, reaching some 450 000 direct
beneficiaries (vaccination, assisted deliveries, etc.). Thanks to this "district approach" and
support for the Health Ministry, national authorities managed to react promptly to the
consequences of the outburst of violence at the end of September 2015.
Case study - EU response to crisis in Chad
At the request of the Chadian Prime Minister, an emergency package (EUR 50 million) was
prepared to support Chad to address the macro-economic crisis it is facing, notably because
of the drop in oil prices and the security and budgetary crisis linked to the fight against Boko
Haram. The Commission provided a rapid response, allowing for the disbursement of the first
instalments before the end of the year.
The emergency package comprised EUR 22 million of support in the form of budget aid and
EUR 28 million in the form of amendments to on-going projects, directly supporting Chad in
the water/sanitation field on the one hand and road-building projects on the other. 2015 was
thus the first year in which budget support was provided to the Republic of Chad through a
state-building contract. Through this decision, the EU contributed to restoring macro-
economic stability in Chad and provided budgetary space so that the provision of basic social
services to the populations is not interrupted.
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Case study - Strengthening delivery of basic services in Mali & Niger
Two budget support programmes (EUR 225 million and EUR 220 million) were approved for
Mali in 2015. Their aim is to support critical reforms for long-term development and stability.
The EU will support public finance management to improve the mobilisation of national
resources, the fight against corruption, reform of the education sector, and to improve food
security in the country. To disburse aid payments, the EU will use specific indicators focused
on water delivery, healthcare, job creation for youth and women, education and on rural
development. These measures reinforce the humanitarian assistance administered by the
European Union.
In the case of Niger, the country is facing a context of extreme fragility, chronic food and
nutrition insecurity, increasing security challenges and the financial burden of having to fight
against terrorism with the presence of Boko Haram. In 2015, the EU has provided additional
budget support to Niger by frontloading funding from the 11
th
EDF national envelope, in
order to help the Nigerian authorities maintain the delivery of social services such as health
and education to the population.
Early Response Mechanism (ERM)
Across Africa, conflict continues to cause human suffering. It is also one of the root causes of
migration and a major impediment to economic and social development. The EU believes
that peace and security efforts should be led by Africa if they are to be successful. The Early
Response Mechanism (ERM) was established in 2009 to help prevent political and security
crises from degenerating into open conflict. It is an emergency mechanism that is able to
make funds available for the African Union in less than ten days so that it can immediately
support mediation, confidence-building or any other activity that prevents mounting tensions
in troubled areas from turning into situations that affect the living conditions of the
population.
In 2015, the ERM funded nine actions for a total amount of EUR 7 million. In South Sudan,
where a civil war erupted in December 2014, the ERM financed the dialogue that resulted in
an agreement for a ceasefire between the Government and the opposition, thus improving the
situation of hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the war. In the Central African
Republic, the ERM helped to find a way to end violence, by financing mediation efforts that
resulted in a climate conducive to the holding of elections in February 2016. In the Great
Lakes Region, where the population living in the eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of
the Congo have suffered from one of the worst man-made humanitarian disasters over the last
two decades, the ERM helped to restore and promote trust between the DRC and its
neighbours by supporting a joint verification mechanism of the agreements that they had been
entered into, in order to bring stability to the region. Even in Burundi, where the political
situation deteriorated quickly at the end of 2015, swift ERM funding helped to deter further
violence by both allowing the AU to deploy Human Rights observers and security officers
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and by financing the rapid commencement of an Inter-Burundian dialogue mediated by
Uganda.
Cooperation at continental level: Scaling up the Africa-EU Partnership
Since 2007, the EU and Africa have developed a new framework for their relations: the Joint
Africa-EU Strategy (JAES). Following the Fourth EU-Africa Summit held in April 2014, key
achievements have been registered both at political and operational level in all priority areas
of cooperation as defined by the 2014-2017 Africa-EU Roadmap.
At the political level, a major Africa-EU meeting took place in Brussels in April 2015,
gathering the Colleges of Commissioners of the African Union Commission and the
European Commission. In November 2015, EU-Africa relations reached a climax with the
Valletta Summit on migration, which brought together European and African Heads of State
and Government in an effort to strengthen cooperation and address the challenges and the
opportunities of migration.
At operational level, 2015 was the most significant year to date in terms of cooperation
activities with the African Union Commission, with increased financial support channelled
through the African Peace Facility (APF) and the Pan-African Programme. On peace and
security, funding for the three-year APF action plan has been increased by EUR 150 million
to a total envelope of EUR 900 million. Regarding the Pan-African programme, a second set
of actions worth EUR 146 million has been adopted in 2015, while implementing the 2014
Annual Action Programme and preparing action programmes for 2016-2017. The 2015
Action Programme focuses on governance and human rights challenges as well as on the
promotion of innovation and learning throughout the African Continent. In particular, the
African Union Commission will benefit from a renewed support programme (EUR 45
million), as a successor to previous EU support which started in 2007.
Research and innovation
In the context of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy work continued to implement the roadmap
2014-2017 with a focus on capacity-building in the area of science, technology and
innovation. By the end of 2015, 137 participants from African countries had participated in
62 projects financed by Horizon 2020, receiving an amount of EUR 23.7 million. Horizon
2020 information workshops were organised in 2015 in Ghana, Malawi, Ethiopia and Angola
Work continued on the development of an EU-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership on
food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture, as announced at the EU-Africa
Summit 2014. The expert working group finalised its input to the research agenda that
focuses on sustainable agriculture, agriculture and food systems for nutrition, responsible
supply chains and expansion and improvement of agricultural markets and trade as well as
supporting innovation processes, human-, research infrastructure- and organisational
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capacity-building. Financial support of around EUR 70 million towards implementation has
been announced from Horizon 2020 and the Pan-African Instrument as well as some
European and African countries.
The second phase of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership was
launched in December 2014. The European Commission and its Member States are
supporting the programme with nearly EUR two billion. 14 EU and 14 African countries are
working together to develop new interventions (diagnostics, drugs, vaccines) against
HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis and other neglected infectious diseases.
In 2015, the European Research Council has signed an implementing arrangement with South
Africa providing opportunities in Europe for early-career scientists to temporarily join a
research team run by an ERC grantee.
The Horizon 2020 funded project RINEA, in support of the EU-Africa High Level Policy
Dialogue on science, technology and innovation was launched in April 2015.
3.3.2. South Africa
3.3.2.1.
Introduction (policy developments)
Throughout 2015, EU-South Africa cooperation under the Strategic Partnership intensified.
The Vice-President of the Commission Sefcovic visited South Africa in July where he met the
Environment Minister Molewa to discuss climate-change related issues in particular the
preparations for COP21 and agreed to enhance bilateral dialogue on energy, climate,
environment, green economy and blue economy issues.
Cooperation on Science and Technology expanded. The EU-South Africa Innovation Days
were held in Pretoria on 19-21 October. A marine working group on marine research was set
up to explore cooperation for the Southern Atlantic in the context of the Atlantic Ocean
Research Alliance. The EU attended the first Science Forum in South Africa (8-9 December)
where it received two Science Diplomacy Awards for the European and Developing countries
Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO).
The third Senior Officials Meeting between the European Commission and the Department of
Higher Education and Training was held on 28 October in Brussels. Officials presented the
current state of affairs in education and training policy development and implementation in
South Africa and the EU respectively.
The regular Macro-Economic Dialogue with the South African authorities was held on 30
November to 2 December in Pretoria.
The third EU-South Africa Human Rights Dialogue was held in Pretoria on 11 December.
Both Parties engaged in in-depth discussions on issues of common interest and issues upon
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which deeper reflection is required. South Africa's position
vis-à-vis
the International
Criminal Court was also discussed.
Angola:
The Second Angola-EU Ministerial Meeting implementing the Joint Way Forward
(JWF) took place on 19 November 2015 in Luanda. It was co-chaired by the Angolan
Minister of Planning and Territorial Development, Mr Job Graca, and by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, Mr Jean Asselborn, on behalf of High Representative/ Vice
President Federica Mogherini. The meeting was the occasion to exchange openly on human
rights, regional crises, but also on trade and economic cooperation. The EU encourages
Angola's accession to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Economic
Partnership Agreement (EPA) and is ready to support economic diversification. In parallel a
series of bilateral issues have also been addressed: the delays in payment to EU enterprises
and possible threats to EU investment in maritime transports. Cooperation in maritime
security, research and innovation, migration and climate change were also on the agenda. An
action plan to foster implementation of JWF initiatives will soon be detailed.
SADC:
The 2015 political dialogue at Ministerial level between Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC) and the EU was held in Luxembourg on 27 October 2015
under the co-chairing of Luxembourg Minister Jean Asselborn, on behalf of the High
Representative/ Vice President, and of Botswana Minister of Finance and Development Plan
K. Matambo. The parties reiterated their commitment to enhance political dialogue and
cooperation and agreed to convene thematic meeting points in 2016 on eight areas: EPA
implementation plans, industrialisation, infrastructure, jobs and wealth creation, economic
governance, migration, food security and stability, and peace and security.
3.3.2.2.
Implementation, aid effectiveness and donor coordination
Implementation and results
In 2015, development cooperation, one of the three pillars of the EU-South Africa Trade,
Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA), strengthened later by the EU-South
Africa Strategic Partnership, continued to impact South African citizens' lives. The emphasis
of development cooperation is not on the "heavy lifting" that might be expected of ODA in
other countries, but rather on a more targeted and focused approach which gives space to
Government to identify value added activities, initiatives and pilot programmes, providing
technical assistance in areas where this form of assistance is most appropriate, and
complementing these activities with support to civil society organisations. The innovative,
testing-ground character of the financed initiatives allows for learning of what works and for
successful activities to be replicated with South African government’s own resources.
With respect to the 2007-2013 Multi-annual Indicative Programme (MIP) most programmes
have been fully implemented with a strong body of quantitative and qualitative results, and
many lessons learnt. For instance, throughout the implementation period in the area of
employment creation over 12 000 jobs and 60 000 livelihoods have been supported through
the EU Risk Capital Facility (RCF), and over 7 000 jobs have been created through some 130
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EU Local Economic Development (LED) programme projects. The RCF also has inspired the
South African government to establish its own Small Enterprise Finance Agency, and
KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape have expanded the LED programmes by making their
own contributions. The TDCA Dialogue Facility generated 31 policy dialogues in 12
strategic partnership policy areas such as education, health and customs, including 21 South
African departments and institutions as well as 13 EU Directorates-General and 17
institutions from Member States.
A number of programmes are still on-going, such as the Infrastructure Investment
Programme for South Africa (IIPSA) and the National Development Policy Support
Programme (NDPSP) worth EUR 250 million. The NDPSP budget support component
continues to be implemented by the South African government through internal calls for
projects to enable their government departments at national and local level to pilot innovate
programmes they would not be able to fund from their normal budget allocation. To
complement the budget support, other NDPSP components focus on supporting the National
Treasury's efforts to improve public financial management, notably in municipalities, on
assisting the Presidency to enhance government capacity for evidence based pro-poor policy
making, and on innovative projects with civil society organisations.
The 2014-2020 MIP, approved in 2014 for an amount of EUR 241 million
89
, aims at mainly
providing support to the three prioritised areas of the South Africa National Development
Plan – Vision 2030: employment creation; education, training and innovation; and building
capacity of the State. The first programmes targeting education, employment creation and
building a capable and developmental state were approved in 2014 and 2015.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
The use of country systems has been high on the aid effectiveness agenda in South Africa,
and the EU Delegation has been a good performer in using country systems with, for
example, 68 % of its aid committed in the period 2007-2013 in the form of budget support. In
cases where country systems are not used, the South African government is fully aware of
and mostly involved in the actions, all of which are aligned with the National Development
Plan 2030.
Efforts by the EU Delegation for donor coordination continued, particularly with EU Member
States present in South Africa, in all relevant sectors. The EU Delegation is particularly
active organising exchanges for coordination with a wider range of development partners in a
few targeted sectors such as public financial management (PFM), green economy and health.
With the volume of aid representing less than one percent of the government budget, the
South African government does not focus on improving the division of labour beyond a
limited number of sectors.
89
Making South Africa eligible for bilateral cooperation, as an exceptional case, including in view of the
phasing out of development grant aid
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Perspectives
The EU will continue to actively implement its existing programmes in 2016. The new
Teaching and Learning Development Sector programme agreed in 2014 has commenced
implementation, addressing the challenge of enhancing the quantity and quality of teachers
for all education sub-systems. Three other programmes will start in 2016: the new EU-South
Africa Dialogue Facility, the capacity building programme for employment promotion, and
the public service training and capacity building programme.
In the context of the EU-SA Strategic Partnership, people-to-people and institution-to-
institution exchange of knowledge will be maintained. In this respect the TDCA Dialogue
Facility has proved to be extremely useful through its focus on knowledge sharing on policy
design and implementation, in particular among peers from South African Government
departments, EU and Member States' institutions.
Case study - Socio-Economic Justice for All
The
Socio-Economic Justice for All programme
(SEJA) started its activities in early 2015.
This very innovative programme of EUR 25 million that brings together the Department of
Justice and Constitutional Development, the Foundation for Human Rights and the EU,
focuses on the rights set out in the Bill of Rights, with an emphasis on socio-economic rights.
The programme seeks to support the Department to fulfil its mandate in making sure that
citizens know their rights, how to access them and where to go when their rights are violated.
It targets marginalised and vulnerable groups. The programme contains a robust civil society
component, including a call for proposals to raise awareness of socio economic rights.
Case study - Infrastructure Investment Programme for South Africa
The
Infrastructure Investment Programme for South Africa
(IIPSA), with a budget of
EUR 100 million, contributes to essential infrastructure investments in key sectors such as
energy, transport, water and social infrastructure. It involves the blending of EU grants with
loans from (development) finance institutions, notably the Development Bank of Southern
Africa, EIB,
Agence Française de Développement
(AFD), and the German Investment Bank
KfW. The 2015 State of the Nation address by President Zuma stated: "We have a valuable
partnership with the European Union in amongst others, the Infrastructure Investment
Programme for South Africa valued at approximately Rand 1.5 billion." To date six projects
have been approved and this number is expected to increase significantly in 2016. Moreover,
a key outcome of the IIPSA process, bringing together finance institutions and a wide range
of South Africa government departments, is the very active policy discussions to address the
challenges of infrastructure development in areas of key importance to South Africa such as
student housing and municipal financing of energy and water projects.
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3.3.3
Intra-ACP Programmes (Water, Energy, etc.)
In 2015, the implementation of the last programmes identified under the 10
th
EDF intra-ACP
strategy continued, in particular to support private sector and trade, environment and climate
change, as well as disaster risk reduction.
Regarding the 11
th
EDF intra-ACP strategy, related negotiations concluded in 2015 with the
adoption of the 11
th
EDF intra-ACP Cooperation Strategy Paper and Indicative Programme,
foreseeing EUR 3 590 million to address common issues of the ACP Group of States at
supra-regional level until 2020. Considerable intra-ACP support was made available in 2015
for the African Peace Facility and the Global Fund regarding the control of communicable
diseases.
Among the main intra-ACP accomplishments in 2015 are the promotion of activities that
mitigate the impacts of climate change and examples highlighting the key role that women
play across all development sectors in ACP countries.
The importance of promoting
private sector
development was acknowledged as vital to
achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as well as decent job creation and poverty
reduction. In support of the joint ACP-EU cooperation framework for private sector
development (PSD) support in ACP countries established at the ACP-EU Council of
Ministers meeting in 2014, the ACP and the EU worked jointly towards setting up an ACP-
EU Platform for lesson-sharing, dissemination of good practices and dialogue with the
private sector across ACP regions.
The main ongoing intra-ACP trade related programmes were Technical Barriers to
Trade,
Hub and Spokes II, European Investment Fund (EIF) and Tradecom II (EU funds close to
EUR 73 million). In addition, intra-ACP funded programmes with a link to trade worth over
EUR 130 million were implemented, such as the PIP Quality and Conformity of Fruit and
Vegetables programme (EU contribution EUR 32.5 million). An evaluation of three
historically important trade related programmes allowed lessons to be learnt for better aid for
trade design in the future (‘Capacity building for economic partnership agreements’, ‘All
ACP institutional trade capacity building facility’, and ‘Integration to the multilateral trading
system’, totalling EU funds of around EUR 97 million).
In the field of
health,
intra-ACP support to leading global health initiatives (the GAVI
Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Global
Tuberculosis Vaccine Partnership) continued, together with a contribution to the
strengthening of pharmaceutical systems. These initiatives and programmes have a direct
effect on ACP citizens through increased access to quality and affordable medicines, vaccines
and treatments, and are complementary to the bilateral EU action on strengthening health
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systems in partner countries. Access to and quality of
education
remained key issues for
many ACP countries. In this context, intra-ACP cooperation continues to support the Global
Partnership for Education (GPE). The partnership is the only multilateral partnership devoted
to improving access and quality in education and has enabled 23 million more children to
access primary school since 2002, including greater access for girls, while at the same time
improving the quality of education.
2015 was the end year of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
(EDCTP), established by the EU in 2003 in response to the global health crisis caused by the
major poverty-related diseases (PRDs) - HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, and as
part of the EU’s commitment to achieving the MDGs. Its aim was to establish a research and
development programme for the development of new or improved clinical interventions to
combat PRDs through a long-term partnership between Europe and developing countries.
EDCTP was the first Article 185 initiative and the largest programme on clinical trials
targeted to Africa, under the EU’s 6th Framework Programme for Research. Sixteen
countries were members of the European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) established to
manage the EDCTP programme. EDCTP launched 65 calls for proposals, received 789
applications and awarded 254 grants with a total value of EUR 207.992 million (comprising
EUR 149.318 million EU funding and EUR 58.674 million of co-funding administered by
EDCTP). In addition to the grant funding disbursed by EDCTP, EUR 169.695 million of co-
funding (cash and in-kind) was provided direct to the EDCTP projects, bringing the total
project value to EUR 377.688 million. Thirty countries in sub-Saharan Africa and 16 in
Europe participated in EDCTP projects. More than EUR 154 million (~ 75 %) of EDCTP
grant funding was awarded to African participants. European participants received EUR 53.3
million (~ 25 %) of EDCTP grant funding. South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda were the top
recipients of EDCTP funding in Africa.
Support to higher education continued through capacity building and mobility programmes
like Edulink that since 2006 has aimed to strengthen the institutional capacities of more than
300 ACP academic institutions involved in the scheme, and intra-ACP mobility and Erasmus
Mundus which foresee more than 3 000 ACP students and university staff participating in
mobility schemes between 2010 and 2021.
Intra-ACP supports the
Global Climate Change Alliance+,
the EU flagship initiative on
climate change and development. It offers a platform for policy dialogue, technical assistance
to ACP countries and knowledge management in addressing
climate change.
The intra-ACP
GCCA+ continued to provide assistance to regional organisations in ACP countries on a wide
variety of topics, with a strong capacity-building component, that also takes into account the
innovative online platform for sharing news and best practices launched in 2014. 2015 saw
the preparation for a second phase of the intra-ACP contribution to the GCCA+. EU-ACP
cooperation on climate change was one of the success factors of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Gender equality and empowerment of women
continued to be important cross-cutting
elements of many of the financed activities, in particular, in terms of the key role women play
across all development sectors in ACP countries. A study has been funded on the social and
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cultural roots of violence against women in Pacific islands, to inform subsequent policy
actions on the subject, while a significant contribution (EUR 11 million) has been allocated to
the UN Joint Programme to stop female genital mutilation in 16 African countries and
Yemen.
Water and Sanitation
The remaining funds (EUR 2.5 million) of the Water Facility were contracted in 2014. The
Final Evaluation of the Facility for both the 9
th
and 10
th
EDF is almost finalised and results
should be available end of 2016. In its response to the Citizens' Initiative, (‘Water and
sanitation are a human right!') the Commission suggested that it will “stimulate innovative
approaches for development assistance; promote sharing of best practices between Member
States and identify new opportunities for cooperation”. For this purpose, results and lessons
learned from projects financed under the Water Facility will be included.
In 2014, to meet the challenge of providing access to electricity in rural areas, the EU
continued to support
energy
generation projects in the developing ACP countries. With the
remaining Energy Facility funds, specific challenges of the energy poor including in several
fragile states were addressed through 31 rural electrification projects with a total grant
amount of EUR 153 million benefitting more than three million people directly and several
million more indirectly through the energy services provided to social and productive
infrastructures. All these actions correspond to a total budget of approximately EUR 200
million (through co-financing support by applicants). These projects are on-going, with a
planned end date between January 2017 (earliest project ending date) and December 2020
(latest project ending date). More information on the total impact of Energy Facility projects
is available
90
.
Regarding actions on the
environment, ecosystems, biodiversity and wildlife
a number of
projects can be highlighted.
The
BIOPAMA
project, which supports four regional observatories designed along the lines
of the JRC Digital Observatory for Protected Areas (DOPA) to manage related information
for decision making (EU funds EUR 20 million). In order to improve the long-term
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in ACP regions and reduce the poverty of
populations surrounding protected areas, the four regional observatories aim to assist
biodiversity decision makers and managers. In addition, they receive support from the JRC
and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Year four of BIOPAMA
implementation has seen significant progress made on key project deliverables, in particular
development and implementation of regional capacity development activities including
demand-driven technical training, the Coaches Observatory Mission Information Toolkit
(COMIT) or increased networking and collaboration with regional agencies and initiatives
involved in capacity building and data management. Within BIOPAMA, the European
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http://database.energyfacilitymonitoring.eu/acpeu/IndicatorsChart.xhtml
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Commission is also supporting the ABS (Access and Benefit Sharing) Initiative which, since
its inception in 2006 has been recognised for its substantive contributions to the capacity
building of African negotiators, which led to the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol in 2010;
and have developed a broad range of instruments, tools and formats that support capacity
development around ABS.
The
Action Against desertification (AAD)
project (EUR 20 million), implemented by the
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is to contribute to poverty reduction, food security
and combating desertification, using a landscape approach in dry lands and other fragile
ecosystems of ACP countries.
Moreover, the
MIKES
programme supports minimising the illegal killing of elephants and
other endangered species (EU funding EUR 12 million) including actions on species
threatened by international trade, minimising the impact of poaching and strengthening law
enforcement capacity, and adaptive management and monitoring approaches.
The overall objective of the
TerrAfrica
Leveraging fund (EU funding EUR 10 million),
implemented by the World Bank, is to provide strategically targeted and flexible financial
support to strengthen awareness, harmonisation, strategic directions on opportunities and
modalities for improved sustainable land management scale-up and effectiveness, improve
and share analytical underpinnings to support policy dialogue and decision making, and
catalyse funding at country level.
Scientific and technological research
has long being recognised by the EU and the ACP
countries as an important aspect of their cooperation, as demonstrated by three consecutive
EU-ACP programmes to strengthen the capacities of ACP countries in science and
technology, and to support applied research. Many results have already been achieved
through the ACP Science & Technology (I and II) and the ACP Research for Sustainable
Development programmes which, with a combined financial support worth EUR 78 million
(including South Africa's contribution), have together supported 67 partnerships involving
more than 200 academic and research institutions across all the ACP regions and Europe.
Under the 11
th
EDF, an envelope of EUR 60 million has been set aside to contribute to the
improvement of ACP countries’ development policies, research and innovation and TVET
(Technical and Vocational Education and Training) capacities.
3.4.
Latin America & the Caribbean
3.4.1. Latin America
3.4.1.1.
Introduction (policy developments)
On 10-11 June, the second Summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American
and Caribbean States took place with the general theme ‘Shaping our common future:
working for prosperous, cohesive and sustainable societies for our citizens’. The bi-regional
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Action Plan was updated and two new chapters were included on Higher Education and
Citizen Security.
Significant progress was made during 2015 in the EU LAC (Latin American Countries)
Foundation with the appointment of the new President and Executive Director.
EU and Central America held their first President's meeting in June after the entry into force
of the Association Agreement. The EU adopted the Plan of Action for the implementation of
the EU Security Strategy for Central America and the Caribbean. A follow-up mission to the
2013 Electoral Observation mission in Honduras was conducted and an Expert mission was
carried out for the general elections in Guatemala.
In view of the modernisation of the EU-Mexico Global Agreement, a joint vision report was
carried out and presented at the Presidential Meeting in June where it was agreed to initiate
negotiations in 2016.
The EU regularly voiced its political support to the peace negotiations in Havana between the
Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas and its readiness to financially support the
post conflict implementation programme. The new government in Argentina expressed its
interest to review and deepen its partnership with the EU.
Bilateral and regional projects and programmes totalling EUR 307 million were committed
for the region under the DCI in 2015. The Latin American Investment Facility (LAIF)
continued its successful implementation financing projects in the transport, energy,
environment, water and sanitation sectors.
3.4.1.2.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
The positive trend in donor coordination in Latin America continued and was taken forward
over the last few years through the Joint Programming (JP) process. Guatemala and Bolivia
were already at an advanced JP stage in 2014 while in some countries, like Paraguay,
Honduras and El Salvador, significant steps were taken during 2015.
In
Guatemala,
a full-fledged joint strategy is part of the 2014-2020 programme (MIP) and
the country is among the best positioned to possibly move onto a joint programming
document during the period 2016-2017. In
Bolivia,
the work on JP for the period 2017-2020
has continued in close collaboration with the Bolivian Government. It has helped to better
define the areas of intervention of the parties involved and to increase awareness about each
other's work. A final draft is expected to be sent to the Commission and Member States for a
last round of comments in early 2016. The document describes the basis for joint work in the
country over the next four to five years and may lead to a JP document in 2020.
In
Paraguay,
a major achievement was the completion of the process leading to a joint
programming document, approved by EU and Member States. Regular coordination with
Member States on cooperation issues has been carried out as planned. In
El Salvador,
JP
currently consists of improving joint communication and visibility on EU cooperation, and
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developing a joint policy sector dialogue with the Government. In
Honduras,
JP continued to
progress during 2015. The risk assessment framework was drafted jointly with Member
States and the relevant road map has been updated for implementation of a joint analysis in
2016.
3.4.1.3.
Working towards the MDGs
According to the 2015 UN MDG report
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, the Latin America region has made notable
progress towards achieving the eight MDGs. A number of them, for example MDG 2 (on
universal access to education) or MDG 4 (on reducing child mortality) were nearly or finally
met by the end of 2015. Nevertheless, like other regions, Latin America still lags behind on
some MDGs. To illustrate this, in Latin America and the Caribbean the ratio of women to
men in poor households increased from 108 women for every 100 men in 1997 to 117 women
for every 100 men in 2012, in spite of declining poverty rates for the whole region.
While Latin America made significant and laudable progress towards meeting the targets
included in the MDGs, the recent global crisis hampered the full achievement of these before
the end of 2015. Indeed, a significant part of the progress made by the region in achieving the
MDGs as a whole, particularly in terms of reducing extreme poverty and halving the
prevalence of hunger in the region, actually took place in the six years prior to the global
crisis (2002-2008).
The 2015 UN MDG report notes that the percentage of people living in extreme poverty in
Latin America and the Caribbean fell by 66 % between 1990 and 2015; in 2015, only 4 % of
the region's population was estimated to still be living in extreme poverty. Accordingly, the
goal of halving extreme poverty (MDG 1) was reached before 2015. Similarly, the target
(1.C) of halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger in Latin America was also
met by 2015. Nevertheless, as noted above, there is still some cause for concern as there is a
new, concerning trend of women becoming increasingly vulnerable to poverty in the region,
something all the more concerning given the context of declining poverty rates in Latin
America and the Caribbean.
As for gender equality (MDG 3), gaps with regard to men have greatly diminished since
2000. For example, by 2012, parity in primary education was achieved in Latin America and
the Caribbean, though data indicates that men remain at a disadvantage in comparison to
women at the secondary and tertiary education levels. Latin America and the Caribbean is
also the region with the strongest women's political representation of any developing region.
Nevertheless, while great progress has been made towards women's education and political
representation in Latin America and the Caribbean, some gaps remain, including in terms of
access to paid employment.
In relation to the right to health, expressed in MDGs 4, 5 and 6, the health conditions of the
Latin American population have no doubt improved, though progress is very heterogeneous
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and, for several indicators, insufficient. For example, Latin America and the Caribbean is one
of two regions to have made the slowest progress in reducing adolescent childbearing (MDG
5). By contrast, by 2015, the Latin America and Caribbean region succeeded in meeting its
target to reduce child mortality (MDG 4).
As for MDG 7 which looks to ensuring environmental sustainability, Latin America and the
Caribbean is one of three regions that has led the way in protecting land and marine areas.
Between 1990 and 2014, the protected coverage area increased from 8.8 % to 23.4 %, with
the EU accompanying the process in Nicaragua, Bolivia and Honduras. Similarly, since 1990,
the proportion of the population without access to drinking water was cut by half in Latin
America and the Caribbean. And yet, South America has experienced one of the largest net
losses of forest area since 2000, and carbon dioxide emission rates continue to grow steadily
in the region; given Latin America's vulnerability to the effects of climate change, these
remain cause for concern.
Finally, in terms of MDG 8 on achieving a global partnership for development, the region
continues to make significant progress in its international capability, although the recent
international crisis caused its exports to drop drastically.
3.4.1.4.
Implementation
Bilateral cooperation including budget support
During 2015, bilateral development cooperation projects covered by the Development
Cooperation Instrument (DCI), were carried out in both the countries that are still receiving
bilateral cooperation under the 2014-2020 framework (nine countries in Latin America plus
Cuba) and in the graduated countries, where implementation is found in different stages of
the phasing out mode. New commitments amounted to EUR 226 million. The 2014-2020
cooperation framework was further rolled out with the approval of 14 bilateral programmes.
2015 also saw the start of implementation of nine bilateral programmes in key sectors for
partner countries such as water and drugs (Bolivia) or job creation and private sector
development (Honduras and Guatemala). These new programmes (2014 commitments) were
still in their early phases, and the implementation of activities was not yet advanced enough
to assess impact and results.
In terms of budget support operations (BS) in 2015, EUR 142 million was committed in new
programmes and EUR 132 million was disbursed. This included the following countries:
Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
A wide range of countries and sectors were supported by our budget support programmes:
water and sanitation, economic growth and biodiversity conservation in Bolivia, economic
development in Ecuador, rural improvements in Colombia, trade enhancement in Peru,
education and social protection in Paraguay, social inclusion in El Salvador, citizen security
in Costa Rica, food security, and family agriculture in Guatemala.
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In
Bolivia,
the new EUR 20 million sector budget support programme (SBS) to support the
national counter narcotics strategy, was successfully launched. Despite the fact that progress
varies from sector to sector, implementation of BS programmes in general was successful in
2015. They resulted in payments amounting to EUR 30 million in the areas of water
management and sanitation, financial and fiscal environment of small businesses, biodiversity
conservation and alternative development in coca areas. In
Paraguay,
progress was made
with the preparation of new interventions under the 2014-2020 programme (MIP), in
particular concerning the new BS programme in the education sector (adoption by the
Commission in 2016). In the meantime, during 2015, the EU has contributed with EUR 14.5
million through BS for the improvement of education and expansion of social protection.
The three
Andean countries,
Colombia, Peru and Ecuador are in phasing out mode as
regards bilateral cooperation.
In
Colombia,
all EUR 67 million available in the 2014-2017 MIP were committed in the area
of economic/rural development and peace building as well as in institutional strengthening. In
addition, 2015 saw the start of the preparation of an EU Trust Fund (EUTF), in support of the
future peace agreement in Colombia. The EUTF builds on the success of past EU projects
focusing on the conflict's root causes and consequences e.g. through the "peace laboratories",
the EU’s flagship programme in Colombia, adopting a bottom-up and integral peace building
approach.
In
Peru,
under the 2014-2017 MIP a BS programme supporting the national social inclusion
strategy (ENDIS, EUR 40 million) was approved. The EU has a very positive experience
with cooperation in Peru in budget support. Over the past decade, the EU has supported key
reforms in the country and has supported Peruvians in enhancing social inclusion and
strengthening good governance. Peru continues to successfully implement its promotion of
ecological exports with the support of the EU and in 2015, EUR 5.1 million was provided to
this aim through budget support. A comprehensive anti-drug policy is also being deployed by
the government to which the EU contributed EUR eight million through budget support.
In
Ecuador,
the implementation of the current development cooperation portfolio, in
particular in the field of competitiveness for small and medium enterprises, continued
successfully. Two new programmes were prepared in the field of trade and institutional
strengthening but due to late government formal approval, their submission to the DCI
committee was postponed to 2016.
As regards the
graduated countries
in the region, bilateral cooperation during 2015, was
either in final stages of implementation (e.g. in Brazil) or closed already (e.g. in Chile).
In
Brazil,
the sector dialogue support programme (under the Instrument for cooperation with
industrialised and other high-income countries and territories - ICI+), continued to be
implemented successfully during 2015. Over 30 sector dialogues continued taking place
between Brazil and the EU through the implementation of this programme.
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In
Argentina,
during 2015 the bilateral cooperation programme with the ministry of
education finalised its implementation. The remaining two programmes with the Ministry of
Science and Technology and the National Institute for Industrial Technology will start their
closure phase in 2016. Although there have been some issues, implementation performance
of the three programmes has been overall positive, with concrete results and good visibility
for the EU in the country.
Uruguay
has successfully achieved finalisation of implementation of the last EU budget
support programme (including last payment) on innovation and social inclusion (EUR 3.2
million).
In
Costa Rica,
the EU has provided EUR 4.2 million through BS to improve citizen security.
Cooperation with Costa Rica developed to combine traditional cooperation programmes and
dialogue on triangular cooperation. During 2015, the EU engaged in dialogue with a number
of countries on the future of cooperation. Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed
with Chile and Uruguay.
In
Central America
and more specifically
in Guatemala,
eight bilateral programmes for a
total of EUR 101.4 million were managed, through BS. Guatemala has achieved progress in
its food security efforts in 2015 with a EUR 5.2 million contribution by the EU.
In
Honduras,
attention was paid to all three focal sectors of the 2014-2020 MIP (food
security, decent jobs and rule of law). Two financing agreements were signed with the
government (EUROSAN OCCIDENTE and EURO +LABOR) and related technical
assistance was deployed. A new, EUR 30 million commitment in food security through BS,
was approved. With the EU contribution through budget support Honduras is working
towards wider access for the population to water and sanitation, higher competitiveness and
quality production. Also, Honduras is deploying efforts to improve the health and education
indicators related to the Millennium Development Goals and forestry conservation. During
2015 there was a total amount of EUR 27.4 million paid through BS operations.
In
Nicaragua,
one new action was adopted in 2015 to support the bovine value chain and the
productivity and competitiveness of small and medium sized cattle raisers while respecting
environmental sustainability. In this context, an innovative scheme of triangular cooperation
with Uruguay will be tested. In education, 25 base schools have been rehabilitated and works
are underway in 13 more schools. In the sector of good governance, the EU continued
working with national institutions to strengthen the management of resources and the fight
against crime. In the area of climate change, the identification of a first project, focusing on
the integrated management of water resources in the Rio Coco river basin, took place.
In
El Salvador,
with the contribution of EU Budget Support, the government continues to
implement its national social protection agenda objectives, seeking to contribute to the
country’s efforts to reduce poverty, social and economic inequality and social exclusion. BS
disbursements amounted to EUR 9.5 million in 2015.
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Finally in
Mexico,
the second phase of the EU-Mexico social cohesion laboratory continued
its implementation. The project, worth EUR 22 million, is developing activities on human
rights, security, access to justice and the prevention of social exclusion, especially in the
states of Oaxaca and San Luis Potosi.
Further, a strategic evaluation of the budget support to Paraguay in the areas of education and
social development was launched by HQs in early 2015 and is to be completed in 2016. The
preliminary conclusions have confirmed the relevance and impact of EU budget support to
Paraguay, particularly in relation to its support to the education sector.
Regional cooperation
In line with the multiannual indicative programme 2014-2020 (MIP for regional/continental
cooperation with Latin America), the annual action programme (AAP) 2015 led to the
adoption of support decisions for several programmes : EUROsociAL+ (the EU programme
for social cohesion in Latin America); the facility for international cooperation, the first EU
programme designed to support South-South cooperation actions; the EU programme to
support interconnectivity in Latin America; and continued support to the Latin American
investment facility (LAIF). In total EUR 70 million was committed.
Moreover, 2015 saw the signature of two important contracts for the promotion of inclusive
and sustainable growth for human development: A multinational Latin American – European
consortium led by the chamber of industry, commerce and tourism of Santa Cruz (Bolivia)
presented the best proposal for a programme that will reach out to more than 25 000 micro,
small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Latin America, to increase their
productivity and contribute to a diversification of the economies and creation of decent
employment. Another initiative was signed with the UN's Economic Commission for Latin
America and the Caribbean to improve the policy environment for MSME growth and to
foster the interregional dialogue between Latin America and the EU.
Several regional programmes for Latin America continued their activities in 2015. The
second phase of EUROsociAL entered its last full implementation year, focusing on
supporting public policy changes in the region; COPOLAD (a programme to promote
coordination on drugs policies between Latin America and the European Union, by
strengthening cooperation, reinforcing bi-regional dialogue and developing specific actions)
which received in 2014 EUR 10 million of support and ALFA III, a higher education
cooperation programme in its final phase.
Other on-going Latin American programmes include: Erasmus Mundus - Action 2,
EUROCLIMA and RALCEA (Red
Latino Americana de Centros de Excelencia en Recursos
Hidricos).
Erasmus Mundus contributes to the promotion of partnerships and institutional
cooperation exchanges between higher education institutions from Europe and Latin America
as well as to the mobility of students and academics. EUROCLIMA is an EU climate change
programme for Latin America, which aims at knowledge sharing, fostering structured and
regular dialogue at all levels, and ensuring synergies and coordination of current and future
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actions. The EU supports the Latin American centres of excellence in the water sector
through the RALCEA programme, in promoting multi-stakeholder dialogue, capacity
building, institutional support and south-south cooperation.
Following the approval of the European and Latin America Business Services and Innovation
Network programme (ELAN) at the end of 2013, the two contracts for its implementation
have started in 2015: ELAN Biz and ELAN Network have developed their activities during
2015 including delivery of six matchmaking events in Latin America and establishing a web
platform providing market information to European operators.
Finally, several programmes in the region entered their last year of implementation. Among
these is the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan,
implemented in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, to reduce illegal logging and to improve
forest governance.
In
Central America,
cooperation focused on supporting the implementation of the EU-
Central American association agreement. Three new actions were formulated in the climate
change, disaster risk reduction and institutional strengthening sectors respectively. They were
adopted during the year for a total of EUR 34 million. On economic integration the EU has
continued its support for common regulations and policies. Of note is the approval of the
regional normative on the administration of quotas as well as the mechanism of tariffs
reimbursement, both in the context of the Association Agreement.
In the areas of security and rule of law, implementation of all projects was put well on track
in spite of institutional shortcomings. For climate change and food security, with EU support
by the end of 2015, seventy-six municipalities in four countries had incorporated the food
security and nutrition approach to their development plans, covering governance, knowledge
management, information systems and risk management.
The evaluation of the cooperation Programme between Latin American countries and the
European Union on drugs policies (COPOLAD) underlined its high relevance and how it was
able to reach high consensus among all Latin American countries and effective cooperation
with European partners. The recommendations include expanding the programme in the
Caribbean. Finally, a strategic evaluation of the EU´s cooperation with Central America
(2007-2013) took place. The latter confirmed the relevance of the EU support through
helping to stabilise and give continuity to the Central American regional integration system
(SICA). A number of conclusions and recommendations related to strengths and weakness
guide policy dialogue with SICA and formulation of future projects.
Case study – Sustainable Water Management
The sustainable management of water resources, particularly increasing access to services for
drinking water and sanitation among the rural population, is key for poverty eradication in
Bolivia.
The EU has been supporting the country's efforts in this area the last few years.
Given the good absorption capacity of the funding, the excellent appropriation by the
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Government of its sector policy and its implementation, including use of own budget
resources, we have witnessed a true change in the lives of Bolivian beneficiaries. By the end
of 2015 it has been reported that 82.4 % of the population has access to water and that 56.8 %
of the population had access to sanitation facilities. Although challenges in sanitation are
much higher than in access to water, which has been systematically prioritised during the last
decade, sanitation is now being given greater attention in order to achieve better national
targets. The SBS programme (sector reform contract) supporting the ‘development plan for
basic sanitation in rural areas’ received EUR 24 million and has been implemented since
2013.
Case study - Dairy in Colombia
The agricultural sector is one of the motors of growth and prosperity in
Colombia.
The EU
contributes to poverty eradication and sustainable growth in the country, by supporting the
government's dairy policy in four departments, through the implementation of around 3 000
hectares of improved pastures and silvopastoralism
92
systems. Between 2013 and 2014, 300
experts received technical assistance and training in milk quality control, 1 576 new dairy
companies were created and 4 697 companies were modernised. The sector budget support
programme
apoyo a la política de mejoramiento de la competitividad del subsector lácteo
colombiano - Fase II,
received EUR 20.4 million in 2014.
Case study - Coastal communities
Nicaragua’s
economy depends mostly on its agriculture sector, including fisheries. More
than 60 % of its rural households are poor and 25 % are extremely poor. One of the key
priorities of the EU in the country is supporting economic development with a special focus
on rural areas. The EU funded EcoPesca project is working to improve living conditions of
46 coastal marine communities, located in the Golf of Fonseca. For example, with the support
of the project in Nicaragua, the cooperative Marcelino Mendez in the Ballona community,
which is mainly composed of households headed by females, saw a sharp increase of its
annual income by farming commercial species of fish and shellfish. The economic support
and initiatives have gone beyond improving the families' incomes; the number of children
and youth in the workforce has been reduced. Moreover, the project has set the foundation for
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The complementary relationship between trees and pasture in a forest products and livestock
production system
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good trilateral cooperation between Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador for sustainable fish
farming and ecosystem protection.
Case study - Peer-to-peer learning
EUROsociAL
contributes to changes in public policies that improve social cohesion through
peer-to-peer learning and experience exchanges between counterpart institutions in the
region. It has however a direct impact on people's lives. More than 32 000 children, mostly
from poor, vulnerable families in high-risk situations are cared for by the national network
for child care and development in Costa Rica (RedCUDI), which provides food services and
educational stimulation. More than two million people are benefiting from the national
employment system in Colombia, more than 10 000 people are assisted per year in the "rights
houses" in Ciudade de Deus (Brazil), and 50 women are cared for daily in CAPRODEM, the
Honduran centre for comprehensive attention to victims of gender violence; 26 000 citizens
have been supported by the tax support centres promoted by EUROsociAL in eight countries;
and more than 7 500 overseas tax declarations have been received in Chile in 2015. These
examples are just some of the more than 100 case studies where EUROsociAL, the EU's
programme for social cohesion in Latin America, has provided key inputs for the
implementation of public policies.
Case study – Narcotics cooperation
COPOLAD:
The cooperation Programme between Latin American countries and the
European Union on drugs policies (COPOLAD) was conceived as a programme to strengthen
information exchange, coordination and cooperation between the national agencies and other
actors responsible for drugs policies in both regions, as well as the policy dialogue in the
framework of the EU-CELAC (Community of Latin America and Caribbean) mechanism on
drugs.
According to Latin America national drugs agencies, COPOLAD has helped to enhance
changes in the way drugs policies are perceived, it has help to change paradigms, and it has
helped to emphasise the need for a balanced approach between drug demand reduction and
drug supply reduction. Examples of achievements include the creation or strengthening of
national observatories on drugs, drug demand reduction policy harmonisation and on-line
courses and the creation of a directory of healthcare services treating drug use and abuse.
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Research and innovation
In 2015, Commission services developed water management tools for policymakers in Latin
America and supported the establishment of a Network of Centres of Excellence on Water
(RALCEA) in the region.
2015 was a pivotal year for EU-Latin America relations in research and innovation. In the
dialogues with Latin America, research and innovation cooperation increasingly proved to be
an important tool for science diplomacy and openness to the world.
On the occasion of the EU-CELAC Summit in June 2015, political leaders from both regions
agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation in research and innovation and move towards an
EU-CELAC Common Research Area (CRA). Subsequently, the European Commission
presented the concept of the EU-CELAC CRA at a meeting of Science and Technology
Ministers and High Level Officials of CELAC in Quito on 15 September under the
Ecuadorian temporary presidency of CELAC. As a result, CELAC countries asked for a CRA
action plan to be developed at the next EU-CELAC Joint Initiative for Research and
Innovation senior officials meeting that took place in Brussels on 14 March 2016.
In the context of the ERANet-LAC project which started in 2013, funding agencies from both
regions published a second joint call on 1 December 2015. As a result of the first joint call, in
2015 20 funding organisations from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean have funded
14 transnational research and innovation projects, with the involvement of 79 research
institutions and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from both regions.
Specific projects, such as EU-LAC Health
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, underlined the importance of health research
being at the core of interest for both regions. Its main goal is to define a detailed roadmap to
guide policy-makers and other stakeholders on future actions to support cooperative health
research.
Overall, under the Commission Framework Programme for Research and Innovation -
Horizon 2020, 129 contracts have been signed with Latin-America and the Caribbean for an
EU contribution of approximately EUR 15.3 million.
During 2015, the dialogue and cooperation in research and innovation between the EU and
Brazil made significant progress, with a particular emphasis on strengthening cooperation
between the EU and the federal states of Brazil. In this respect, a very promising cooperation
has been established with the National Council of Research Foundations (CONFAP) and the
São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) aiming to increase collaboration under Horizon
2020. Guidelines have been agreed with FAPESP to promote the State’s researchers funding
in the Horizon 2020 programme. A positive development was the launching of a coordinated
call on advanced biofuels together with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
(MCTI).
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The visit of Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas to Brazil in
November has helped to boost EU-Brazil scientific cooperation and a Joint Declaration of
Intent was signed with the MCTI to promote marine research cooperation in the South
Atlantic. The possibility of joining the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) and the
Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Diseases Preparedness (GLoPID-R) has also
been discussed with these agencies along with their participation in the Belmont Forum with
FAPESP who will co-chair the forum with the Commission in 2016.
GloPID-R was also instrumental, as of end of 2015, to coordinate attention and resources to
the Zika virus. In early 2016 when the Zika outbreak was declared, the European
Commission was able to quickly collect EUR 45 million in research to combat the outbreak
of the Zika virus disease and other emerging infections transmitted by mosquitoes.
Discussion took place primarily with Brazilian funding agencies and other CELAC countries,
mostly affected by the virus.
The momentum of EU-Mexico research cooperation increased in 2015 with the visit of
Commissioner Moedas to Mexico in November 2015. The first coordinated call between the
EU and Mexico on geothermal energy was published in October, as part of the Horizon 2020
Work Programme for 2016-2017, with a total budget of EUR 20 million with each side
equally contributing. This call is expected to bring important benefits ranging from
accelerated technology development and increased knowledge and expertise to enhanced risk
reduction.
An arrangement was signed in November between the Mexican National Council of Science
and Technology (CONACYT) and the European Research Council (ERC) to allow Mexico’s
researchers to join ERC-led research teams in Europe. In the field of health research, Mexico
joined GACD and GLOPID-r. In addition, CONACYT launched the third call under the
CONACYT-H2020 co-funding mechanism providing a source of financing “project-by-
project participation” for Mexican partners in successful Horizon 2020 projects covering all
thematic areas.
Argentina was another Latin American country with which research cooperation significantly
increased. As in the case of Mexico, an arrangement to facilitate the participation of
Argentinean researchers in the ERC grant schemes was signed in March 2015. In the course
of 2015, Argentina joined both the GACD and GLoPID-R and continued to play an active
role in EU-CELAC bi-regional cooperation.
At regional level, research and innovation has been based on the Commission regional
development policy towards Latin America. In 2015 the European and Latin America
Business Services and Innovation Network (ELAN) project started with the aim of increasing
and diversifying the European Union's economic presence in Latin America, by generating
sustainable collaboration initiatives between research and innovation actors where knowledge
is transformed into equitable socio-economic development. More specifically the ELAN
project will aim to establish a European and Latin American self-sustainable Network of such
actors, in order to promote lasting partnerships, to share knowledge and generate technology
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transfer, in particular in areas aligned with European applied research, and to increase SME
competitiveness through the generation of technology-based business opportunities.
In March 2015 the European Commission launched its European Research and Innovation
Roadmap for Climate Services and cooperation, starting with the EURACLIMA+ future
programme to enable regional institutional cooperation on Climate Services.
3.4.2. Caribbean
3.4.2.1.
Introduction (policy developments)
Relations with the Caribbean region during 2015 centred on implementing the Caribbean-EU
joint Partnership Strategy. Political Dialogue remained a priority both at regional and national
level. At the occasion of the Summit of Heads of State/Government held on 10-11 June
between the EU and the Community of States of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC),
the landmark EUR 346 million EU-Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme 2014-2020
was signed by the High Representative-Vice President and the CARIFORUM Secretary
General. Several Visa Waiver agreements were successfully concluded between the EU and
five Caribbean Countries. Implementation of the EPA advanced with the Ministerial EU-
CARIFORUM meeting held in Guyana.
Bilateral cooperation with the 16 Caribbean Countries continued to develop, with an
especially high level of activity on key bilateral issues including Dominican Republic-Haiti
relations and elections in a large number of countries. EU-Cuba cooperation was stepped up
with significant progress in the negotiation of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation
Agreement (PDCA) which will provide an enhanced framework for bilateral relations.
The EU continued to provide cooperation assistance to support Haiti's recovery.
Humanitarian aid has continued to alleviate living conditions of people displaced by the
earthquake and other persons in need. A European Observation Mission was carried out to
support the electoral process in a particularly complex and challenging environment.
Bilateral cooperation with Caribbean countries continued to deliver significant results.
Natural catastrophes including tropical storm Sandy hit the region and the EU reacted rapidly
both on the humanitarian side, as in the longer-term re-programming of priorities, and
allocation of additional funds.
3.4.2.2.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
The level of EU coordination on development cooperation in the Caribbean region varies
from country to country. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) secretariat remains
delegated by the Caribbean Member States to coordinate international, regional and national
institutions to achieve the objectives of the CARICOM community on aid effectiveness, and
to ensure the participation of civil society and the private sector.
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While there is increased coordination and dialogue through senior level meetings to set
priorities and ensure effective coordination of EU cooperation activities in the field, no
formal coordination meeting was organised by CARICOM/CARIFORUM during 2015. The
preparation process of the 11
th
EDF Caribbean regional indicative programme (CRIP)
represented a good opportunity to strengthen donors’ coordination in the region through
consultation with the key actors involved, including governments, civil society, the private
sector, and financial institutions. This has led to exchange of information and the
development of a full donor matrix which was attached to the CRIP.
In Haiti, the EU coordinated closely in order to ensure complementarities and better quality
of policy dialogue. Joint programming (JP) was in its first steps during the last quarter of
2015 with joint work taking place at sector level. A joint sector analysis should be finalised
during the first quarter of 2016 as an important step towards a unique JP document in the
future.
3.4.2.3.
Working towards the MDGs
The Caribbean has made very positive progress in achieving several MDG targets. According
to the 2015 UN MDG report, by 2015 the Caribbean and Latin American region reached (or
nearly reached) a number of MDG targets including reducing extreme poverty, achieving
universal primary education, promoting gender equality, combating HIV/AIDS, and
improving environmental sustainability. That said, some countries in the Caribbean, most
notably Haiti, lag well behind regional averages and fell short in attaining MDG targets.
MDG 1 to eradicate extreme poverty in the Caribbean and Latin America was largely
achieved by the end of 2015. However, a high percentage of undernourished people persist in
the Caribbean, with 20 % of the region's population still affected by hunger; the 2015 target
to halve the number of undernourished people in the Caribbean was unfortunately not met by
the end of 2015 and work remains to be done in this area.
As noted previously, the Caribbean and Latin America have nearly reached universal primary
education (MDG 2), and also achieved parity in primary education between boys and girls
(MDG 3); moreover, it is the only developing region in which gender disparity favours girls
in both secondary and tertiary education. Similarly, the Caribbean and Latin America also has
the highest share of women in parliament among developing regions (MDG 3). In 2015,
women occupied 27 % of seats in national parliaments, up from 15 % in 2000 and higher than
the average percentage for developed countries (26 %). This is most likely due to electoral
quotas, and a slowdown has already been observed since 2014 due to the fast-track impact of
gender quotas.
Of all developing regions, and in contrast to Latin America, the Caribbean has seen the
sharpest decline (56 %) in the number of people newly infected with HIV (MDG 6). Latin
America and the Caribbean also reduced their under-five mortality rate by 69 % between
1990 and 2015, finally achieving their under-5 mortality rate target (17 deaths per 1 000 live
births) in 2015 (MDG 4). Finally, coverage of pre-natal care in the Caribbean and Latin
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America is the best among all developing regions: in 2014, 97 % of pregnant women received
the minimum recommended number of prenatal care visits during pregnancy (MDG 5).
Nevertheless, as noted above, the Caribbean and Latin America fare poorly in reducing
adolescent childbearing.
On the environmental front (MDG 7), the Caribbean – like Latin America – has made great
strides in protecting land and marine areas, in increasing sustainable access to safe drinking
water and basic sanitation, and in decreasing the number of urban residents living in slums.
Finally, with regards to MDG8, the digital divide (and ICT access) continues to notably affect
small island states like those of the Caribbean region, and is an area where foreign investment
should help to move the region forward.
3.4.2.4.
Implementation
Bilateral cooperation
2015 has been the first fully operational year under the 11
th
EDF 2014-2020 cooperation
framework with the Caribbean. Besides the continued implementation of ongoing
programmes, it has focused on both the approval and kick-start of implementation of a
number of new bilateral and regional programmes.
In particular, the implementation of 11
th
EDF resources was further rolled out with the
adoption of six new Annual Action Plans (AAPs) for a total of almost EUR 72 million. The
new actions committed in 2015 included four actions for the
Dominican Republic
(public
administration reform, SMEs development, institutional strengthening and the programme on
the integral management of coffee rust) amounting to EUR 32 million or almost 50 % of the
national indicative programme (NIP); for
Jamaica
the justice sector budget support (EUR 24
million); for
St Lucia
and
St Vincent
two emergency reconstruction programmes under the
B-envelope (EUR 6.17 and EUR 6.5 million respectively); for
Belize
a technical cooperation
facility (EUR 1.075 million); and finally for
Trinidad and Tobago
support to civil society
organisations and a technical cooperation facility (EUR 1.7 million).
In addition, a programme for climate change adaptation of EUR three million was adopted
for
Suriname
under the thematic programme global public goods and challenges
(GPGC)/global climate change alliance (GCCA+).
In 2015, the Commissioner endorsed the choice of sectors for the 11
th
EDF programming for
all Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). The implementation of OCT
regional/thematic programmes went according to plan.
Concerning blending, in 2015, five additional projects were contracted under the Caribbean
Investment Facility (CIF),
de facto
committing all funds allocated under the 10
th
EDF
programme. As of December 2015, nine projects were contracted for a total EU grant
contribution of almost EUR 70 million and leveraging a total investment of EUR 535.3
million. The leverage effect of CIF grant was thus in the range of 1:8, above the target of 4-5
included in the financing agreement. The projects approved so far by the board allowed for a
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wide geographical coverage and have targeted the following strategic sectors: energy (five
projects), water and sanitation (two projects), transport (one project), and multi-sector (one
project).
The financial execution of programmes in the Caribbean was in line with the objectives set
for the year, both as far as EDF as well as Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol
Countries (AMSPC) and Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) were concerned. In 2015,
the EU executed payments for a total amount of EUR 238 million for the Caribbean region,
of which EUR 183 million was under the EDF. Out of the total, EUR 101 million was in the
form of budget support (42 %). Under the EDF in 2015 the contracted amount reached EUR
110 million.
Funding under the AMPSC and BAM came to an end in 2013. In 2015, implementation of
the projects under these facilities was further stepped up. In this context, payments were
EUR 47 million in 2015. The beneficiary countries under the sugar facility included
Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica
and
St Kitts
and
Nevis
and
Trinidad and Tobago.
Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent
and the
Grenadines,
and
Suriname
benefited from the BAM.
In 2015, EUR 38 million corresponded to new budget support commitments in the Caribbean
region. This amount included EUR 14 million for two programmes in the
Dominican
Republic
for public administration reform and quality of public services and EUR 24 million
for
Jamaica
for justice sector budget support.
Budget support disbursements in 2015 amounted to EUR 68 million for the EDF under the
following NIPs:
Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Trinidad and Tobago,
Aruba, Haiti,
and
Falklands Islands.
With respect to the sugar funds, EUR 33 million was
disbursed in 2015 to assist sector reform efforts in
Jamaica
and
Barbados.
For the
Dominican Republic,
the last BS payment for the education programme (PAPSE II)
was disbursed with a total amount of EUR 7.5 million. Through the programme (EUR 54.6
million), the EU has contributed successfully to nearly doubling the number of existing
classrooms in the country, to increasing the net enrolment rate in primary level up to more
than 90 % and to contribute to financial decentralisation. In addition, a budget support
payment with a total amount of EUR 4.2 million for the local authorities and civil society
sector reform contract (PASCAL) was disbursed (total amount EUR 18.72 million). The
programme has contributed to a more decentralised, transparent and efficient administration.
The EU has been key for the successful launch and implementation of important initiatives to
promote transparency and accountability such as the management information system of local
authorities (SISMAP system).
EU support to
Jamaica
has contributed to re-establish solid macroeconomic policies and
public finance reforms while safeguarding social spending. In a fragile macroeconomic
context, joint policy dialogue with the authorities contributed to the government’s launching
of a significant structural reform plan. EU funds have also directly supported social
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mitigation of the sugar sector industry reform and increase of sugar industry productivity of
11 % in 2014/15.
Regarding
Haiti
a payment of approximately EUR 31 million was paid under the State
Building Contract with this Country.
Other sectors supported included improvement of business environment in
Turks and
Caicos
and
Trinidad and Tobago;
better management of human resources in
Barbados;
and
education sector improvements in
Aruba.
Monitoring of projects continued with 41 projects reviewed in the region during 2015 across
all sectors of cooperation, under the Results Oriented Monitoring system (ROM). This total
includes 24 bilateral cooperation projects and programmes, including BS operations in
Barbados.
Regional Cooperation
In 2015, the region and the EU have focused on the implementation of the 10
th
EDF and in
the preparation of new programmes under the 11
th
EDF Caribbean regional indicative
programme (CRIP) which was signed in June 2015.
The 10
th
EDF CRIP allocation is EUR 165 million. The regional programme is anchored in
one single focal sector on regional integration and cooperation, which is allocated 85-90 % of
the available 10
th
EDF regional resources. The programme will support the various
integration and cooperation processes in which CARIFORUM countries are involved. These
range from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) economic union to the
CARICOM single market and economy to the EU/CELAC process, and the CARIFORUM/
European Commission Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) implementation.
The non-focal sector of the CRIP addresses vulnerability and social issues with special focus
on crime and security and in empowering non-state actors and capacity development.
The regional portfolio under the 10
th
EDF included a specific EPA support programme for an
amount of EUR 46.5 million. It also included a EUR 28.3 million regional private sector
development programme, which should help the private sector exploit opportunities offered
by the EPA, as well as activities to support the Caribbean single market and economy (EUR
27.5 million), implementation of the economic union of the OECS (EUR 12.6 million) and
special programmes for Haïti and investing in human capital.
Besides the economic integration, 10
th
EDF support has been quite effective in promoting
functional cooperation among CARICOM countries to tackle common challenges through a
regional coordinated response and by strengthening regional institutions. Examples of the
success of this approach include: a) the PANCAP (Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV
and AIDS), which has been designated by the UN as an international best practice; b) The
establishment of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) which has been at the
forefront of coordinating responses to problems such as the outbreak of the chikungunya
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virus; c) The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs); d) IMPACS
(Implementing Agency for Crime and Security); and e) CARICOM regional organisation for
standards and quality (CROSQ), etc.
At the end of 2015, all funds under the 10
th
EDF were committed, 82 % contracted and 46 %
paid.
Case study - Jamaican Justice
In Jamaica, the Security Sector Reform Programme ended in 2015 and has delivered
excellent results in the modernisation of the police forces, the implementation of an anti-
corruption strategy, the establishment of an Independent Anti-Corruption Commission and
the strengthening of the constabulary forces. The period 2009-2014 saw a 40 % reduction in
murders and 2014 saw the number of extrajudicial killings reduced by one-third compared to
2013
94
. Moreover the programme has strengthened the policy dialogue of the EU with the
Government in the area of PFM and macro-economic stabilisation in cooperation with the
International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Jamaica's macroeconomic situation was
very critical few years ago, but today Jamaica has reduced its public debt by more than 10 %
and this trend is predicted to continue.
Case study - Education in the Dominican Republic
In 2015, in the Dominican Republic, the last budget support (BS) payment for the education
sector (PAPSE II) was disbursed with a total amount of EUR 7.5 million. The objective of
PAPSE II is to support government's efforts to implement the National Development Strategy
(NDS) in the education sector, thus contributing to the fight against poverty and to
sustainable development. The EU has contributed successfully with a total amount of EUR
54.6 million over four years to achieve the following objectives: a) a sustained increase of
the sector budget with the allocation to the education sector increasing from 2.18 % to 4.0 %
of GDP between the 2012 baseline and 2015, b) more than doubling the number of existing
classrooms in the country from 1 315 to 4 983 c) increased net enrolment rate in primary
level to more than 90 %, and c) increasing financial decentralisation with the number of
centres benefiting from financial allocations from the national budget boosted from 115 to 2
366.
94
Reports from The Independent Commission for Investigation of Jamaica (INDECOM)
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Case study - Tactical Centre
At regional level, the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC), is a
collaboration between Caribbean States, the European Union, the IMF, the United Kingdom,
Canada and the Caribbean Development Bank. It has the strategic goal to strengthen its
member countries’ institutional capacities to design and implement sound macroeconomic and
financial policies. It covers Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti,
Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Despite its institutional
character (macroeconomic analysis, PFM, statistics etc.), its main outcomes and successes,
including significant revenue system modernisation and addressing the reverberations of
regional financial crises in the wake of the global financial crisis, that have a direct positive
impact on the real economy and jobs.
3.5.
Asia, Central Asia & the Pacific
3.5.1. Asia
3.5.1.1.
Introduction (policy developments)
The year 2015 has seen the EU's continued engagement with Asia. The EU remains a leading
donor of financial assistance for development in Asia, but no less importantly plays a key role
in increasing trade and prosperity, and also in terms of support to the stability and security of
the region without which that development is not sustainable. The HRVP visited the region
frequently, in order to: contribute to high level dialogues in pursuit of the EU strategic
objectives, including on security; to raise EU visibility in Asia and to demonstrate EU
engagement in the region.
The implementation of development aid under the 2014-2020 financial framework continued.
Under the Development Cooperation Instrument, 12 countries in Asia are eligible for bilateral
development aid. Another six graduated countries remain eligible for regional or thematic
programmes. Two notable beneficiaries of such aid are Myanmar, where EU funding
continues to support home-grown transition to stability and democracy, and Nepal where,
following a series of destructive earthquakes, the EU managed to assert its role as one of the
main reconstruction partners.
Through the Partnership Instrument, the EU was able to address global challenges (climate
change, environment, urbanisation, water issues) and to support the external dimension of
key EU policies with regard to Asia. Summits were held with China, Japan and South Korea.
There was continued progress in the negotiation of Framework Agreements, Cooperation
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Agreements and Free Trade Agreements. The Free Trade Agreement with South Korea
entered into force on 13 December.
At a regional level, EU funding continued to support and strengthen cooperation. Relations
with Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) were elevated to a strategic level,
supported by the appointment of an EU Ambassador to ASEAN. The Asia-Europe Meeting
(ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Luxembourg in November 2015, with a
view to preparing the summit meeting to be held in Mongolia in 2016, which will celebrate
20 years of ASEM.
3.5.1.2.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
During 2015, the EU ensured its presence in all areas related to the strategic objectives of
EU-Afghanistan relations. This was achieved thanks to close coordination with EU Member
States and major donors and through concerted efforts to ensure a coherent approach to
development. The EU contributed actively to the preparation of the Senior Officials Meeting
(SOM) on Development in Afghanistan on 5 September 2015, which delivered a renewed
'Self Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework' and an agreement that the EU
would co-host the 2016 Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan in Brussels. Preparations for
the Brussels conference began in late 2015, building on the framework established in
previous Afghanistan conferences and further developing the set of mutual commitments
between the Afghan Government and the international community. The EU also pushed for
improved aid effectiveness, public administration reform and salary harmonisation both
within the government and donor organisations, following closely the restructuring process of
the Capacity Building for Results (CBR) programme as well as the new National Technical
Assistance (NTA) salary scale policy and implementation guidelines.
The
Bangladesh
government and donors coordinate their interventions closely through local
coordination groups and in 2010 elaborated a Joint Cooperation Strategy covering the period
2010-2015 which provides a division of labour and lays out guidelines on effective EU
collaboration to achieve key development outcomes. The EU is a member of Executive
Committee (Development Partners (DP) decision-making body), participates in the DP Local
Coordination Group plenary and Government of Bangladesh/DP Plenary. The EU continued
to co-chair the Governance Working Group and handed over the co-chair of the Aid
Effectiveness Working Group to USAID from June 2015.
In the aftermath of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in 2013, the European Union, the United
States and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) joined with Bangladesh to undertake
a series of significant commitments to foster respect for fundamental labour rights and ensure
worker safety and health in the garment sector. Since then, a number of steps have been
taken, including amendments of labour law, factory inspections and improvements, and
registration of new trade unions.
Joint Programming continues in the region with a new Joint Programming document in
Laos
being prepared in 2015 in cooperation with EU Member States. Following the elections in
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Myanmar
and the change of government donor coordination structures and mechanisms are
being reviewed.
3.5.1.3.
Working towards the MDGs
Bangladesh
is on track or has already achieved five of the eight MDG goals with significant
support from the EU. The 2015 Bangladesh MDG Progress Report shows that Bangladesh
has already met most important targets of MDGs, such as reducing Headcount Ratio
(estimated at 24.8 %) and Poverty Gap Ratio (6.5 against 2015 target of 8.0), attaining
Gender Parity in Primary and Secondary education, Under-five Mortality Rate reduction (41
per 1000 live births in 2013, down from 151 in 1990), and Maternal Mortality Ratio which
declined from 574 in 1991 to an estimated 170 per 100 000 live births in 2013. Bangladesh
succeeded in containing HIV infection with access to antiretroviral drugs, children under five
sleeping under insecticide treated bed nets, and cure rate of TB under the Directly Observed
Treatment Short course (DOTS) strategy. The significant reduction in under-five mortality
rate prove that low income need not be an impediment to saving children’s lives.
The
Philippines
fifth MDG progress report shows that there is a high probability of attaining
14 out of 35 MDG indicators, while 14 indicators have a low chance of being attained and 7
indicators have a medium or fair chance. Significant progress has been made in reducing
infant mortality (19/1000 in 2015, down from 57/1000 in 1990) and under-five mortality
(27/1000 in 2015, down from 80/1000 in 1990), empowering girls and women, improving
access to safe water and sanitary toilet facilities, and countering the incidence of malaria
(morbidity rate fell from 123/100 000 in 1990 to 8/100 000 in 2012). However, additional
efforts are needed to improve the completion rate of primary education, maternal health,
access to reproductive health and prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
3.5.1.4.
Implementation
- Bilateral cooperation including budget support
Sector budget support will remain significant and is the preferred aid modality to support
sector policies and provide a coherent policy dialogue together with progress in public
finance management and more stable macro-economic policies. One state-building contract
(EUR 105 million) was approved for Nepal in 2015 to respond rapidly to the earthquakes and
support the Government to finance the reconstruction needs. Blending with European
Financial institutions is increasing with three projects approved in 2015 (two for India and
one for Bangladesh).
Implementing its 2014-2020
Afghanistan
Multiannual Programme, the EU has prepared
support programmes for a total amount of EUR 258.58 million with EUR 43 million for the
Health Sector, EUR 91 million for the Policing and Rule of Law Sector and EUR 125 million
in incentives to reform depending on the government's performance in the Realising Self
Reliance plan (SMAF). Implementing the Asia Regional programme, the EU prepared a trade
related assistance programme for a total amount of EUR 4.7 million.
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In
Bangladesh,
under the 2014-2020 Multiannual Indicative Programme (EUR 690 million
for democratic governance, education and skills development, and food and nutrition
security), the 2015 Annual Action Plan was adopted with four programmes: a
EUR 50 million top-up for the Third Primary Education Programme (PEDP 3), the ‘Platforms
for Dialogue Project’ for EUR 13 million – ‘Strengthening Inclusion and Participation in
Decision Making and Accountability Mechanisms in Bangladesh’, the ‘Food and Nutrition
Security programme for Bangladesh 2015’ for EUR 85 million, and the ‘Skills 21 -
Empowering citizens for inclusive and sustainable growth’ programme for EUR 20 million.
The first programme is in addition to the ongoing EU contribution to the sector to support the
reform initiatives and implementation of the National Education Policy and makes the
European Union the second largest grant provider for PEDP 3. The second programme will
assist the Government and Civil Society organisations in their mutual efforts to achieve a
more inclusive, transparent and accountable system of governance in the country. The third
programme will improve maternal and child nutrition with three main pillars: 1)
consolidating a national nutrition-sensitive policy framework; 2) addressing stunting in two
districts of Sylhet Division - one of the most critically malnourished areas in the country, and;
3) developing replicable solutions to deliver nutrition services and mobilise communities in
other parts of the country. The fourth programme will support an overall reform of the
Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) sector, which will allow a
comprehensive and coherent policy framework and improve employment opportunities
according to labour market needs.
In 2015, support to the health sector in
Vietnam
made through sector budget support has
resulted in the expansion of health insurance benefits, particularly for the poor: 72 % of
Vietnamese are now insured compared to 69 % in the previous year. The infant mortality rate
and the under-five mortality rate have declined by around 3 % during the period thanks to an
increase in the number of births attended by skilled birth attendants. This was particularly the
case in the ten poorest provinces, which are the focus of EU support for the health sector. In
December 2015, the EU and Vietnam signed a EUR 14 million agreement to promote access
to justice for the most vulnerable citizens of Vietnam (children, women, ethnic minorities).
Furthermore, negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement were concluded, confirming the
success of EU support to Vietnam's internationalisation.
In 2015, the EU evidence-based support to the Ministry of Education and Culture and the
Ministry of Religious Affairs in
Indonesia
was instrumental in the drafting of their mid-term
strategies to improve access and quality of education. During the course of the year, the EU
trained officials and education stakeholders in 108 of the poorest and most remote districts of
the country to increase standards of education and reduce disparities among regions. EU
support to the justice sector in Indonesia resulted in the training of judges with a focus on the
protection of women and children’s' rights.
In
Laos,
the EU has further strengthened its contribution to the Government's efforts in the
fight against malnutrition. With 40 % of children under-five suffering from stunting, the
country has one of the highest rates in the world. Improving the situation and closing the gaps
between rural and urban populations, and between provinces, requires a coordinated response
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and long-term investment by the Government and donors together. The EU has also
strengthened its support in the Education sector, by focusing on reaching disadvantaged
children, notably those living in remote areas, and on further improving teacher's training in
basic education. The EU has continued its support to eliminating Unexploded Ordnances and
other remnants of the Indochina war, which continues to threaten lives and impede rural
development in large parts of the country. Finally, the EU and Member States' commitment
to aid effectiveness has translated into the launching of the first genuine Joint
EU Programming in the region.
Cambodia
has achieved outstanding socio-economic progress in the last decade and was one
of the top performers in meeting the MDGs. However, Cambodia remains a Least Developed
Country with a large part of the population remaining just above the poverty line. With the
significant increase of the bilateral assistance envelope under the 2014-2020 MIP, up to
EUR 410 million, the EU became the biggest grant donor to Cambodia. In 2015, the EU
further strengthened its support in the areas of Public Financial Management, Education and
Governance/Electoral Reform. The EU remains strongly committed to aid effectiveness and
was elected in 2015 by the wider donor community to act as Lead Development Partner
Facilitator, relating to the Government on behalf of the donors on key development
cooperation discussions.
The EU provided extensive support to the electoral process which culminated in the
successful November elections in
Myanmar.
Apart from facilitating the crucial work of the
Myanmar Peace Centre and addressing needs in conflict-affected areas, a major achievement
was the establishment of the multi-donor Joint Peace Fund under EU leadership, which
supports nationally-led efforts to achieve a lasting settlement of the ethnic armed conflict in a
flexible, responsive and coherent manner. The access to justice project (MyJustice) started
implementation and focuses on assisting people and their communities to identify and access
pathways to justice, while the trade programme provided important assistance on trade
policy, trade facilitation, food safety and (phyto)sanitary measures. Eurochamber Myanmar
was also launched to serve as the voice of European business in Myanmar. The speedy
reallocation of funds under a number of ongoing EU co-financed projects attenuated the
impact of the devastating 2015 floods and landslides. The immediate needs of 150 000 people
were covered through the three Millennium Development Goals Fund and at least 285 000
people were reached through the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund. A new EU
development support package was decided on sustainable aquaculture (EUR 20 million),
police reform (EUR 30 million) and peace-building (EUR 20 million).
The 2014-2020 MIP for bilateral cooperation in
Sri Lanka
was adopted in August 2014,
allocating up to EUR 210 million. A sum of EUR 30 million was committed in 2015 for the
programme on ‘Integrated Rural Development in Central and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka’.
The programme is subject to the first Financing Agreement signed with the government of Sri
Lanka. This is possible due to the increased engagement with the new Government. Besides
identification of programmes under the single focal sector "rural development", there are new
opportunities for the EU to engage with the Government in making further progress on
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reconciliation, strengthening good governance and tackling corruption, promoting respect for
human rights and the rule of law.
In
Pakistan,
EU support in
rural development
is focusing on fragile and underserved areas
and communities lacking access to basic services, including in the marginalised areas of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Federal Administered Tribunal Areas and Baluchistan and districts of
inner Sindh and South Punjab, due to their exposure to natural disasters or insurgency and
terrorism. In 2015 in Balochistan, the policy dialogue has been fruitful for the preparation of
the new programme ‘Rural Development and Community Empowerment’ where the
provincial authorities really own the methodology of action, based on the positive experience
of the on-going rural development programme. It contributes to reinforcing the performance
of local Government, improving rural livelihoods by promoting economic growth and
employment opportunities and augmenting the nutritional status of women and children in
rural areas. In
Education
the EU continues to support reforms at provincial level (Sindh and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) both in basic education and market and job oriented technical and
vocational training. In 2015, in spite of progress and better results of the basic education
system on a number of key indicators, enrolment rate results in public schools remain
disappointing, while private sector enrolment rate improved.
The two Financing Agreements on access to sustainable energy (EUR 60 million) and
governance in the justice sector (EUR 16 million) were signed between the EU and the
Government of the
Philippines
at the end of 2015, paving the way for implementation in
2016. On 15 August, a National Health Summit with the theme ‘Universal Health Care:
Making Local Health Service Delivery Work’ took place with EU support. In September, the
Philippines and the EU co-chaired the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) workshop on raising
awareness and promoting ARF cooperation on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear
(CBRN) risk mitigation. The year 2015 also marked the full swing of the campaign "We
inspire each other".
- Regional cooperation
The EU Mission to ASEAN was inaugurated in August 2015, with the appointment of the
first EU dedicated ambassador to ASEAN. Also in 2015, the Joint Communication ‘EU and
ASEAN: a partnership with a strategic purpose was adopted. An important milestone in 2015
on the ASEAN side was the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community in late
2015.
Under regional cooperation, in 2015, further support was provided to the deepening of
relations with ASEAN. Notably a EUR 20 million project on ‘sustainable use of peat-lands
and haze mitigation’ was approved. Preparations for a wide-ranging programme on
‘connectivity’ were made.
As regards trade related assistance in the South of Asia, allocations were made to
Afghanistan, Mongolia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In terms of Aid to uprooted people,
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allocations were made for refugees in Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand. These allocations were
made in addition to those made to Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka the previous year.
In addition, under the regional programme, further support to the Asia Investment Facility
was provided.
Case Study - Increasing food security in Central Afghanistan
Since January 2014, an EU-funded food security project, entitled ‘Vegetable
Gardening in
Afghanistan, Introducing vegetable cultivation to increase food security in Central
Highlands’
has taught 540 women how to cultivate vegetables and legumes, in an effort to
decrease malnutrition and increase the consumption of diverse and healthy foods. Around
900 families were supported in Bamiyan and Ghor provinces. These new skills extend far
beyond the life of the project, as women can now plant seeds every year. The project will end
in 2017 and received an EU contribution of EUR 1 779 400.
Case Study - Nepal - EU Action for Recovery and Reconstruction (NEARR)
In response to the devastating earthquakes of April and May 2015 in Nepal, the EU pledged
at the International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction (held in June 2015, a post disaster
support for reconstruction) the
Nepal-EU Action for Recovery and Reconstruction
(NEARR), which entails EUR 100 million budget support and EUR 5 million for
complementary measures. The NEARR programme was prepared in record time and supports
the Government of Nepal in its ‘New Nepal Building Campaign’, the rehabilitation and
reconstruction process after the earthquakes, while respecting the norms and principles of
Building Back Better (BBB). The objectives of this SBC are i) to improve the financial and
implementation capacity of the government for recovery and reconstruction, ii) foster
resilience and disaster preparedness, and iii) enhance transparency and accountability in the
reconstruction processes.
The programme entails policy dialogue with the government of Nepal to ensure that
reconstruction efforts will have an adequate focus on the most vulnerable and will foster
resilience. Aspects of Public Finance Management will also be addressed to ensure
transparency and value for money.
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Case Study - Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh
In 2014, an EU contribution of EUR 25 million was approved for the second phase of the
successful EU and UNDP supported
Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh
(AVCB)
project. The project empowers the poor, women and vulnerable groups to access a fair,
effective, expeditious, transparent and affordable system of dispute resolution at the local
government level. The project follows an earlier phase funded by EUR 11 million, which
targeted 351 local government units in six of the country's seven divisions (Dhaka, Rangpur,
Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet), and will extend the outreach to a significant portion
of the country (up to 20 million people) with the introduction of Village Courts in an
estimated 1 000 communes. Village Courts provide a simple legal framework people can
understand as the first tier of (quasi-)formal dispute resolution. They strengthen local
authorities, make them more responsive to local needs and function as a bridge between
informal and formal institutions. Village Courts are specifically intended to provide access to
justice for the rural poor and other disadvantaged and marginalised groups in Bangladesh.
Research and Innovation
The main synergies between Commission services in this region relate to the area of
aquaculture that is of key socio-economic impact for the entire ASEAN region, especially the
sub-Mekong area. The EU’s national plans with Myanmar, Lao and Cambodia are aligned
with the research approach valuing sustainable production and EU interests.
READI and its successor programme E-READI are of high value to set specific activities,
especially directed towards capacity building of the region's experts and the development of
the ASEAN-secretariat’s own capacity for setting research agendas of common interest to
EU. For example see the outcomes of the 6th ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Science and
Technology was held on 5 November 2015 in Vientiane, Lao PDR
95
.
Finally, related to the Lower Mekong countries, Commission services are developing
synergies on water research, with focus on sustainable utilisation of water resources and
trans-boundary water issues. The sub-regional cooperation framework and exchange of
expertise, between the countries in the Danube and Mekong river regions are being
considered as central to enable a common approach
96
.
95
http://www.asean.org/chairmans-statement-of-the-16th-asean-ministerial-meeting-on-science-and-technology-
ammst-16/
96
eeas.europa.eu/.../2015/190515_joint_communication_eu_and_asean.pdf; eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/201
4/140723_03_en.pdf
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3.5.2. Central Asia
3.5.2.1.
Introduction (policy developments)
In June 2015, the Council reviewed the 2007 EU strategy for Central Asia reflecting on
lessons learnt and the changes in the region as well as the altering geopolitical situation
around it. The Council reconfirmed the validity of the EU approach, emphasising the need for
a differentiated approach to Central Asian countries as well as better involvement of the
Member States in our actions. The EU-Central Asia policy dialogue intensified at various
levels including ministerial conferences, regional technical groups (notably under the flagship
regional initiative areas of education, the rule of law and the environment and water, as well
as on human rights promotion and the action plan on drugs and border management) and
national level enhancing further cooperation and promoting the effective implementation of
projects at regional and bilateral level. In December 2015, the Council Working Party on
Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) agreed to the establishment of a sub-working
group for development cooperation to allow a direct dialogue between the EU and country
line Ministries to ensure a regular and more focused discussion on DCI support to Central
Asia, mainly to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
The EU-Central Asia High Level Security Dialogue aiming to jointly identifying new areas
and new ways for cooperation on security issues, notably in relation with Afghanistan, was
established.
The signing of the new EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in
December 2015 in Astana elevated bilateral relations to a new level.
The new EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Central Asia Peter Burian was appointed.
Focus on reducing poverty
In the region, growth, equality and environmental sustainability are an uneasy mix. On the
one hand, extreme poverty has largely been eradicated (with the exception of some areas
within the lowland lower/middle-income countries). Likewise, virtually all children attend
primary school and there has been progress in reducing pollution and enhancing
environmental protection and resource and energy efficiency. On the other hand, inequalities
in income and wealth are on the rise across the region high-, middle- and low-income
countries. Countries in the region have yet to reach the health and gender equality targets of
the Millennium Development Goals. To make matters worse, prospects for economic growth
in many of the region’s wealthiest countries have deteriorated since the onset of the global
financial and economic crisis in 2008 and more recently with the economic crisis in Russia.
While they may appear in different places in different guises challenges of social inclusion,
security, and equality are common and growing features of the region. Central Asia continues
to be vulnerable to external instability stemming from water scarcity, cross-border water
disputes and unsustainable energy use. EU cooperation through the DCI focuses on
agriculture and rural development, education, support to social and private sector, sustainable
development and environmental protection, including the management of water resources.
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3.5.2.2.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
In Central Asia, the number of aid (international and EU) donors is limited and the EU
supports donor coordination, mainly through country-level efforts. In line with the review of
the EU-Central Asia Strategy in June 2015, specific attention on the involvement of Member
States is actively pursued in bilateral and regional programmes. The EU has also increased its
cooperation with international financing institutions, enhancing overall coordination and
enabling a sharper focus on priority areas to improve the impact of assistance.
During 2015, the Commission continued to foster donor coordination and implement the EU
division of labour in Central Asia. In Uzbekistan, although the country is not a signatory of
the Paris declaration, sector working groups on education, agriculture and health have been
established and are co-chaired by the Government.
In Kyrgyzstan, the EU is the co-chair of the broader donor group (the Development Partners
Coordination Council) which meets monthly. Division of labour is actively pursued in
specific thematic sub-groups. With support of Swiss cooperation, the Government is setting-
up an Aid Management Platform that is very much supported by the EU. In Tajikistan, work
on the division of labour is pursued through the Development Coordination Council. Within
this framework, donors are looking for greater transparency on current and planned activities
with the aim of avoiding double funding and increased synergies between activities.
Although Turkmenistan is not yet a signatory of the Paris Declaration, and given that there is
no EU Delegation in the country, the EU has pushed for more coordination with the other
Donors present, mainly the
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
(GIZ),
the World Bank, UN, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
In 2015, around one-third of EU support was channelled through sector budget support
programmes (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan).
3.5.2.3.
Working towards the MDGs
The transition economies in Central Asia experienced numerous difficulties in adopting the
MDG framework and specific targets to their own circumstances. The form and extent of the
MDG ‘ownership’ varies widely under different nationalisation processes. Besides, having
already met the poverty target, countries in Central Asia appear close to meeting others on
education and gender equality by 2015, but the region's environmental targets were missed.
Child mortality and maternal health remain major challenges although the region has reduced
the under-five mortality rate by more than half and the maternal mortality ratio by half. Little
progress was made on access to water and safeguarding natural resources though protecting
terrestrial and marine areas. The challenges of moving towards sustainable production and
consumption patterns while still enjoying the benefits of economic growth and without
exacerbating social tensions are relevant throughout the region.
Kazakhstan
has achieved MDGs 1, 2 and 3 and has set more ambitious ‘MDG+’ goals: to
halve poverty among the rural population; achieve universal secondary education; ensure
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gender mainstreaming in national planning and budgeting; prevent violence against women;
and increase women’s representation in legislative and executive bodies. It has also achieved
the indicators for skilled birth attendance (MDG 5) and Tuberculosis (TB) incidence and
prevalence (MDG 6). However, there are some troubling trends for the underweight children
indicator (MDG 1).
Kyrgyzstan
has made considerable progress in the achievement of the MDGs. The target
benchmarks for a number of indicators for MDGs 1, 2, 3 and 8 have already been reached.
The country was on track to reach MDG 4 and has attained the MDG 6 targets on TB
incidence and prevalence. Nevertheless, a number of goals need increased attention,
including those related to maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS. The first negative
effects of climate change on progress towards MDGs, and economic and social sectors
require that appropriate adjustment measures be made.
While
Tajikistan
achieved MDG 1 with regard to reducing poverty, malnutrition remains
high and is undermining the achievements of MDGs relating to health (notably infant
mortality). Tajikistan has nonetheless managed to reduce the TB incidence as well as
prevalence of HIV (MDG 6). MDG 2 on universal Primary education has been achieved;
however, the quality of education provided remains a concern, as well as the access of
women to secondary and tertiary level. Improvements on maternal health are moving slowly,
and did not allow the completion of MDG 5. Regarding MDG7 and environmental
sustainability, the country only met the targets on improving sanitation facilities. The
economic crisis faced by the country in 2015, mainly linked to the economic slowdown of the
Russian economy, is a new challenge the country has to face with regard to attaining MDGs.
Should the tendency continue in the future, this might put at stake some of the progress
achieved and could send a considerable number of people back to poverty.
In
Uzbekistan,
the challenge in accessing updated data remains for assessing actual progress
against indicators. Based on 2013 data, it is expected that MDG 1 was achieved in 2015,
reducing poverty by half, from 27.5 % in 2001 to 13.5 % in 2015. The country also
demonstrated a strong commitment toward the achievement of the other MDGs. It achieved
three national targets on primary education, gender equality in primary and secondary
education and a reduction of maternal mortality by one-third, and is on track for achieving the
under-five child mortality MDG. Yet progress remains to be made in improving the quality of
education, gender equality in tertiary education, further reducing infant mortality, halting the
spread of HIV and tuberculosis, and ensuring environmental sustainability.
The lack of transparent data also continues to be a major constraint in the analysis of
economic and social developments in
Turkmenistan
and has not allowed the proper
monitoring of progress towards MDGs. However, donors have reported moderate progress
towards the achievement of some MDGs, such as gender equality, child mortality, maternal
health, combating HIV/AIDS and environmental sustainability.
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3.5.2.4.
Implementation
In 2015, new EU development cooperation commitments to Central Asia totalled EUR 138
million.
Kazakhstan
is no longer eligible for Development Cooperation under the DCI (Upper
Middle Income-OECD DAC) for the period 2014-2020. The implementation of bilateral
cooperation continued with programmes, committed before 2014, on public sector reform,
economic diversification and foreign investments, support to judicial reform and support to a
Green Economy Model.
In
Kyrgyzstan,
the Social Protection support programme contributed to progress in public
financial management reform (notably the realisation of an internal audit) and to the adoption
of several government programmes to improve care of children living in institutions. A new
support programme started implementation in 2015, aiming to consolidate achievements and
to phase out the EU support in the sector.
In 2015, a sector reform programme was successfully implemented in the Education sector.
New budget support and programmes were prepared and adopted for a total of
EUR 49.1 million, one to strengthen the electoral system and another to build on
achievements in the education sector.
In
Tajikistan,
the EU started its assistance in a new focal area, education, with the adoption
of a EUR 15 million programme focusing on developing secondary level and TVET teachers
competencies, as well as developing a National Learning Assessment System and
strengthening planning, budgeting and monitoring process with the Ministry of Education.
EU support to health and social protection continued achieving further policy results. In the
health sector, the Tajik government adopted a new decree approving the strategic plan for
health financing reform, including the implementation of a per capita system and of national
health insurance. In social protection, a targeted social assistance scheme was expanded to 25
districts, and the number of day care centres providing non institutional forms of social
services was increased to 14. With the support of the EU regional project in the field of water
and of the bilateral programme on rural development, the Tajik government adopted a
National Water Sector Reform Programme for 2016-2025.
In
Turkmenistan
EU support to the Government's reform agenda continued throughout 2015
within a complex institutional context. The EU continued to implement programmes with a
focus on economic diversification and private sector development and support to trade
related-policies and transfer of energy saving know-how. The EU bilateral projects on
sustainable development, private sector development and technical regulations, continued to
build knowledge and capacities via tailored training courses and seminars for key Turkmen
stakeholders. The third phase of the project on Public Finance Management started in April
2015. In 2015 the EU adopted a new commitment for EUR 9.5 million to support education
and vocational training.
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In
Uzbekistan,
EU support continued throughout 2015 within a complex institutional
context. Two programmes were finalised in 2015: ‘Support to Criminal Justice’ and the
‘Institutional Building and Partnership Programmes’. The EU programme in support to the
Reform of the Criminal Justice Sector was implemented by specialised agencies of EU
Member States and provided capacity building at key operational levels within the
Uzbekistan Supreme Court Research Centre, the General Prosecutor's office, the Ministry of
Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Another ongoing programme, the ‘Improvement
of Mother and Child Health Services’ actively supports ongoing health reforms by
implementing an integrated package for new-born and child survival interventions. A new
EUR 5 million commitment was approved to monitor, alongside the World Bank and ILO,
the working conditions of the cotton harvest.
Regional Programme for Central Asia
- Under the Regional Programme, the Investment Facility for Central Asia (IFCA) continued
to provide targeted assistance by blending EU grants with loans from EFIs to gain financial
and qualitative leverage and thereby increase the impact of EU cooperation. IFCA contributes
to the funding of activities in the sectors of environment (renewable energies and energy
efficiency), energy (renewable energies and energy efficiency), municipal infrastructures
(waste, water) and SMEs. In 2015, commitments were approved for an amount of
EUR 60 million and new projects were prepared for a total amount of EUR 14 million in
IFCA grant contributions, contributing to investment projects amounting to a total value of
roughly EUR 28 million.
- Thematic regional dialogue is supported through the regional EU Central Asia Platform.
The second phase of the EU-Central Asia Rule of Law Platform was launched in 2015. The
Platform continues implementing the ‘Rule of Law Initiative for Central Asia’. In October
2015, the Central Asian partners approved the programme of activities 2015-2017 directly
supporting key reforms on defined priority areas of cooperation: criminal law, administrative
law, commercial/economic law and judicial reform. The EU Central Asia Education Platform
responds to the need for a more structured dialogue on education modernisation in the region
and for coordination of EU and Member State cooperation initiatives in this sector. The
second phase of the Platform has been ongoing since March 2015. The EU-Central Asia
Platform for Environment and Water cooperation supported several regional events as well as
the Ministerial meeting on Environment, Water and Climate Change held in Milan in
October.
- Support to private sector: in September 2015, the fourth phase of Central Asia Invest was
initiated to ensure continuation of our support to boosting small businesses' competitiveness
and improve the investment climate in Central Asia. Central Asia Invest works through direct
grants to Business Intermediary Organisations and through a targeted support to OECD. The
latter allows OECD to lead working groups on competitiveness issues in Central Asian
countries as well as engaging in high level policy dialogues. In November 2015, a high level
policy dialogue among Ministries of Eurasia took place jointly with the peer-review of
Kazakhstan (projects financed by the EU) in Paris, in the framework of the OECD Eurasia
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competitiveness week. In December, a Call for Proposal was launched (total amount EUR 7.5
million) to support the role and capacity of Central Asia Business Intermediary
Organisations. The multi-country grant projects will be implemented by partnerships of
Business Intermediary Organisations from Europe and Central Asia and covers all Central
Asian countries.
- Security: the sixth phase of Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP) started its
activities in 2015 and will support drug prevention/reduction measures preventing and
reducing drug use and drug-related harm to health and society. The next phase of the Border
Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 9), started in April 2015 and provides
capacity building to strengthen Integrated Border Management. Enhancing Policy Dialogue is
a priority within the two programmes. Activities are aiming at policy improvement in
sensitive sectors such as drug treatments, drug use prevention and, regarding border
management, on border frictions, trade, and migration flows.
- Energy: The Central Asia Sustainable Energy Programme continued its activities in 2015 to
develop National Energy Plans targeting, in particular, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy in Central Asia. Regular seminars and progress were achieved particularly in
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan where the government's response and participation was quite high.
In Kyrgyzstan, the project activities led to the adoption by the government in August 2015 of
the 'National Plan on Energy Savings'. In 2015 the project also started to work with the
Uzbek Ministry of Health and Ministry of Economy on a pilot programme for the Rural
Health Centre/Clinic (RHC). The programme has the objective to use photovoltaic power to
make the RHCs energy self-sufficient.
Case Study - Improving lives through energy efficiency
The Kyrgyz Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (KyrSEFF) offers loans and grants for the
improvement of energy efficiency of residential buildings and industrial enterprises. This
EBRD funded investment project of EUR 15.4 million is complemented by an IFCA
contribution of EUR 6.8 million, permitting an attractive bonus scheme where individual
projects can receive grants of 10-35 % on the KyrSEFF eligible loan.
Abdimavlyan Kurbanov, the owner of a small café in Karakol, one of Kyrgyzstan's major
tourist destinations, is one of the beneficiaries of KyrSEFF. Due to bad insulation, Mr
Kurbanov spent a lot of money on heating bills and sometimes even had to close his café on
cold winter days. He applied for a loan of USD 50 000 from KyrSEFF offering more
attractive conditions than regular loans, which was affordable for him. The IFCA grant
component played a very important role in the affordability of the loan. The loan helped him
to improve the café's insulation. Energy savings resulting from this project were estimated at
49 %, corresponding to CO2 emission savings of 22.9 tonnes per year.
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Case Study - Better veterinary services in rural Tajikistan
With EU support, the Tajikistan Veterinary Association is working towards delivering
sustainable veterinary services to local communities and humans in order to improve rural
livelihoods through healthy and productive livestock. Over the two years, the Tajikistan
Veterinary Association has conducted various training sessions for 407 veterinarians and
published several types of training materials. It contributed to the allocation of land plots for
the construction of private veterinary clinics for 747 veterinarians, to the construction of 35
private veterinary clinics, and has supplied 60 veterinary clinics with tables, chairs, shelves,
refrigerators, etc. The Tajik Veterinary Association has also distributed 20 units of animal
surgery equipment, 63 computers, and 12 printers to vets, and supplied 90 vets with 44 items
of equipment (overalls, syringes, instruments for surgery and treatment) and veterinary
medicines free of charge. Finally, the Tajik Veterinary Association contributed to the design
of three draft decrees, submitted to the Government of Tajikistan on delivery of private
veterinary services, and to the drafting of more than 30 guidelines which were registered at
the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan.
Case Study - Introducing sustainable energy policies
With a EUR 3 million bilateral programme on ‘Support to the introduction of sustainable
development policies’, this project supports the Turkmen authorities in the revision of their
legislative framework with a view to foster the transition to a more green economy. Specific
seminars and training courses with key Turkmen institutions were organised in 2015 for the
elaboration of a joint strategy to ‘switch to green’ and additional activities are being designed
for the current year. The project has also a demonstration component which will result in the
installation of photovoltaic panels for solar energy in remote and less-populated areas of the
country.
Case Study - EU Central Asia Education Platform
In March 2015, the second phase of the EU Central Asia Education Platform was launched as
a key pillar of the European Education Initiative for Central Asia. It contributes to
strengthening education reforms in Central Asia by promoting policy dialogue, better
coordinated donor-financed education projects, and to increasing cooperation within the
region. Under the Platform, the first EU-Central Asia Education Ministerial meeting was
organised in Riga, in May 2015, with strong involvement from the Latvian Presidency and
the EU. The conference led to the adoption of a joint communiqué and roadmap of activities
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by EU-Central Asia Ministers and Delegates. Such a level of political buy-in for the initiative
was a first among Central Asia Countries. From an EU perspective, the buy-in was
substantiated by the commitment of two EU Member States, Poland and Latvia, to become
leading Member States of the platform.
Case Study - Management Training in Uzbekistan
The project ‘Management Training programme’ aims to contribute to the improvement of the
performance of the Small Business and Private Entrepreneurship sector in the Republic of
Uzbekistan in terms of contribution to GDP and job creation. The project is relevant to the
Uzbekistan Government policies that clearly support private sector and SME development.
Working together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, it provides
internships for Uzbek's SME managers in EU SMEs. Internships are awarded through calls
for applicants, which are assessed against established and transparent criteria. During training
and internships in EU companies Uzbek managers exchange experiences with their EU
colleagues, learn about modern management methods, and get acquainted with European
business culture. Uzbek companies have the opportunity to build up a network of new EU
business partners, increase their competitiveness and business performance and
bring international business cooperation in Uzbekistan to a new level. To date, more than 80
internships have been awarded. The project will carry on until 2017.
3.5.3. Pacific
3.5.3.1.
Introduction (policy developments)
Climate change is the single greatest threat to the Pacific region and challenges its ability to
progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The alliance forged
for the Paris climate conference in December between the EU and the Small Island
Developing States (SIDS) proved to be very effective with a view to concluding the universal
agreement on climate action.
The EU both increased additional climate change funds for the Pacific and continued
supporting efforts towards eligibility for budget support across the Pacific Region, where
assistance delivered through projects tends to overstretch small administrations.
The EU is encouraging the region to ratify and implement UN Conventions on human rights
and the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court. These matters are also brought up
in regular Political Dialogues under Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement.
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After successfully held elections in 2014, the EU resumed full development cooperation with
Fiji, which enabled the programming of assistance to Fiji under the 11
th
EDF. The remaining
National Programmes for Fiji and Papua New Guinea and the Regional Indicative
Programmes of the 11
th
EDF were signed on 16 June, in the margins of Commissioner
Mimica's visit to Fiji.
Finally, Commissioner Arias Cañete, responsible for climate action, attended the 46
th
Pacific
Island Forum annual meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), in September, to
confirm the EU's long-term partnership and support to the region's efforts towards sustainable
development. On behalf of the EU he signed a Joint Declaration on reinforced cooperation in
the field of sustainable energy with the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia,
Nauru, Niue, Palau and Tonga
3.5.3.2.
Aid effectiveness and donor coordination
Donor coordination was effectively pursued, notably through the systematic participation in
the annual donor coordination meetings hosted by the partner Pacific countries.
In the regional context, close coordination among the main development partners was
achieved through several consolidated mechanisms, notably the Pacific Region Infrastructure
Facility (PRIF), the Heptagon meetings and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC)
Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA). The 11
th
EDF
regional programming exercise also emphasised the donor coordination dimension.
The opportunities for concrete cooperation with EU Member States (e.g., through joint
programming) were limited due to the low level presence of Member States aid implementing
agencies in the region. Nonetheless, Member States were systematically consulted on the
preparation and kept informed of progress in implementation.
3.5.3.3.
Working towards the MDGs
The Pacific region has recorded mixed outcomes in the achievement of the MDGs, with only
two countries (Cook Islands and Niue) achieving all MDGs and three countries (Fiji, Tonga
and Palau) achieving at least half of the MDGs. The rest of the countries achieved less than
half of the goals, with two of them (PNG and Solomon Islands) not achieving any of the
MDGs.
MDG1 (poverty reduction) was met only by Cook islands and Niue.
The provision of free and compulsory primary education was the key to achieving MDG2
(universal primary education).
While gender equality in primary and secondary education was achieved in most of the
region, progress towards empowering women was much slower. Political steps towards
gender equality and women's empowerment (MDG3) were undertaken, but against the
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backdrop of the cultural constraints in the Pacific region, much is still to be done, particularly
in fighting violence against women and increasing women's political representation.
Nine countries in the region achieved MDG4, measured through increased antenatal services,
higher immunisation rates, exclusive breastfeeding and access to clean water and sanitation
services, while only two countries failed to achieve MDG5 (improved maternal health).
Six Pacific countries achieved MDG6 (combating HIV and other major diseases).
The principles of sustainable development were integrated into regional plans, but only seven
countries achieved MDG7 (to ensure environmental sustainability).
The provision of ODA was essential in progressing towards the MDGs. This is expected to be
even more critical in the framework of the SDGs, given the limited availability of domestic
fiscal resources and the very small private sector.
Through cooperation in the areas of water and sanitation, energy and sustainable rural
development, the EU contributed to progress in the achievement of MDG1, MDG2, MDG4,
MDG6 and MDG7. MDG3 was addressed both through specific programmes and as a cross-
cutting issue. The EU's continued cooperation with the region contributed to MDG8 (to
develop a global partnership for development).
3.5.3.4.
Implementation
In 2015, the 11
th
EDF programming was completed, with the signature of the NIPs with Fiji,
PNG and Solomon Islands, and also the signing of the RIP.
There was substantial continuity in the selection of the national focal sectors (especially
energy, water and sanitation and sustainable rural development), with due consideration
given to the impact of climate change. To increase the impact of development cooperation,
only one national priority area was selected for the smallest partner countries.
The formal re-establishment of bilateral cooperation with Fiji under the 11
th
EDF, following
the return of the country to democracy and the rule of law, was one of the main highlights of
2015.
Effective coordination with international development partners was particularly significant in
Vanuatu, in the aftermath of tropical cyclone Pam's destructive passage, in March 2015. The
EU Delegations in the region effectively supported the Government in performing the Post-
Disaster Needs Assessment exercise with a view to mobilising coordinated support from the
EDF reserve.
The implementation of the 10
th
EDF continued in 2015. Tonga's energy Sector Reform
Contract (SRC) continued to effectively support the country's energy sector, contributing to
the rehabilitation of the outer islands affected by cyclone Ian in 2014. The implementation of
the programme was accompanied by sound efforts in public finance management, to the
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extent that it was possible to adopt a new EUR 10 million SRC in 2015, with the objective of
further support to Tonga's reform agenda until 2020.
Samoa achieved good progress in water and sanitation sector reform in 2015 and confirmed
its excellent absorption capacity.
The implementation of bilateral cooperation in the Region continued to move towards budget
support. New commitments to budget support programmes in 2015 amounted to roughly
EUR 33.7 million, with payments of approximately EUR 21.7 million for ongoing
programmes, against measurable progress in the attainment of sector objectives and PFM
reforms.
The 11
th
EDF regional programming was an open and participative process, with
development partners and regional and international organisations taking an active part in
discussing and defining regional priorities. These were ultimately identified as Regional
Economic Integration, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, Governance and
Human Rights.
Regular meetings with Member State missions in the region were held by the EU delegations
and input was sought, in particular, on the involvement of Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs), gender balance and trade.
Climate change was the main focus of the efforts undertaken in 2015, not least in view of the
COP21 conference. The organisation of several high-level events and the continued policy
dialogue with the P-ACP countries, in addition to helping secure a close Pacific-EU alliance
before and during COP21, allowed for the effective and coordinated programming and
implementation of several climate change adaptation initiatives.
Relations with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), a key international
organisation and implementing partner for the EU cooperation in the region, improved
significantly in 2015. The EU regularly participated in SPC's high level meetings organised
to discuss both policy and implementation issues. Furthermore, an Administrative
Arrangement was signed between the European Commission and the SPC, which will finally
allow the Commission to formally voice its opinions concerning the strategic decisions of the
organisation and which represents an important intermediate step towards further
strengthening the partnership.
The implementation of ongoing (10
th
EDF) programmes continued to achieve effective
results in 2015. In particular, in the area of hazardous waste management, a region-wide
asbestos baseline survey was completed, identifying 73 separate interventions across 11
countries. Furthermore, contracts were signed for the provision of incinerators for healthcare
waste to be installed in 11 countries.
Summary sheets for the 11
th
EDF programme were endorsed for the four Pacific-OCT.
Pacific-OCT's and Pacific-ACP's regional priorities overlap in common areas of interest
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(environment, climate change and natural resources), thus allowing for closer coordination
and integration of the relevant regional programmes.
Case Study - Farming in Fiji
The EU continued to support the fair-trade certification process in Fiji, providing technical
assistance to sugarcane farmers.
Farmers' associations with total membership of around 15 000 were supported. These
sugarcane farmers have benefited from the fair-trade scheme which generated additional
income.
The scheme enabled the farmers to receive an extra premium payment of 20 % for their
sugarcane. The use of the premium is collectively managed by the associations and
distributed to community projects and used to pay for, for example, for herbicides, fertilisers
or school fees.
Case Study - Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy
The Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (ACSE) Programme aims at
enhancing sustainable livelihoods, strengthening capacities to adapt to the adverse effects of
climate change and enhancing energy security in the Pacific Region.
Sixteen specific projects have been adopted and are underway in eleven countries, with an
overall allocation of about EUR 7.5 million. The selection of the projects followed the
preparation of detailed Project Design Documents that were assessed by a Regional
Assessment Board.
Case Study - Human Resources Development
In Papua New Guinea, the lack of qualified teachers and education facilities continues to be a
major problem, especially acute in remote areas, leaving many children out of school.
The EU has supported the provision of well-trained teachers to remote villages in Papua New
Guinea to ensure that children in all parts of the country have access to quality education. As
part of the Human Resources Development Programme, scholarships were provided to 900
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trainee primary school teachers from remote rural areas (at least 50 % women), and
classrooms and dormitories in three teacher training colleges were built.
Research and Innovation
In the area of research and innovation, Asian participation in FP7 was led by China (over 380
participants in 270 collaborative research projects and over 880 Chinese researchers
participating in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme with a Commission contribution of
over EUR 34 million), India (over 250 participants and around EUR 37 million of funding)
and ASEAN (212 participants and over EUR 27 million funding).
The second meeting of the EU-China Innovation Cooperation Dialogue (ICD-2) took place in
June 2015. The ICD-2 has committed to ensure reciprocal access to respective research and
innovation funding programmes; the two sides have agreed to set up a new co-funding
mechanism and agreements have been reached to continue important thematic cooperation in
areas such as Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology, Sustainable Urbanisation, Aviation,
Energy, ICT, GEO, and Health. The joint conclusions of the second Innovation Cooperation
Dialogue where consolidated at the 12th EU-China Joint Steering Committee Meeting on
Science and Technology that took place in October 2015.
Following on from the joint declaration on research and innovation signed at the EU-India
Summit in 2012 enhanced cooperation between India, the EU and its Member States is still
on-going. The 10
th
Meeting of the India-EU Science and Technology Joint Steering
Committee took place in November 2015. The continuation of the existing India-EU Science
and Technology Cooperation Agreement for the period 2015 to 2020 was endorsed. The
principles of a co-funding mechanism to allow Indian researchers to join research projects
with European teams under Horizon 2020 were agreed. EU-India Science and Technology
cooperation in the field of water, health and energy were enhanced through the opening of JPI
and ERANETs Member State-led initiatives to Indian participation.
Collaboration with Central Asia regarding research and innovation is promoted through the
INCONET CA project. Thematic focus lies on health, renewable energy and climate change.
Results showed evidence for a high level of research competence in the region with regards
to water issues. On request of the Government of Kyrgyzstan the project is conducting a
review of the country’s research and innovation system.
Research collaboration with South Asian countries focuses on Marie Skłodowska-Curie
fellowships and collaboration research projects related to reducing the burden of tobacco-
related lung diseases and life-style modification affecting citizens at high risk of type-2
diabetes.
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Concerning the Pacific, a new network, PACE-NET Plus
97
, was launched in 2013 to Support
the EU-Pacific policy dialogue in Science, Technology and Innovation including dialogue on
innovation issues. In 2015, PACE-NET Plus also focused its EU-Pacific bi-regional dialogue
platform event held on 23/24 June 2015 at Brussels on: 'EU-Pacific bi-regional policy
dialogue: Moving further towards a policy dialogue in ST&I'. The platform gathered some
80 delegates from Europe and the South Pacific, all senior scientists or decision-makers
involved in the area. Participants also actively discussed policy recommendations elaborated
in the framework of the project, the aims of which are to strengthen cooperation between
Europe and the South Pacific, and to increase the visibility of areas of research in need of
support, within the political institutions of the South Pacific. To sustain this bi-regional
dialogue, the project also aims to increase the understanding within Europe of the potential
and perspective of the South Pacific nations. The delegates were enthusiastic in pursuing this
dialogue, and reasserted the necessity to implement a Regional Committee for research in the
South Pacific, as well as the importance of the European Union to launch research project
calls in a format suitable for the South Pacific region. Also highlighted was the formidable
research opportunity represented for both regions by the development of a multi-disciplinary
observation system of climate change in the South Pacific. PACENET plus has also
positively experienced a seed funding scheme to facilitate exchanges between researchers in
the Pacific and participated in the EU official Delegation attending the GEO ministerial
conference held at Mexico in November. The network increased visibility of EU action in
Pacific region in concert with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
(UNIDO) and is mentioned in the UNIDO and EU Cooperation Report for 2005-2015
98
.
3.6.
OCTs
The Overseas Association Decision
99
(OAD) establishes the legal framework for the relations
between the Overseas Countries and Territories
100
(OCTs), the Member States to which they
are linked, and the European Union. On the basis of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union
101
(TFEU), the purpose of the Overseas Association Decision is to support
the sustainable development of the OCTs and promote the values of the Union in the wider
world.
97
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2005-2015.pdf
99
Council Decision 2013/755/EU on the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories with the
European Union (OJ L 344/1)
100
The EU's Overseas Countries and Territories are Greenland, New Caledonia and Dependencies, French
Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Saint Pierre and Miquelon,
Saint-Barthélemy, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Anguilla, Cayman Islands,
Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena and
Dependencies, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, Turks and Caicos Islands, British
Virgin Islands, Bermuda.
101
Part Four of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, (C 326/47), 26.10.2012
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The EU provides financial support to the OCTs in the context of the association mainly
through the European Development Fund, with an amount of EUR 364.5 million allocated
under the 11
th
EDF-OCT for the 2014-2020 programming period
102
. Furthermore,
Greenland
is funded directly by the EU general budget on the basis of the ‘Greenland Decision’
103
,
allocating EUR 217.8 million for the period 2014-2020 to cooperation in an area of mutual
interest.
The 11
th
EDF-OCT resources available to the OCTs split into the following allocations, based
on Annex 2 of the Overseas Association Decision: EUR 229.5 million for the territorial
(bilateral) allocations; EUR 100 million for regional cooperation and integration; EUR 21.5
million to finance humanitarian and emergency assistance, or assistance for fluctuations in
export earnings; EUR 5 million to finance interest subsidies and technical assistance through
the EIB’s OCT Investment Facility; and EUR 8.5 million for studies and technical assistance
in accordance with Article 81 of the OAD.
In accordance with the criteria established in the OAD,
sixteen OCTs are considered
eligible for a territorial allocation under the 11
th
EDF-OCT
104
.
Regional programmes
seek to foster cooperation among OCTs of the same region and
sharing a similar set of challenges and priorities. Actions financed under the regional
allocation support the elaboration and implementation of comprehensive regional
programmes and projects for addressing these challenges. Partnerships with other funding
sources, including other Union financial instruments, through cooperation with the
neighbouring ACP and/or third countries, as well as the EU's outermost regions, are actively
encouraged.
Implementation
The OAD
105
establishes
a programming process which is specific to OCTs.
Unlike
countries of the African Caribbean Pacific group (ACP), programming is not based on
National Indicative Programmes but organised around
a one-step process, the elaboration
of a Programming Document, which has two components: a) the EU response strategy
and, b) the Action Document(s).
Only
one formal Commission decision
is taken to approve OCT Programming Documents,
covering both the strategic orientations and the detailed programme design.
OCTs maintain
102
Internal Agreement between the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European
Union, meeting within the Council, on the financing of European Union aid under the multiannual financial
framework for the period 2014 to 2020, in accordance with the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, and on the
allocation of financial assistance for the Overseas Countries and Territories to which Part Four of the Treaty on
the Functioning of the European Union applies (L210/1)
103
Council Decision 2014/137/EU on relations between the EU on the one hand and Greenland and the
Kingdom of Denmark on the other (OJ L76/1), allocates EUR 217.8 million for the period 2014-2020 to
cooperation between the Union and Greenland in an area of mutual interest.
104
Annex 1 to this report includes the list of indicative individual territorial and regional allocations.
105
Part Four of the Overseas Association Decision
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the primary responsibility for the establishment of Programming Documents,
including
the priorities upon which their strategies are based and ensuring the necessary local
consultation.
The programming exercise for OCTs was launched in late 2013.
The Commission
presented the indicative financial allocations and programming instructions, and launched an
extensive consultation process to agree potential focal sectors of cooperation. This included
discussions at the OCT-EU Forum at the political level, regional OCT conferences in the
Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean, a partnership working party on the thematic programme,
and several tripartite meetings.
Proposals for sectoral priorities have now been made for all territorial and regional
programmes – the proposed concentration sectors for the territorial allocations are markedly
grouped around key themes, which broadly include: Environmental issues, climate change,
renewable energy and disaster risk reduction (accounting for five of the 16 OCTs with
indicative territorial allocations); Social development (youth) or employment/professional
inclusion and education/vocational training (accounting five out of 16 OCTs); Sustainable
tourism (accounting three out of 16 OCTs); and Connectivity and accessibility/digital
development (accounting for three out of 16 OCTs).
For Greenland, the Programming Document for 2014-2020 was signed in October 2014,
defining the education sector as the focal sector. Implementation has already begun, through
a sector reform contract.
These priorities align to the aim of sustainable development, thus addressing the three pillars
of development (economic development, social development and environmental protection)
as outlined in the objectives of the Overseas Association Decision.
In terms of implementation, budget support has been proposed by most OCTs,
representing a shift away from the project modality previously used, in Bonaire, Curaçao,
French Polynesia, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Wallis and Futuna. In all cases, an assessment of the
eligibility criteria relating to the use of the budget support modality will be carried out by the
Commission.
Building on the progress made so far, the objective of adopting Financing Decisions and
approving Programming Documents for the OCTs in the fourth quarter of 2016 remains
realistic. In order to meet this timetable, however, it will be crucial to maintain momentum in
2016, ensuring that Programming Documents submitted are of high quality.
During 2015, implementation of activities in OCTs is on-going (under 10
th
EDF programmes,
as well as the specific Greenland funding), reflected in payments in excess of EUR 44 million
being executed. These benefitted the Aruba, the Falkland Islands, Pitcairn, St. Pierre and
Miquelon, the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as thematic programmes and the Technical
Cooperation Facility. New commitments totalled almost EUR 40 million and were signed
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under the Greenland programme, the Caribbean regional programme and the technical
cooperation for the 11
th
EDF preparation.
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4.
I
MPLEMENTATION
: T
HEMATIC
O
VERVIEW
The Commission's partnership with UNICEF in health and education was strengthened
through a Partnership Dialogue organised in 2015. The dialogue, which was the first of its
kind, was motivated by the long-standing, substantial cooperation between the two
organisations in implementing programmes in developing countries: today the European
Commission and UNICEF cooperate in over 70 countries. The Partnership Dialogue
demonstrated a shared understanding and approaches to equity focused programming,
country ownership and system strengthening, and identified good practices and priority areas
to strengthen collaboration to be followed-up, particularly in terms of improving
implementation and results at country level. The Partnership Dialogue agreed a range of
commitments and work has begun to implement these over the next 24 months.
Significant quality support was provided to EU Delegations in countries which have chosen
education, vocational training or health as a focal sector, though missions, remote support and
training seminars. In addition to bilateral programming, support was provided to the
education and health proposals under the EU Africa Trust Fund and the EU Trust Fund for
Syria.
In culture, work started on a joint communication of the Commission services and the EEAS:
‘Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations’. The joint communication will
present a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to culture focusing in particular on
actions with a strong intercultural character and people-to people dimension, financed
through various EU instruments and tools. The joint Communication will seek to utilise the
full potential of Europe's cultural and educational assets to promote intercultural dialogue and
strengthen mutual understanding, support development and culture, promote the peace-
building role of culture, and highlight the importance of cultural heritage.
4.1.
The thematic programmes
4.1.1. Global Public Goods and Challenges Human Development
Health, education, and culture
In health, the EU continued to support the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria, the Global Tuberculosis Vaccine Partnership (GTBVP) and Global Alliance on
Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI). The three communicable diseases, child and maternal
health remain a major challenge for many EU partner countries in their efforts to achieve the
health SDG (SDG 3). The EU has been a strong supporter of the Global Fund both politically
and financially (more than EUR 1.4 billion since 2002) as well as of GAVI. The EU's broad
membership and significant contributions to the Global Fund and GAVI allowed the EU to
play a key role in shaping the global policy agendas in health as well as ensuring progress on
the development goals at country level and better alignment with national priorities. Through
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its proactive participation on the boards of the Global Fund and GAVI and coordination of
common EU and donor positions for the boards, the EU played an instrumental role in
driving the issue of health systems strengthening their agendas and contributed to improving
governance, programmatic oversight and a more effective allocation and programming of
resources to poor countries for these initiatives.
The EU continued to support the World Health Organisation (WHO) in fulfilling their core
role in coordinating and strengthening the health sector at country level with more countries
added to this important programme. The EU support for networks of Public Health Institutes
got off to a good start and is expected to produce significant results in the coming years.
As regards the Ebola crisis, the Commission's Directorate-General for International
Cooperation and Development contributed to the coordination of the EU response in the
Ebola task force, gave active and comprehensive health sector support to the three affected
countries, ensuring complementary support through the global health initiatives (e.g. GAVI
support for an Ebola vaccine). Contributions were made to shaping lessons learned and
follow-up given to prevention of such crises in the future through policy initiatives proposed,
follow-up of WHO reform and coordination with EU Member States, particularly those
shaping the G7 agenda.
In response to the WHO Ebola outbreak of 8 August 2014, in September 2014, the European
Commission through its research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, quickly
mobilised EUR 24.4 million and immediate work on the funded projects began as early as 7
October 2014. Five projects are being funded, including a trial of the most advanced vaccine
against Ebola being developed by GSK (EbolaVac with a European Commission financial
contribution of EUR 15.1 million). This vaccine is already being tested in humans, with very
promising results. Other projects are studying the potential therapeutic effect on Ebola
patients of an existing treatment against influenza (REACTION, using favipiravir), plasma
from survivors (Ebola_Tx), and serum from antibody-producing horses (IF-Ebola). A further
project is working on the transmission of the virus and the clinical importance of its
mutations (EVIDENT).
EUR 215 million of research funding for Ebola and related viruses has been mobilised by the
Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a partnership between the European Commission and
the pharmaceutical industry in Europe. EUR 114 million comes from Horizon 2020, and the
remaining EUR 101 million from pharmaceutical companies involved in the projects. Work
on these projects already began in January 2015, involving large-scale clinical trials of new
vaccines in the Ebola affected countries, as well as vaccine production and the development
of fast diagnostic tests. In addition, further calls for proposals are being prepared to further
strengthen research on Ebola.
In education, the EU engaged actively on the Board of the Global Partnership for Education
(GPE). The GPE supports basic education in the poorest countries and those furthest away
from global education goals, with a focus on ensuring equity of access (reaching the
marginalised) and improving learning outcomes. The Commission also coordinated EU and
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donor positions, and contributed to strengthening the operating model of the GPE and to the
definition of GPE's new strategic plan (2016-2020), which places the GPE as a central player
to deliver on the education SDG (SDG4). The board membership gives a significant voice to
the EU in the international debate on educational policy as well as providing a platform to
support progress in aid and development effectiveness and country ownership.
The EU's support for the Global Fund has contributed to impressive results according to the
latest Global Fund report: 17 million lives saved; 8.1 million people on life-saving HIV-
treatment in 2015 with access to such treatment growing from 4 % coverage in 2005 to 21 %
in 2010 and 40 % in 2014; a decline of one-third in the number of people dying from HIV,
TB and malaria since 2002 in the countries where the Global Fund invests; 13.2 million
people have received TB treatment and 548 million mosquito nets distributed through
programmes for malaria. EU support for GAVI contributed to 204 million additional children
being vaccinated between 2010 and 2014 according to the latest GAVI report. The great
progress in vaccinations is an important contributor to the decrease in child mortality from 76
deaths per 1 000 live births to 63 in 2015.
The on-going Global Partnership for Education has reported that 61 million more children
were in primary school and 23 million more in lower secondary school in 2013 in GPE
partner countries compared to 2002. Primary school completion rate was 72 % in GPE
partner countries in 2013 compared to 63 % in 2002. Gender parity has also improved: 91
girls for every 100 boys completed primary school in 2013, compared to 81 girls in 2002 in
GPE countries; 31 countries out of the total of 61 GPE countries have achieved gender parity
in primary school completion.
Decent employment and social protection
Too often, the most vulnerable members of society are left behind in the creation of wealth
and in sharing the benefits of growth and development. Millions of households will remain in
chronic poverty as long as at least one of the family members cannot get access to a job that
guarantees a minimum level of earnings with a minimum level of social protection. And
millions more will fall into poverty if adverse economic conditions, diseases with no or
limited access to social protection (particularly in the informal sector) or external shocks such
as climatic events, occur. Guaranteeing social protection floors and promoting the Decent
Work Agenda and social inclusion of the most vulnerable groups, therefore, become key
elements to tackle the very roots of poverty, a challenge that becomes even more difficult in
times of world-wide economic recession.
While MDGs have been unsuccessful in capturing progress related to decent jobs, in
particular MDG target 1B, the EU has promoted the social inclusion of the poorest. EU-
financed assistance for employment has helped to provide 519 000 people with Technical and
Vocational Education through projects completed between mid-2013 and mid-2015.
The Commission adopted the first communication on social protection in EU development
cooperation in August 2012, which outlines how future EU aid should work to support the
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development of nationally owned social protection policies and programmes, including social
protection floors. Following this communication, a specific concept paper ‘Supporting Social
Protection Systems’
106
was published in September 2015.
Case study - EU Expertise in Development Cooperation
In 2013 the EU launched SOCIEUX, a peer-to-peer technical assistance facility seeking to
enhance the capacities of partner countries to better design inclusive, effective and
sustainable social protection systems and to extend social protection coverage to poor and
vulnerable populations. SOCIEUX provides short-term expertise primarily from practitioners
within EU Member States’ public administrations. Practitioners from low and middle income
countries can also bring their added value through south-south and triangular cooperation.
SOCIEUX offers support in all social protection areas, including social insurance, social
assistance, access to basic social services, financing, and monitoring and evaluation of social
protection systems.
In 2015, the Commission took the decision to extend SOCIEUX to the area of employment
and decent work. The new project, SOCIEUX+, will start in 2016 and will be implemented
by a consortium of EU Member States.
In the areas of social inclusion and vulnerable groups, the Commission adopted two
programmes in 2015 to contribute to the rights of persons with disabilities (EU contribution:
EUR 7.1 million), and to fight against forced labour and child labour in the Thai fisheries and
fishing industry sectors (EU contribution EUR 3.7 million).
Case study - Bridging the gap: Equal rights of persons with disabilities
The absence of the disability dimension in the Millennium Development Goals resulted in a
missed opportunity to enable persons with disabilities to participate in and benefit from many
development processes. The 2030 Agenda contains clear commitments to addressing the
situation of persons with disabilities. This action is a targeted thematic response to the
requirement to make cooperation accessible to, and inclusive of, persons with disabilities,
which is an obligation for the EU and Member States as parties to the Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and which can have a great impact in improving
the social inclusion and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.
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Research and Innovation
The EU’s Horizon 2020 programme includes research directly relevant for the themes
prioritised in this Annual Report. In particular, a Societal Challenge on 'Climate
Action,
Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials', one on 'Food Security, Sustainable
Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy'
and one on 'Europe in a changing world - Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies'
that
addresses migration issues as well as democracy and human rights.
Research Calls launched in the second Work Programme of Horizon 2020 include topics on
road safety in Africa, implementation of the EU-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership
on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture, vaccine development for malaria
and neglected infectious diseases, and on decarbonisation and on water.
4.1.2. Civil society organisations and local authorities
Building on EU political commitments to support civil society organisations (CSO) and local
authorities (LA), the Civil Society Organisations-Local Authorities Thematic Programme
adopted in July 2014 aims to strengthen these actors in partner countries and, when their
actions relate to Development Education and Awareness-Raising (DEAR) of European
citizens, in the Union and other beneficiaries eligible under the Instrument for Pre-Accession.
The thematic strategy is valid for 2014-2020 and composed of two phases: 2014-2017 and
2018-2020. The total allocation for the programme covers up to EUR 1.9 billion over the
period 2014-2020. An envelope of around EUR 970 million has been earmarked for 2014-
2017 to support three priorities: a focus on country level activities enhancing Civil Society
Organisations-Local Authorities contributions to governance and development processes;
reinforcing regional and global Civil Society Organisations networks and associations of
Local Authorities (ALA); and developing and supporting Development Education and
Awareness-Raising (DEAR) initiatives.
Activities conceived and implemented by civil society organisations and local authorities in
partner countries were given priority, in order to empower them, build capacity and facilitate
access to funding. These initiatives are managed primarily by EU Delegations and, when
appropriate, by European Commission Headquarters.
Civil Society Organisations
In 2015, 56 countries benefitted from country allocations for a total of EUR 141.5 million.
Country-level initiatives support Civil Society Organisation contributions towards reinforced
governance, accountability and inclusive policy-making. Civil Society Organisations are
supported as: actors in governance and accountability; partners in promoting social
development; and stakeholders in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.
The EU remains committed to strengthening civil society engagement as development actors
and contributors to policy-making at global and regional levels. In 2015, 22 inclusive global
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and regional networks of Civil Society Organisations were selected to sign Framework
Partnership Agreements (FPA) in 2016.
A guidance note on EU Country Roadmaps for Engagement with Civil Society was launched
in January 2014. To date, 97 Roadmaps have been developed out of target of 115. Many
Delegations have been using the Roadmaps as an entry point to reach out to a broader range
of Civil Society Organisations in order to have a more strategic engagement and dialogue,
going beyond the question of financial support. The roadmaps are also instrumental in
strengthening EU collaboration and coordination with Member States and other international
players, as well as to give visibility to the work carried out by the EU.
In 2015, two Policy Fora on Development (PFD) meetings took place. The first, in Brussels,
of a global nature, included issues such as Financing for Development in the post 2015
agenda and enabling environment. The second, in Bangkok, of a regional nature, tabled
issues such as climate change and the global scene. Three regional studies to review the
implementation at national level of the post 2015 agenda were launched in Indonesia, Peru
and the Netherlands.
Local Authorities
In 2015, 39 countries benefitted from a country allocation for a total of EUR 41.7 million.
Country-level initiatives support Local Authorities and national Associations of Local
Authorities (ALA) valuing their contributions towards reinforced local governance,
accountability of sub-national governments and inclusive policy-making at the local level, in
accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.
In addition, the Programme focused on the empowerment of Associations of Local
Authorities at regional (including the EU) and global levels to strengthen their structure and
capacities, in order to reach a legitimate and effective coordination role, to provide their
members with adequate services as well as to effectively represent the needs of local
communities in institutional dialogues. In 2015, the EU signed five Framework Partnership
Agreements with global and regional associations of local authorities.
Development Education and Awareness-Raising (DEAR)
In 2015, a new process of knowledge sharing, capacity building and networking started. More
than 100 Civil Society Organisations, from all around Europe, implementing projects in the
field of Development Education took part supported by the EU with an amount of more than
EUR 170 million.
This process follows three main lines: meetings to exchange experiences and develop best
practices, communication to promote the DEAR programme and the supported projects, and
research to increase and monitor impact and effectiveness. Within this process a DEAR
multi-stakeholder dialogue was hosted by the European Commission to set the agenda for the
new multi-stakeholder platform aiming to give ownership to all types of stakeholders. At the
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well-attended DEAR Fair, projects supported by the DEAR programme showcased their
work on engaging Europeans in development issues.
Case Study – 2015: A Vibrant Year for Local Authorities
SDG 11 ‘Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’ puts local authorities in the
spotlight as key governance actors. Moreover, out of the 169 established targets, 21 % can
only be implemented with local actors, 24 % should be implemented by local actors, and 20
% should have an orientation towards local urban stakeholders
107
.
In 2015 the European Commission signed five Framework Partnership Agreements with
global and regional associations of local authorities.
The Framework Partnership Agreements will also directly contribute to reaching the
objectives set at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP 21. Here, the role
of local authorities was enhanced on initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
This was well illustrated by the ‘1 000 Mayors Declaration’, which saw Mayors from around
the world committing to support long-term climate goals including a transition to 100 %
renewable energy in their communities or an 80 % reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050.
4.1.3. Migration, forced displacement and asylum
Due to events in 2014 and 2015, migration and forced displacement rose to the top of the EU
agenda, with increased expectations for effective and efficient delivery of EU development
assistance to partner countries in this field. Managing migration flows whilst ensuring that
those who seek refuge always find safe haven here continues to be a daily challenge in
Europe.
The EU has an advanced policy framework for external relations and development
cooperation on migration, with migration firmly embedded as a priority area in the Agenda
for Change. In 2015 efforts were significantly stepped up to increase and
better target EU
support to priority partner countries
in all areas related to migration and refugee
management. In addition, more focus was placed on strengthening and targeting EU
assistance to more effectively address the
root causes of irregular migration and forced
displacement.
In this respect, a range of measures have been launched.
With the May 2015
European Agenda on Migration,
the EU sets out to approach migration
in a comprehensive and coherent way by mainstreaming migration into all policy areas, at
internal and external level. DEVCO and NEAR were closely associated and contributed to
107
Philipp Misselwitz, Jesús Salcedo Villanueva. September 2015
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the elaboration of this new Agenda, in particular its external dimension. DEVCO and NEAR
contribute to the comprehensive implementation of this Agenda by ensuring all migration
related programmes under their respective financing instruments are fully in line with their
objectives.
With this existing framework, the EU is well placed to contribute to the new
2030
Sustainable Development Agenda,
which now clearly recognises migration as a
development enabler.
On 11-12 November 2015, the
Valletta Summit
brought together leaders of the EU and the
African nations to jointly agree on a number of concrete and operational measures through
the adoption of two key documents:
1) A
Political Statement
underlining the determination of the parties to forge stronger
partnerships on migration at country and regional level in the spirit of partnership, ownership
and shared responsibility.
2) An
Action Plan
identifying priority actions under five headings:
1. Development benefits of migration and addressing root causes;
2. Legal migration and mobility;
3. International protection and asylum;
4. Prevention of and fight against irregular migration, migrant smuggling and
trafficking in human beings; and
5. Making progress on return arrangements and readmission agreements.
An important and tangible outcome of the Valletta Summit was the launch of a new
EU
Emergency Trust Fund
for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and
displaced persons in Africa at the end of 2015. This Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, set up
at a record speed, shows the EU's commitment to swiftly reply to the challenges affecting the
region. Signed at the EU-Africa Valletta Summit by the 27 Heads of State contributing to the
EUR 1.8 billion EU Trust Fund, it supports some of the most fragile and vulnerable countries
across Africa (in three regions: Sahel and Lake Chad, Horn of Africa, and North of Africa),
reinforcing the EU's significant ongoing development cooperation on the continent.
The EU Trust Fund for Africa demonstrated its capacity to work as a flexible instrument to
respond to crisis. Within two months of its establishment, a first operational committee for
Horn of Africa was held at the end of 2015 and the first operational committee for the
Sahel/Lake Chad region was held at the start of 2016 providing over EUR 350 million in
projects for the two regions. Substantive activities will start in early 2016.
In December 2015, the Commission also adopted a Financing Decision made up of six
Actions for an amount of EUR 41.6 million under the Development Cooperation Instrument -
Global Public Goods & Challenges (GPGC) programme
focusing on improving migration
management in developing countries and to maximise the positive impact of migration on the
development of partner countries.
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With the increased attention to migration in 2015, the Commission stepped up its thematic
support to staff working both in headquarters and in EU delegations to increase awareness
and knowledge in the area of migration and asylum. In this context, three dedicated thematic
training workshops on migration and asylum were organised in 2015.
4.1.4. Environment and sustainable management of natural resources including energy
With the 2030 Sustainable
Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change,
the EU has a renewed obligation to promote global efforts to combat climate change and
environmental degradation and support the transition to more sustainable production and
consumption patterns.
A global evaluation of the EU support to environment and climate change in third countries
(2007-2013)
108
conducted in 2015 concluded that EU action across a range of different
instruments has contributed significantly to the EU's overall environment and climate change
policy aims. It has initiated processes that are likely to lead developing countries to be better
prepared for low-carbon development, improving their capacity to prevent or reduce loss of
biodiversity and to integrate environment and climate change into tangible national policies,
plans and programmes.
One priority of EU development cooperation in 2015 was support to the conservation and
sustainable use of ecosystems, especially of High-Biodiversity Areas (Sustainable
Development Goals 14 and 15). In 2015, the European Commission, leading a large coalition
of actors, has carried out the study called 'Larger
than Elephants'
109
that describes the scale of
the unprecedented crisis due to biodiversity loss now affecting sub-Saharan Africa and its
people and sets out priority areas for future EU action on protecting wildlife and fighting
against wildlife trafficking. The European Commission has also engaged in supporting the
fight against land degradation and desertification.
More broadly, the EU continued supporting the assessment and monitoring of natural
resources, for example through its support to the
Observatoire des Forets d'Afrique Centrale
(OFAC)
110
, or the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management Programme (BIOPAMA)
111
and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
112
. The EU has also reinforced its
engagement in supporting biodiversity actions in the EU overseas countries and territories
through the BEST 2.0 Programme
113
launched in 2015.
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https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/evaluation_environment-and-climate-change-final-report-
vol_1_en.pdf
109
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/eu-wildlife-strategy-africa-synthesis-2015_en_0.pdf
110
http://www.observatoire-comifac.net/
111
http://www.biopama.org/
112
http://www.gbif.org/
113
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/best/funding/index_en.htm
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Case study - Biodiversity and Protected Areas
Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management Programme (BIOPAMA) is an initiative of
the ACP Group financed by the 10
th
European Development Fund of the European Union.
Specifically, the programme is enhancing existing institutions and networks by making the
best available science and knowledge available for building capacity to improve policies and
better decision-making on biodiversity conservation, protected areas management and access
and benefit sharing (implementation of the Nagoya protocol
114
). It is implemented by the
Joint Research Centre, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Access and
Benefit Sharing initiative and is allocated EUR 20 million for the period of 2011-2017.
Figure 4: Snapshot of the regional BIOPAMA information system. Credit: Free-to-use
In 2015, the EU continued its efforts to foster forest governance and combat illegal logging in
partner countries. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change explicitly recognises the key role
of forests, as carbon sinks, in meeting global climate goals.
Case study - REDD+
As part of its efforts to mitigate climate change, the EU supports work to reduce carbon
emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+)
115
in developing countries, with a
focus on central Africa. For example, the facility supports an innovative approach to
empowering marginalised ethnic minorities in the upland Thai Nguyen province of
Vietnam to manage natural forests communally.
The EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan provides
lessons which support REDD+ implementation, including supply and demand side measures
to reduce illegal logging. During 2015, an evaluation of the FLEGT Action Plan was
undertaken. Due to be completed during the first part of 2016, the evaluation will help the EU
115
http://www.un-redd.org/aboutredd
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to strengthen action against illegal logging and deforestation. Increased cooperation between
REDD+ and FLEGT at the national level can push forward forest governance reforms,
improve stakeholder engagement and help balance competing interests over natural
resources.
Figure 5: Woman working in a corn plantation in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam.
Credit: EU REDD Facility.
The water sector has shifted focus taking into account the economic aspects of water, in line
with the Agenda for Change
116
. During 2015, three water projects were approved and
launched: NEPAD African Network of Centres of Excellence on Water Sciences and
Technology phase II; Contribution to the Trust Fund ‘Cooperation in International Waters in
Africa (CIWA)’; and the Nexus Dialogues Phase I: EU support in five regions towards
realisation of the water, energy and food security nexus for a total amount of EUR 15 million.
One additional project has been identified and is under finalisation ‘Appui
à la gestion
intégrée des problématiques environnementales liées aux ressources en eau et le nexus eau-
énergie-agriculture dans le bassin du fleuve Sénégal
–OMVS’. The EU Water Initiative held
its annual multi-stakeholder forum during World Water Week in Stockholm, with a focus on
water and development.
Regarding South and East neighbourhood, environment and sustainable management of
natural resources are key drivers for convergence with EU policies. In the review of its
116
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52011DC0637&from=EN
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European Neighbourhood Policy
117
, the EU reconfirmed its objective to support a resource-
efficient economy by addressing environmental challenges such as degradation of, and
competition for, natural resources. Given the transboundary nature of these challenges,
regional projects have continued to finance improvements in water management and de-
pollution, air quality and forest governance, green economy, and climate change adaptation
and mitigation.
Commission services developed the BIOPAMA Reference Information System (RIS) for
Biodiversity and Protected Areas (PA) Management, which provides information on over 8
000 PA in 79 ACP countries including many of the global biodiversity hotspots. 500 PA
practitioners across the ACP use the RIS platform, and over 1 000 users per month access the
RIS portal. Multiple regional instances have been developed running within carefully selected
regional host institutions. This is helping to ensure the long-term sustainability and ownership
of the system. BIOPAMA has provided direct support to the development of the EU Wildlife
Strategy for Africa (mapping and analysis of Key Landscapes for Conservation), and will
play a key role in the conception and implementation of this and other regional strategies.
4.1.5. Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture
Food and nutrition security are key priorities of EU development cooperation. This is all the
more important in view of the recent adoption of the 2030 sustainable development agenda.
The EU is expected to provide more than EUR nine billion in support of agriculture and food
and nutrition security in the period up to 2020. EU cooperation is largely delivered through
bilateral cooperation in more than 60 countries. This is complemented by the thematic
programme Global Public Goods and Challenges which has a separate component for Food
and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (GPGC-FSSA) addressing global,
continental and multi-country public goods and challenges associated with hunger and under-
nutrition.
The GPGC-FSSA for 2015 pays a great deal of attention to the mobilisation of the private
sector's potential for generating inclusive and sustainable growth in developing countries,
both as a source of finance and as partners for government, NGOs and donors. One of the
main development challenges is to find the most effective way to boost responsible private
sector investment in agriculture. These private investments are needed as public investments
are not enough to achieve development for the 75 % of the poor living in rural areas.
Furthermore, there is a lack of financing mechanisms adapted to farmers and agri-
entrepreneurs, particularly smallholders.
With an overall budget of EUR 167 million for 2015, actions were approved to support
inclusive and sustainable value chain development
and
the production, diffusion and
consumption fortified food (EUR 60.5 million), to support responsible governance
of land
tenure by
the application of the guidelines of Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land,
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Fisheries and Forests
in
Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Pakistan, Sudan
and Uganda and support to the International Land Coalition (EUR 37 million), and to provide
support to the poor and food and nutrition insecure to react to crises and strengthen resilience
in Burundi, Cape Verde, DPR Korea, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan,
Syria and to build capacity of public institutions and private organisations to respond to food
crises in West and Central African Region (EUR 66 million).
Case study - Plantwise
Plantwise is a global programme led by
CABI
118
, which works to help farmers grow more
and lose less due to plant health problems. EU supports seven African countries including
Kenya. The programme establishes plant clinics and transplant doctors and provides practical
plant health advice to farmers. The
Plantwise Knowledge Bank
119
supports plant clinics and
farmers with online and offline plant health information for diagnosis, best-practice pest
management advice and data analysis. In Kenya, more than 100 clinics have been established
and over 150 plant doctors trained, including 100 who run e-clinics.
“I grow oranges, mangoes, cassava, oranges and vegetables on my farm and I also produce
bananas for sale. When the leaves of the orange plants became black in colour, I went to the
plant clinic. The plant doctors recommended an insecticide to control aphids. I sprayed it on
my oranges and now my harvest has greatly improved.
Figure 6: Farmer Focus Kenya: Rose Wanjiru Ireri
Case study - Innovation for Food Security and Sovereignty in the Andes (IssAndes)
IssAndes was implemented between 2011 and 2015 by the International Potato Centre
together with 19 partners in Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. It aimed to address high
levels of chronic malnutrition through innovations in native potato based production systems.
118
119
http://www.cabi.org/
http://www.plantwise.org/what-is-the-knowledge-bank/
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IssAndes tested 69 varieties and reached more than 5 000 families. It developed technologies
to improve production, storage and seed production of native potatoes, and promoted
diversity in diets. The families themselves are now producing these varieties and their seeds.
Commercial innovations also opened channels to supermarkets and consumers. Children and
women have particularly benefited from this project.
I feel good because my son’s weight has improved and he has grown more than last year. The
nurse says it is because I gave him more native potatoes than rice and pasta,” said Haydé, a
native potato producer from Ataya, Huancavelica (see Figure 8)
“This project is a key example of what we are trying to achieve under several of the
sustainable development goals. This visit has offered me an excellent example of how
participative innovation and the use of technology have a central role in development and in
the fight against hunger,” said Commissioner Neven Mimica during a visit to IssAndes.
Figure 7
4.1.6. Sustainable Energy
The EU Agenda for Change recognises energy as a key driver for sustainable and inclusive
growth. The EU is fully committed to SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable,
reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Reinforcing bilateral and multilateral political dialogue is a key element in winning the fight
against energy poverty. Strengthened policy dialogue between the EU, Member States,
developing partner countries and other international donors at the highest political level
resulted in the signing of 14 Joint Declarations on sustainable energy, with Uganda, Sierra
Leone, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Madagascar, Benin, Micronesia, Marshall
Islands, Tonga, Palau, Nauru and Niue, in addition to those signed in 2014 (Rwanda, Togo,
Côte d'Ivoire, Cape Verde and Liberia).
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The coordination of energy development policy and programmes with EU Member States
continues in the context of the EU Energy Initiative (EUEI). The EU plays a leading role at
the global level through its active presence in international fora and by building strategic
partnerships such as the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) or the Sustainable Energy for
All (SE4All) initiative. The Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI)
120
was launched
during the High-Level Meeting on ‘Lima-Paris Action Agenda: Focus on Energy’ meeting on
07 December 2015 at COP21. AREI aims to add an additional 10 GW and 300 GW of
renewable energy capacity to the African energy sector by 2020 and 2030, respectively and is
endorsed and supported by the EU and many Member States.
The EU continues to support developing partner countries through a substantial Technical
Assistance Facility (TAF) in a wide range of tasks such as improving legislation and
regulatory frameworks, capacity building, preparing investment projects, and upgrading
utilities. The facility delivers high level technical assistance at country and regional level
through expert missions.
Through the EU development cooperation financing instruments the partner countries receive
assistance to access modern, affordable and reliable energy services in order to meet the basic
needs of daily life and improve people's livelihoods. To accelerate economic growth in
developing partner countries, the chosen EU approach is to help boost investments through
the EU blending framework thus maximising the leverage of EU development cooperation
resources.
About 30 partner countries have chosen energy as a focal sector for their bilateral cooperation
with the EU. These countries will receive substantial financial support under their multi-
annual indicative programmes. Others will benefit from significant allocations from regional
and thematic instruments. A total of more than EUR 3.5 billion for the period 2014-2020
(around EUR 2.5 billion for Africa alone) of sustainable energy-related assistance is expected
to catalyse between EUR 15 and 30 billion in loans and equity investment.
Substantial allocations have been foreseen for the regional blending facilities. ElectriFI, an
innovative mechanism to unlock and leverage clean energy access investments, that received
unprecedented support at the second SE4All Forum and the 2015 G7 Summit, was launched
at COP21 in Paris with an initial budget of EUR 75 million. Through USAID Power Africa
the US Government confirmed its intention to contribute USD 10 million to the ElectriFI
initiative.
An important initiative presented at COP21 in Paris was the extension to Sub-Saharan Africa
of the EU Covenant of Mayors initiative. Its aim is to contribute to improving resource
efficiency, resilience and quality of life in Sub-Saharan cities. Energy access, energy
efficiency and climate change adaptation are priority objectives, among others such as
120
http://www.arei.org/
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transport and urban planning. A Call for Proposals to provide funding to a number of cities in
Sub-Saharan Africa was launched on 23 December 2015.
To make energy efficiency and climate change mitigation measures relevant, achievable and
compelling, the JRC has prepared a guidebook for local authorities in the southern
Mediterranean participating in the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) initiative. The guidebook
provides guidance for developing effective a Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP). The
objective is to enhance the competitiveness of municipalities and ensure their economic
development while reducing dependence on energy imports and fossil fuels through the
implementation of energy efficiency, renewable energy and other well-planned climate
change mitigation actions at the local level.
4.2.
Partnership Instrument
In line with the
2014-2017 Multi-annual Indicative Programme
(MIP) of 3 July 2014
121
,
the Commission adopted the
2015 Annual Action Programme (AAP) in two phases in
June and December 2015
122
.
The AAP 2015 includes
17 actions
with a budget of
EUR 102.7 million.
The actions respond
to the PI core objectives and priorities. They build upon and complement actions included in
the AAP 2014
123
whilst broadening the thematic and geographic scope and ambition of
cooperation with partner countries.
More specifically, through the actions included in the AAP 2015, the EU will engage with
key partner counties to address jointly global challenges and pursue EU policy objectives and
interests with particular focus on the climate agenda, environmental protection and support to
economic development. While the focus of the AAP 2014 was on low carbon technologies
and promoting the use of the Emissions Trading System, the emphasis of the AAP 2015 is
put on urbanisation, which is embedded in urbanisation partnerships and policy dialogues
with a number of important partners in both the Americas and Asia, as well as prevention of
biodiversity loss, promotion of resource efficiency with Union's strategic partners and
support to growth and market access in Asia.
Addressing challenges of global concern such as climate change, energy security and the
protection of the environment is at the core of Objective one of the Partnership Instrument
(PI) Regulation
124
. The AAP 2015 includes
a large urban cooperation programme.
The
economic growth of partners such as China and India is happening in tandem with rapid
urbanisation and there is a large demand for expertise in urban policy and development.
Cities play a key role as contributors to smart, green and inclusive growth. Cities are also at
the heart of climate change action. The PI International Urban Cooperation programme will
121
122
C(2014) 4453 final. 3.7.2014
C(2015) 4109 final, 22.06.2015 and COM (2015) 9106 final, 16.12.2015
123
C(2014)7423 final, 16.10.2014, C(2015) 1468 final, 10.03.2015 and C(2015)4066, 18.06.2015
124
Objectives of the Partnership Instrument are detailed in the Annex to the Partnership Instrument
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offer a European contribution to the debate on a new urban agenda for the 21st century as
part of a longer-term strategy of fostering urban diplomacy; it will in addition support the EU
climate change agenda.
It also contains a programme aimed at
fostering environmental protection and bio-
diversity
and engaging with partner countries such Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South
Africa to advance global ecosystem accounting and improve the management of ecosystems
as well as a programme to enhance cooperation on issues related to
resource efficiency
with
India.
The implementation of the external dimension of Union's internal policies is addressed
through the objective two of the Regulation with a focus on
fostering regulatory
convergence
to help reduce non-tariff barriers and to promote the adherence to global rules
and standards. In the field of ICT, in particular, European standards bodies enjoy high
international recognition for their technological expertise and long experience in inclusive
standard setting. Within this context, the AAP 2015 includes a programme aimed at
improving and reinforcing the market perspectives for the EU ICT sector in India helping
boost trade, investment and business opportunities for European companies, while
eliminating barriers to market access and investment, by means of regulatory cooperation and
exchange of statistical data and metadata.
The PI Regulation also foresees support to economic and trade relations with key partner
countries, thus helping create a secure climate for
increased trading and investment
opportunities for companies from the EU,
in particular SMEs. The focus of the AAP 2015
is on
Japan,
the EU’s second biggest trading partner in Asia after China, that continues to be
a relative closed market where doing business or investing is often challenging and on
support to the
European aviation industry in South Asia
where aviation traffic growth
forecasts over the next 20 years are among the highest in global aviation.
Furthermore, building on and continuing the
comprehensive approach to public diplomacy
initiated under the AAP 2014; the AAP 2015 encompasses four pillars: working with
academia, engaging in policy research and debate with think tanks (policy and outreach
partnerships) on policies of common interest, engaging with civil society actors, and using
culture as a vector for public diplomacy. The AAP 2015 includes, for example, 'EU Policy
and Outreach Partnership' actions in Russia
125
, Japan, China, USA, in regions of Central
America, South America, Asia-Pacific, and the Arctic as well as at global level. As a follow
up to the European Parliament Preparatory Action
126
, an action is also dedicated to create a
platform of cultural stakeholders.
In addition to the EUR 102,7 million, the PI contributed EUR 11.7 million to the ‘Erasmus+
Programme’
to support cooperation in higher education enhancing student and staff mobility
125
In the context of the sanctions policy (European Council Conclusions of 16 July 2014), the EU cooperation
programmes with the Russian Federation are limited to cross border and civil society programmes.
126
Preparatory Action "Culture in the EU External Relations": the final report and the country reports produced
can be consulted at:
http://cultureinexternalrelations.eu/main-outcomes
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with partner countries covered by the former Instrument for Cooperation with Industrialised
countries
127
as well as Russia.
Figure 8: AAP2015 regional overview
AAP 2015 - situation per region
Asia - Pacific
22%
3%
1%
45%
Americas
Russia, Central Asia, Arctic
Africa
Global/Not defined
29%
Figure 9: AAP2015 objectives overview
AAP 2015 - situation per objective
Objective 1: Global challenges and policy support
19%
8%
50%
18%
5%
Objective 3.1: Regulatory cooperation, standards, market access and
business development
Objective 3.2: Support for the negotiation and implementation of EU
Trade agreements
Objective 4.2: Public Diplomacy & outreach
Objective 2: Europe 2020
Case study - International Urban Cooperation
The urbanisation process constitutes a clear global trend. More than 50 % of the global
population is located in urban areas. 60 % of the global GDP is generated by 600 urban
centres. The economic growth of partners such as China and India is happening in tandem
with rapid urbanisation and there is a large demand for expertise in urban policy and
development. Cities play a key role as contributors to smart, green and inclusive growth.
Cities are also at the heart of climate change action. The International Urban Cooperation
programme would offer a European contribution to the debate on a new urban agenda for the
127
USA, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand; certain Asian industrialised
countries and territories (Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Brunei) as well as the Gulf Cooperation
Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates)
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21st century as part of a longer-term strategy of fostering urban diplomacy as a vehicle of
EU's external relations. The programme will in addition support the EU climate change
agenda.
Case study - EU-South Asia civil aviation cooperation
The aviation sector is a major source of high-tech employment in Europe. It is also one of the
key drivers for research and development and as such the aviation industry can make a
significant contribution to meeting the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy. In South Asia,
forecasts for aviation traffic growth over the next 20 years are among the highest in the
world. Ensuring access to future markets and participating in their expected growth is
essential for the sustained commercial success of the European aviation industry. The EU-
South Asia civil aviation cooperation will promote European aviation policies, standards and
technology which will foster a higher level of aviation safety and environmental standards in
the region.
Case study - Environmental protection and biodiversity
The EU has pledged to meet the international 2020 biodiversity goals and objectives agreed
to under the Convention on Biological Diversity. This requires action being taken within the
EU, but also at global level. Mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem services into national
development plans remains poorly articulated in important partner countries such Brazil,
China, India, Mexico, and South Africa. Through The Natural Capital Accounting and
Valuation of Ecosystem services the EU will engage with those countries (decision-makers,
civil society, and academia) to advance global ecosystem accounting and improve the
management of ecosystems and their services.
Further to the programmes outlined above, the EU has committed in 2015 EUR 13.5 million
to support the implementation of Partnership and Cooperation Agreements, action plans and
similar bilateral instruments, and underpin policy dialogues through the ‘Policy
Support
Facility’
that has been designed to promote the implementation of the external dimension of
the Union's internal policies, to respond in a timely fashion to the dynamic and fast-changing
global environment in our relations with the partner countries. The Policy Support Facility
also includes a trade strand to tackle the needs arising during the preparation and negotiation
phase of trade and investment agreements as well as to support and ensure the proper
implementation, monitoring, enforcement and take-up of such agreements once signed and
entered into force.
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Specific facilities have also been designed to strengthen EU relations with Brazil to underpin
the implementation of the EU – Brazil Joint Action Plan 2015-2020, and, complementary to
DCI programme, with Latin America to enhance EU strategic partnerships in the region.
Strengthening the EU's engagement and dialogue in different multilateral fora in Asia also
features in the AAP 2015 with a view to promoting the EU's security, political and economic
interests in a context of growing EU-Asia relations.
Lastly, in 2015 the PI also contributed funds to provide, through the
Technical Assistance
and Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX),
EU expertise and best-practices to the
EU strategic partners and other countries in a wide range of areas of common interest from
standardisation, conformity assessment and market surveillance, enforcement of intellectual
property rights, to human trafficking, criminal justice systems or waste management, urban
cooperation or sustainable urban development and mobility, just to name a few.
Supporting Climate Diplomacy
The PI has contributed, through its
Policy Support Facility
to the implementation of
the
‘Action plan for climate diplomacy’
designed, in the run up to COP 21, to deliver positive
and coherent messages to third countries and to engage with national parliaments, local
authorities, civil society, the private sector and media. The high level conference ‘Clima:
Somos Todos Responsaveis’,
which took place in November 2015 in Brazil and contributed to
raise awareness and engage its population in learning and contributing at individual,
community and institutional level to the global action to fight against climate change while
confirming the joint EU - Brazil commitment to work for the transition to low carbon
economies.
4.3.
Democracy and Human Rights
The Union's action on the international scene “shall be guided by the principles which have
inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, and which it seeks to advance in the
wider world: democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights
and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and
solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.”
(Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union).
The EU provides assistance for the promotion and protection of democracy and human rights
worldwide through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR),
which is complementary to its other external assistance instruments and channelled mainly
through civil society organisations. It was established to contribute to achieving the Union's
policies relating to human rights and democracy, including the objectives outlined in the 2012
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Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy
128
and its new Action Plan for 2015-
2019
129
.
The EIDHR represents a key added-value to the EU policy toolbox, thanks to its flexibility,
its ability to provide assistance independently of the consent of governments and public
authorities of the third countries concerned, as well as its mixing of advocacy and field
operations. Its interventions are being implemented under the EIDHR Multi-annual Indicative
Programme 2014-2017 and its consecutive annual and bi-annual actions plans, and fit within:
the Human Rights Country Strategies elaborated by EU Delegations, which give useful
orientations for the implementation of the EIDHR assistance at country level;
the various EU Guidelines on human rights;
the ‘Tool-Box: a Rights-Based Approach, encompassing all Human Rights for EU
development cooperation’ and its related Conclusions adopted by the Council on 19 May
2014;
the coordination and consultation mechanisms taking place with major stakeholders
(OHCHR and other UN family organisations, and CSOs active in the area of human
rights and their networks).
In 2015, the EIDHR has continued building on its added-value, creating synergies and
complementarity where geographical instruments could not act. The EIDHR allows for
unique actions not covered by other instruments, such as in cases of serious human rights
violations or urgent need for protection, thematic advocacy such as democracy support,
fundamental freedoms, or the fight against discrimination, torture or the death penalty. In
difficult contexts, the EIDHR helps weakened or shattered civil society and media survive,
thereby opening the door to dialogue and change. It focuses on outreach to disenfranchised
civil society organisations. While limited in financial scope, its flexible tools have worked
very well and are essential. They have been strengthened in the revision of the instrument for
2014-2020.
Joint Communication "Human Rights and democracy at the heart of EU external action – Towards a more
effective approach" of 12 December 2011(COM(2011)886) adopted by the Council on 25 June 2012 (11855/12)
129
Joint Communication "Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2015-2019): Keeping human rights at
the heart of the EU agenda" of 28 April 2015 (JOIN(2015)16) adopted by the Council on 20 July 2015
(10897/15)
128
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In 2015, the EIDHR has put its focus on:
i.
setting-up the first EU comprehensive Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) Mechanism
addressing the most difficult human rights situations faced by human rights defenders
at risk worldwide (EUR 15 million);
continuing the financing of the EIDHR emergency fund allowing support through ad-
hoc low-value grants to individual human rights defenders in emergency situations
(EUR two million). The trend for increased support to human rights defenders at risk
is reflected by the number of individual cases positively treated under the EIDHR
emergency fund which, compared to 2012, increased by 17 % in 2013 and by 68 % in
2014. Moreover, during 2015, over 87 emergency grants for HRDs were disbursed,
amounting to a total sum of over EUR 650 000.
signing the first projects under the EIDHR Crises Facility designed to address
countries and urgent situations where human rights and fundamental freedoms are
most at risk and where disrespect for those rights and freedoms is particularly
pronounced and systematic in a flexible and reactive way;
the launching of the Democracy Initiative accompanying the Democratic Pilot
Exercise, part of the implementation of the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan
on Human Rights and Democracy, through an umbrella programme to support
concerned EU Delegations to put an inclusive process in place (EUR 4.55 million in
2015);
launching the first Global Call for proposals (ca. EUR seven million) following the
restructured system covering in parallel the main EU priorities in the field of human
rights, which allows for a more long-term response in each area. The 2015 global call
focuses on support to HRDs grass-root organisations, contributing to the monitoring
and the effective implementation of 27 core international conventions in the GSP+
context, Death Penalty, Migrants, Internally Displaced Persons and stateless persons,
and Children and armed conflict. Activities are planned to start by mid-2016; and
continuing the EU support to the Master of Human Rights and Democratisation as
well as the launching of other targeted initiatives.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
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Implementing the EU Human Rights Defenders mechanism: ProtectDefenders.eu
ProtectDefenders.eu is the first EU comprehensive HRDs mechanism, established to protect
defenders at high risk and facing the most difficult situations worldwide. It provides a stable,
comprehensive and gender-sensitive EU support to individuals and local actors who strive to
promote and defend human rights worldwide. It is committed to reaching out to the most at
risk and isolated HRDs, working in remote areas and countries where it is particularly
dangerous to work in human rights defence. It also provides assistance to defenders who are
especially targeted, including women human rights defenders, defenders of Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Trans, and/or Intersex (LGBTI) rights, land rights, environmental rights, economic
and social rights defenders, defenders of minorities, lawyers, and those fighting for freedom
of expression and association.
ProtectDefenders.eu delivers a fast and specific EU response to support HRDs at risk. The
emergency grants programme ensures that HRDs can access and implement urgent security
measures to protect themselves, their families and their work. Grants may include physical
security, digital security, office security, legal and medical support and emergency relocation.
Defenders under urgent threat can also contact ProtectDefenders.eu through a 24/7 hotline in
Arabic, English, French, Russian or Spanish. Since October 2015, ProtectDefenders.eu has
supported over 80 HRDs, and their families, via 78 emergency grants in priority countries.
Such support represents to a total of EUR 177 000 over the first four months of activity.
The mechanism also supports local organisations working with HRD in the implementation
of activities aimed at advancing a human rights agenda and to counter violations. Through a
specific grant programme, local NGOs can apply for support with capacity-building training,
advocacy and campaign strategies or core funding. Since October 2015, ProtectDefenders.eu
has supported ten local human rights organisations, corresponding to a total amount of more
than EUR 82 000 in priority countries.
ProtectDefenders.eu is now working to extend the international network of host institutions
offering HRDs temporary relocation, including through the EU Temporary Relocation
Platform (www.hrdrelocation.eu), when preventive and protection measures for personal
security are no longer enough.
ProtectDefenders.eu also implements a training programme to meet the security needs of
HRDs, providing them with
ad hoc
knowledge and tools. Training is conducted on
protection, physical and digital security, advocacy tools, risk assessments and campaigning
strategies in order to strengthen the human rights defenders' abilities to mitigate the risks they
face due to their work.
Finally, ProtectDefenders.eu focuses on building public awareness and ensuring enhanced
visibility on the situation of HRDs at every level. It dispatches urgent alerts and coordinates
immediate responses, but also monitors the individual situation of defenders in critical
situations and strongly advocates for the end of impunity for perpetrators worldwide.
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Supporting elections
Elections form an essential prerequisite for democracy and are in essence human rights
events. Both figure at the centre of the EU's wider policy on external relations of support for
democracy and human rights.
2015 has been a challenging year for election observation missions due to the volatile
political developments in the priority countries. Nevertheless, the missions succeeded in
contributing significantly to strengthening governance and have demonstrated added value in
enhancing transparency and accountability of the electoral process.
A total of 28 missions were fully deployed and successfully implemented, some in highly
challenging security environments such as Burundi, Central African Republic and Venezuela.
Eight fully-fledged EU Election Observation Missions (together with nine Exploratory
Missions) were deployed to Nigeria, Burundi, Haiti, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Guinea
Conakry, Myanmar and Tanzania. In addition, eight Election Expert Missions were deployed
to Togo, Tanzania, Ivory Coast (one mission for the assessment of the voters' registration
process and another for the Presidential elections), Guatemala, Morocco, Egypt and
Venezuela. Lastly, three Election Follow-up Missions were deployed to Paraguay, Cambodia
and Honduras, to assess the implementation of recommendations of previous EU Election
Observation Missions, ensuring effective follow-up, in line with the 2012 EU Strategic
Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy.
4.4.
Stability
4.4.1. Crisis response and preparedness
The Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) is a key external relations
instrument, placed under the authority of the HRVP, primarily enabling the EU to react
quickly with targeted actions in situations of existing or emerging crises. In 2015, the Service
for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) committed a total of EUR 257 566 000 for IcSP divided
into EUR 232 566 000 under the short-term crisis response component (Article 3) and EUR
25 000 000 under the structural peace-building component (Article 4).
Article 3 of the IcSP constitutes the short-term crisis response component of the Instrument,
providing urgent support in relation to political crises and natural disasters. Given their
nature, actions are identified as the need arises without programming. Article 4 of the IcSP
defines the component assisting with longer-term crisis preparedness based on the
Instrument's 2014-2020 Strategy Paper and its 2014-2017 Multi-Annual Indicative
Programme
130
. In addition, actions under Article 5 of the IcSP Regulation, covering global
130
Commission Implementing Decision C(2014) 5607 of 11.8.2014, adopting the Thematic Strategy Paper
2014-2020 and accompanying Multiannual indicative Programme 2014-2017 of the Instrument contributing to
Stability and Peace.
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and regional threats and emerging threats, are programmed and implemented by the European
Commission and are described in a separate section of this report.
During 2015, the crisis response component of the IcSP programme has primarily allowed the
EU to provide urgent support in a timely manner in relation to high-priority crises on top of
the EU's political agenda (such as Ukraine, Syria/Iraq, Libya, Central African Republic and
the Sahel). It has also enabled timely interventions in connection with disasters (for example
support for Nepal following the earthquakes in April and May) as well as allowing for the EU
to remain engaged in protracted and lower-intensity crises (Central Asia Water Mediation,
Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey-Armenia).
When defining and mobilising IcSP crisis response actions (that have a maximum 18 months
duration), the Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) works in close
collaboration with the European External Action Service (EEAS)
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, Commission services
and other relevant EU services. In addition to the crisis response measures' objectives related
to the stabilisation of volatile crisis countries and regions, many projects are also designed to
pave the way for follow-on longer-term EU programmes under other EU Instruments.
Therefore many of the measures adopted under this part of the Instrument contribute to an
overarching EU comprehensive approach to conflict and crisis response based on jointly
developed strategic frameworks.
Under the
short-term crisis response
component,
41 actions
were launched in 2015. The
following are examples of timely responses to crises that were high on the EU's political
agenda during the year:
Counter-terrorism/Countering violent extremism:
In view of the rising terrorist threat in
several parts of the world, not least in the EU neighbourhood, a number of IcSP Decisions to
support the affected countries' efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism were taken
in 2015. They include support for the development and implementation of national strategies
on counterterrorism and countering violent extremism along with activities to strengthen the
capacity of the judiciary to handle terrorism cases and to do so in conformity with
international human rights standards and the rule of law.
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, six IcSP Decisions focusing on
counterterrorism and countering violent extremism efforts were taken in 2015, including one
entitled 'Strengthening counter terrorism capacities in the Middle East, North Africa and Iraq'
(EUR six million) which consisted of i) a
regional action
to address the terrorist threat in the
region by strengthening the capacity of state actors that play a key role in countering
terrorism and violent extremism (implemented by European Union Agency for Law
Enforcement Training (CEPOL)) and ii) a specific measure aimed at developing a human
rights-compliant counter terrorism strategy, legislation and coordination measures in
Iraq.
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Pursuant to Council Decision of 26 July 2010 establishing the organisation and functioning of the European
External Action Service (2010/427/EU), OJ L201
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The destabilising effect of radicalisation in
Jordan
has led Jordanian authorities to develop a
national action plan to Counter Violent Extremism (CVE). A EUR 10 million IcSP
programme was adopted in 2015 primarily to support implementation of the Government’s
CVE action plan.
Despite the significant advance of the democratic process in
Tunisia,
there is growing
concern about political violence and insecurity. While the country needs to take urgent steps
to strengthen its security provisions, the right balance must be struck to avoid the methods of
the former police state being re-legitimated, thus undermining the democratic space and
freedom Tunisians have recently gained. In this context, two IcSP measures totalling EUR
four million were adopted in December 2015 to 1) contribute to an inclusive and democratic
security governance of Tunisia’s land borders, and 2) support Tunisia in its counter-terrorism
efforts, including the planning and implementation of a Tunisian Counterterrorism Strategy
and strengthening of the judiciary's capacity to handle terrorism cases.
In other countries in the region (Lebanon) and outside (Pakistan, Nigeria) similar decisions to
support counter-terrorism efforts were also taken.
Ukraine:
Following the signature of the Minsk Agreement in early 2015, as a contribution
toward a sustainable solution of the crisis, a package of measures was adopted to support the
second mandate of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special
Monitoring Mission (SMM) in the areas of satellite imagery, complementary monitoring
tools (vision equipment) and staff costs. This measure enhanced SMM monitoring capacity
thereby contributing towards a normalisation of the security situation in Eastern Ukraine. An
additional EUR 9.5 million measure in August helped mitigate the most acute effects of the
crisis on conflict-affected populations, meeting in particular their physical and psychological
needs and monitor human rights abuses to assist in the restoration of justice while a further
EUR ten million was mobilised in December to improve regional and local government
capacity in recovery planning and service delivery. Activities also aim to enhance community
security for people in conflict-affected areas, with a focus on Internally Displaced Persons
and gender equality. All investment served to underpin the EU objective of contributing, with
international partners, to a peaceful solution of the crisis in Ukraine and to address the
recovery needs of affected populations.
Niger:
Following the first Boko Haram attack in early 2015, the Diffa region was confronted
with the arrival of thousands of refugees and returnees from Nigeria compounding an already
fragile situation, affecting agriculture, trade and pastoralism. This destabilisation risked
providing fertile ground for Boko Haram recruitment particularly of youth. A EUR 15.5
million measure was mobilised to support community resilience and economic recovery,
quick-impact education and training initiatives stimulating youth employment, schooling
incentive schemes for both girls and boys as well as inter- and intra-religious dialogue to
prevent radicalisation. An additional component kick-started a Migration Response and
Resource Mechanism in Agadez assisting migrants with information, protection and medical
assistance in line with the European Agenda on Migration of May 2015. This action is a
precursor of several upcoming activities under the IcSP addressing migration. Another
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intervention, decided at the end of 2015, aims to facilitate the voluntary return of Sub-
Saharan African migrants to Libya, who could no longer return to their home countries due to
the crisis in Libya, thus providing alternatives to irregular migration across the
Mediterranean.
In addition to the crisis response actions, the EU committed EUR 25 million of IcSP funds in
2015 for activities supporting
conflict prevention, peace building and crisis preparedness
within the framework of the Peace-building Partnership. Focus was put on actions in the
areas of civil society capacity building, gender and violence against women, building local
and international mediation capacity and strengthening the role of civil society within the
Kimberley Process (Conflict Diamonds). The EU worked with a wide range of stakeholders
in these projects, such as the United Nations (UN), international organisations and civil
society actors. Some of the principle achievements of 2015 include:
‘Enhancing the EU's early warning capacities by bridging the warning-response
gap’
aims to enhance the EU’s conflict prevention capacities by enabling policy- makers
across the EU to identify and act upon conflict risks before they lead to violence. Through
an open calls for proposals, the action will harness civil society organizations’ technical
expertise and networks at field level to support the production and dissemination of
independent expert early warning information and to foster forward-looking exchanges on
early action options.
‘Strengthening Crisis Response Capacities of the League of Arab States (LAS) and
Member Countries’ aims to enhance the technical and institutional capacity of the
Secretariat of the LAS to respond to crisis, conflict and post-conflict situations, and by
supporting the establishment of a Crisis Management Mechanism for Member States in
partnership with national crisis response entities of the Arab states. It builds on the results
of a first phase of cooperation under the 2009 AAP for the Instrument for Stability (IfS).
‘European Union Police Services Training Programme II (EUPST II)’ aims to strengthen
the capacity of police and gendarmerie services from EU Member States, non-EU CSDP
contributing countries, and third countries, to participate in international crisis
management missions and projects of the EU, the UN, the AU and other international
organisations. Building on the success of the first phase of EUPST under the 2010 AAP
for the IfS, the action will be implemented by the Royal Netherlands
Maréchaussée
as
new leader of the EUPST consortium.
‘Development of Post-Conflict and Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PCNA/PDNA)
capacities and tools’ builds on a first phase of collaboration under the 2011 AAP for the
IfS and aims at further developing and testing common operational practices and tools
with the UN, World Bank and regional organisations. The action will be implemented
through procurement of services and should allow further mainstreaming of inter-linkages
and synergies between Post-Conflict and Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PCNA and
PDNA), increased coordination with existing EU assessment tools (e.g. assessments
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related to conflict, fragility and countries in transition) and further strengthening of
regional and in-country capacity related to PCNAs and PDNAs.
‘Data collection on Violence against Women in conflict-risk areas’ aims to prevent and
combat sexual and gender-based violence in the OSCE region by creating an evidence
base on Violence against Women to be used in the long term for improved policymaking
and programming by relevant national actors, such as those of the security, executive and
legislature and social sectors. The action will be implemented by OSCE.
‘Support for the Kimberley Process (KP) Certification Scheme and the Regional
Approach to KP Compliance in the Mano River Union’ aims to support compliance with
the KP Certification Scheme, the international mechanism that aims to prevent trade in
rough diamonds from fuelling conflict, by providing support to a) the Property Rights and
Artisanal Diamond Development Programme (PRADD II) and b) the countries of the
Mano River Union to tackle smuggling, foster law enforcement cooperation and
safeguard revenues.
Over the past few years, thematic activities have been developed to strengthen fragile
countries and address their resilience and development potential. To this end, in 2015 the EU
continued to develop policies and an associated ‘tool box’ which includes a number of
specific tools and sources of technical assistance such as the Conflict Prevention and Peace
Building analysis (CPPB), Post-Conflict and Post-Disaster Needs Assessments
(PCNA/PDNA) and the EU Conflict Early Warning System
132
alongside specialised training
seminars and recourse to use of ‘Crisis Declarations'. The following achievements can be
noted for 2015:
Several new conflict analyses have been undertaken or updated including for Chad
and Mauritania.
To secure countries preparedness, we have supported the process of establishment of a
list of "fragile' countries" or "countries in crisis" to benefit from measures according
to needs. The 2015 list includes some 33 countries and the Pacific Islands, plus
victims of natural disasters.
The new joint Staff Working Document on the EU Conflict Early Warning System
was adopted on 14 January 2016.
In terms of areas of security policy with a development cooperation angle, the following
activities were prioritised:
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‘Security Sector Reform (SSR) Joint Communication’
The EU Conflict Early Warning System enables staff across the EU to identify long-term risks for violent conflict and
deterioration in a country or region and to stimulate early preventive actions. It has been developed with the technical
assistance of the JRC:
http://www.eeas.europa.eu/cfsp/conflict_prevention/docs/201409_factsheet_conflict_earth_warning_en.pdf
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‘Joint strategy on hybrid threats’
Implementation plan for the ‘Joint Communication on Capacity Building’ (overall
picture), and in particular the pilot cases in Mali and Somalia
Implementation of the ‘Comprehensive Approach Action Plan’ including follow-up
provision of inputs for other aspects of the Implementation Plan (e.g. MFF/financial
Instruments).
Additional support was provided to European Commission services in the handling of CSDP
issues, in particular to ensure the transition of CSDP missions such as those in DRC,
Afghanistan and in providing contributions to Political Framework for Crisis Approach
(PFCA) exercises for Ukraine and the Central Africa Republic.
A number of Guidelines and staff development activities for operating in situations of
conflicts and fragility were also developed: the EU Staff Handbook for Operating in
situations of Conflict and Fragility, a seminar on fragility, security and development in the
context of EU external action and the organization of an inter-agency workshop on
strengthening donor coordination for better addressing fragility in DRC.
4.4.2. Global and regional trans-border challenges
The primary aim of EU assistance under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace
IcSP (Art. 5), is to assist in addressing global and trans-regional threats and emerging threats
and, more particularly, to counter terrorism, organised crime, illicit trafficking, threats to
critical infrastructure, climate change, pandemics and chemical, biological, radiological and
nuclear (CBRN) risks. A total of EUR 64 million was committed in 2015 to this end.
An evaluation of actions under the IcSP commenced in 2015 and concluded that assistance
has been broadly positive bringing valuable results in terms of training of staff, increased
capacities of beneficiary authorities and improved cooperation among several participating
countries. Assistance increased awareness on the many interactions between security and
development. Moreover, support increased EU visibility in many regions of the world, which
resulted in a considerable rise in profile for the EU as a credible partner on security issues.
As regards Article 5.1 (Fight against organised crime; Countering Terrorism;
Protection of critical infrastructure, Security threats emanating from Climate Change),
the IcSP contributes to the translation of fundamental EU principles: democracy and respect
for human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law into concrete actions as part of EU
external action.
The final evaluation of the Counter Terrorism (CT) Sahel project showed that it played an
instrumental role in realising the aims and operational objectives of the EU Strategy for the
Sahel and the EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The EU has grown in credibility as a security
actor in the Sahel region thanks to this project. Two new actions were developed in 2015
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focusing on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and ‘Strengthening Resilience to
Violence and Extremism’ (STRIVE) Global.
New actions on combating terrorist radicalisation, supporting CT (in particular rule of law in
the Horn of Africa), aviation security, and CT monitoring were also launched in 2015.
Finally, as an important element of the EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy, a number of actions
under the PREVENT strand were prepared, as well as the implementation of a global training
activity on Countering Violent Extremism for EU staff in Delegations and EU embassies.
In the area of organised crime, work continued in ten countries on the Heroin Route
(including Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan), as well as a project to combat human trafficking.
Under the Cocaine Route Programme, sea and airport interdiction task forces are now
operational in several countries, to support the fight against organised crime on the cocaine
route. A new project on criminal justice cooperation in West Africa and Latin America with
UNODC and Interpol was also launched. In addition, an important action on cybercrime was
launched with the Council of Europe.
An evaluation of IcSP funded actions on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) conducted
in 2015 concluded that the EU-funded programmes under review were, by a considerable
margin, the largest and most comprehensive SALW programmes implemented worldwide in
recent years. This highlights the central role played by the EU in supporting the worldwide
implementation of international agreements on SALW. Furthermore, the evaluation
concluded that the programmes were relevant; in the sense that they correctly identified
SALW policy needs and that the programmes’ design adequately addressed those needs.
Some of the programmes were genuinely innovative, as in the case of iArms database
development and designed with a high degree of conceptual rigour as in the case of the
UNODC programme’s focus on legal reform.
As regards the CBRN risk mitigation
activities under Article. 5.2, the EU CBRN regional
centres of excellence initiative (CoE) reached a significant degree of maturity and
consolidation in 2015, as stated by the Court of Auditors in its Special Report n°17 (Dec
2014) and acknowledged by the 52 partner countries. In 2015, two new Secretariats were
opened in Tashkent (Central Asia) and Algiers (North Africa). The Secretariats facilitate
information sharing, assess CBRN needs and implement as well as monitor projects in the
regions. As of December 2015, there were 53 regional projects ongoing in 52 partner
countries, based on a bottom-up and regional identification methodology.
Major new regional projects were launched based on a bottom-up approach with partner
countries which included: the establishment of Mobile Laboratories for Pathogens up to Risk
Group 4 in combination with CBRN Capacity Building in sub-Saharan Africa (Ebola);
continuing the support started in previous years; Chemical safety and security in the Central
and Eastern African region; improved regional management of outbreaks in the CBRN
Centres of Excellence partner countries of the African Atlantic Façade region; strengthening
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the national legal frameworks and provision of specialised training on bio-safety and bio-
security in Central Asian countries;, provision of specialised CBRN equipment for first
responders in South East Europe and Caucasus and an EU outreach programme for dual use
items in South-East Asia.
Actions to contain dual use knowledge continued through dedicated support to the Science
and Technology Centre (STCU) and the International Science and Technology Centre
(ISTC). The restructuring of these two International Institutes continued in 2015: a milestone
was reached with the signature of the ISTC's Continuation Agreement in Astana. ISTC has
become a flexible global instrument that can identify and implement projects at the nexus
between research and security.
Commission services continued to support the implementation of the CBRN (chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear) Centres of Excellence initiative that aims to achieve a
coordinated strategy for mitigation and preparedness against risks related to CBRN material
and to boost cooperation. This included providing support to the partner countries in
completing the CBRN integrated needs assessment questionnaire, in the analysis of the gaps
identified and in the production of the basis document for CBRN National Action Plans
(NAP). In addition, Commission services provided scientific support to the regional
Secretariats for the discussion of CBRN priorities at regional level and contributed to the
development of the terms of reference for the regional projects. The African Atlantic Facade
region is a case in point. Commission services also continued to expand the public website
and private portal of the initiative, including dedicated spaces for the regional Secretariats.
The IcSP is a key EU instrument in providing uniquely swift and targeted responses to
unstable countries and regions in their efforts to overcome obstacles to the consolidation of
peace and stability. Given the current trend of global instability and the increasing number
and regularity of natural disasters, IcSP will continue working towards a more efficient and
effective deployment of all other EU External Financing Instruments. The strategic approach
taken in the programming of long-term IcSP actions has yielded results as stronger links with
key actors in various regions have been created and stronger platforms to enable dialogue
with key international and civil society partners have been consolidated thereby greatly
facilitating and enabling the design of customised preventive and crisis response actions.
4.5.
Nuclear Safety
The Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) promotes the highest level of nuclear
safety worldwide.
The programme, with an overall budget of EUR 225 million, is a very specific, technical
instrument dealing with nuclear safety, nuclear waste management and nuclear safeguards.
All projects implemented in the three areas contribute respectively to a safer world by
promoting a nuclear safety culture worldwide, a cleaner environment in particular
considering remediation activities and to the non-proliferation regime by establishing a sound
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nuclear material accountancy and control system. The geographical priorities are the
Neighbourhood (East and South) and Africa.
The main achievements of the INSC programme in 2015 are:
All but one Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States and
Georgia (TACIS) projects in Ukraine have been successfully completed. Two hand-
over ceremonies took place for the ‘National Maintenance and Management Training
Centre’ and the ‘Nuclear Waste Treatment Facilities at the Zaparozhye Nuclear Power
Plant’ respectively.
The programme has pursued its effort to address the environmental issues in Central
Asia originating from the legacy of former uranium mining activities in the region. A
dedicated Environment Remediation Fund has been established by the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for which the European Commission is
the first contributor. Together with the Bank and the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), the Commission is working on the organisation of a donor's
conference to be held in 2017.
The European Commission has continued its support for the Regulatory Authorities of
Armenia, Belarus, China, Ukraine and Vietnam. A regional feasibility study on
Emergency Preparedness and Response to a nuclear accident has been completed in
South East Asia.
The European Commission has engaged successfully with the regulatory authority of
Turkey. A project proposal has been agreed and will be funded under the Annual
Action Programme 2016.
Preliminary contacts with the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority have been made
in the margin of the IAEA General Conference after the successful nuclear deal
agreed between the ‘EU3+3’ and Iran. The European Commission will participate in
the implementation of annex 3 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action dealing
with civil nuclear cooperation through the INSC.
The cooperation with Tanzania is now mature and two projects supporting the
Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission will be implemented in 2016.
In 2015, JRC has contributed to the development of new projects programmed in the INSC
supporting the Regulatory Authorities in Armenia, Belarus, China, Morocco and Ukraine, as
well as to projects offering training courses for the staff of Regulatory Authorities of all
INSC partner countries. Radioactive Waste Management activities continue to be strongly
supported in Central Asia, and in Ukraine. The JRC is also involved in the implementation of
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INSC safeguards projects, such as the transfer of technologies for safeguards applications, as
well as training for third countries.
4.6.
Humanitarian Assistance and Civil Protection
4.6.1. Humanitarian Aid
The European Commission takes the lead in formulating EU humanitarian aid policy and for
managing humanitarian aid to the victims of conflicts or disasters, both natural and man-
made, in non-EU countries. The European Union, including both Member States and the
Commission, is the world leading humanitarian donor. The mandate of the European
Commission to help save and preserve life, prevent and alleviate human suffering and
safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by crises is fulfilled
through humanitarian assistance and civil protection operations. EU humanitarian aid is a
lifeline for communities and victims of new, recurrent and protracted crises. It also allows
them to prepare better for future emergencies. Complementary civil protection operations
offer immediate support in the form of expert teams, rescue equipment and real-time
monitoring of developing disasters, in the EU and elsewhere. When disaster strikes, timely
and effective intervention by the international community can make the difference between
life and death. This assistance is a fundamental expression of European solidarity and based
on Articles 196 and 214 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
While natural disasters, such as the earthquake in Nepal, have affected millions of people in
2015, armed conflicts have been the greatest driver of acute and prolonged humanitarian
need. Last year was marked by four 'Level 3' emergencies (Syria, Iraq, Yemen and South
Sudan), the highest crisis denomination according to the United Nations standards, and the
highest level of forced displacement since the Second World War. Europe has been directly
affected through the massive influx of refugees and migrants and the increasing human
tragedies at its external borders. Given these unprecedented humanitarian crises, the EU has
responded by targeting humanitarian aid to the people most in need and the most vulnerable,
and by upgrading its policy response.
During the year, with financial assistance of over EUR 1.5 billion, the European
Commission provided food and nutrition support, shelter, protection, healthcare and
clean water to more than 134 million people affected by natural disasters or conflict in
over 80 countries. 2015 represents the largest budget executed by Commission
services so far due to increasingly frequent and devastating natural disasters and
humanitarian crises;
Syria is the largest “source country" of refugees currently arriving in the EU. The
Syrian conflict continues unabated into its fifth year and remains the biggest
humanitarian and security crisis in the world. In 2015, more than EUR 350 million
was allocated to life saving operations in Syria and its neighbouring countries;
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In addition to helping displaced populations in their country of origin, emergency
humanitarian interventions were funded in transit countries, notably the Western
Balkans in favour of vulnerable refugees, asylum seekers and migrants;
The Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) was also at the disposal of Hungary,
Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece who required immediate material support to
cope with the refugee influx. Fifteen countries made offers of assistance;
In 2015, the European Commission has significantly increased its humanitarian aid to
Iraq, one of the most rapidly unfolding humanitarian crises worldwide. The protection
of civilians is one of the main challenges. Iraq is also hosting almost 250 000 Syrian
refugees;
In July 2015, the UN classified the Yemen crisis as a Level 3 emergency. Conflict
combined with poverty, forced displacement and rising food prices have aggravated
an already serious humanitarian crisis. Yemen is also directly affected by the
humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa. Humanitarian funding targets Yemen's
internally displaced and refugees;
Millions of people in Ukraine are in need of humanitarian aid due to the conflict in the
eastern part of the country. The Union continued to support humanitarian and early
recovery aid to the people of Ukraine in a joint gesture of solidarity. In addition, in-
kind assistance has been provided through the UCPM;
Immediate humanitarian relief was provided to the victims of the Nepal earthquake, in
addition to the deployment of civil protection experts to the crisis area, search and
rescue and first-aid teams, as well as relief items, sent through the UCPM;
The funding for the nine Sahel countries amounted to EUR 216 million with a focus
on the food and nutrition crisis. Recurrent food crises in the Sahel have severely
eroded the resilience of the poorest families that are sometimes forced to move to seek
better livelihoods. Conflicts in Mali, Central African Republic and northern Nigeria,
that also spilled over to Chad, Niger and Cameroon, have forced hundreds of
thousands to leave their home and have further exacerbated the food security
situation;
Continuous armed conflict in South Sudan, a Level 3 emergency, has uprooted
millions and generated huge humanitarian needs. The EU supports lifesaving
activities in South Sudan and helps South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring
countries;
By the end of 2015 more than 1.5 million children growing up in conflict and
emergency areas had benefited from humanitarian projects providing access to
education and psychosocial support under the umbrella of the ‘EU children of peace’
initiative;
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Exceptional efforts were made at EU level to tackle the major Ebola outbreak in
Western Africa. The EU funded humanitarian aid to address the most urgent needs
generated by the outbreak, in addition to the deployment of emergency supplies and
experts through the UCPM, to ultimately defeat the disease;
The "lessons learned" from the Ebola crisis lead to the establishment of the European
Medical Corps in 2015 in the framework of the UCPM voluntary pool. Therefore the
voluntary pool now has medical and public health capacities;
The Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), which took place in
Sendai, Japan, in March 2015, adopted a new framework for disaster risk reduction.
Commission services took a leading role in building an enhanced DRR framework,
defining further steps to reduce risks and foster disaster resilience;
For the European Union Aid Volunteers initiative, the first calls for proposals were
published in 2015 for deployment of volunteers, capacity building for hosting
organisations and technical assistance for sending organisations to create
opportunities for 18 000 people to volunteer in operations worldwide by 2020;
Education in Emergencies (EiE) became a top priority for the Commission in 2015. In
recognition of the magnitude of needs and the financing gap for education in crises at
the global level, Commissioner Stylianides committed to increase EiE funding to 4%
of the EU's humanitarian budget at the Oslo Summit on Education Development in
July 2015
.
Case study - The Syrian Crisis
The ‘Whole of Syria’ approach rests on a four-pillar strategy that includes negotiated access,
emergency response, protection, accountability and support to partnerships. As one of the
main donors, the European Commission contributed to support 12 million beneficiaries with
health assistance, five million with protection services, eight million with water, sanitation
and hygiene services and over six million vulnerable internally displaced people with shelters
and non-food items. Commission services also got increasingly involved in international
diplomatic initiatives (e.g. the Vienna talks) and advocacy efforts aimed at promoting the
respect of basic humanitarian principles and International Humanitarian Law.
Neighbouring countries
In Lebanon, the Commission supported some 665 000 people, with special focus on women
and children. European Commission assistance has focused on the most vulnerable refugees
addressing basic needs with a multi-purpose cash approach, secondary healthcare for
lifesaving, shelter, and water and sanitation. In addition, the Commission funded specific
activities on protection, in terms of counselling and legal assistance and service to victims of
violence.
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In Jordan, priority was given to the most dignified, cost efficient and effective solutions,
focusing on the basics needs approach through cash assistance. For instance, the Commission
has been supporting UNICEF to assist 56 000 girls and boys from the most vulnerable Syrian
refugee families with a child cash grant of JOD 20 per child per month. The immediate
objective of this programme is to prevent vulnerable families from relying on negative coping
mechanisms, by helping to cover needs and expenses specific to each child. As a result, more
than 50 % of families reported avoiding the use of at least one negative coping strategy and
91 % of the sampled group reported that this is contributing to improving their overall family
wellbeing.
In 2015, Turkey was declared the largest refugee-hosting nation in the world with a total of
over 2.5 million Syrian refugees registered at the end of the year. One of the main priorities
has been the health sector, especially physical rehabilitation/post-operative care for war
wounded, and primary healthcare services in acutely under-served areas provided to about
130 000 people. Another key priority were programmes providing the most vulnerable
refugee families with vouchers that enable them to buy basic assistance including food and
non-food items, reaching about 230 000 people. Finally, through the EU Children of Peace
initiative, European Commission funded partners to help prevent a lost generation of Syrian
children. About 7 000 Syrian children have been ensured access to quality education.
In September 2015, Commission services launched the Disaster Risk Management
Knowledge Centre. By creating a network of scientists and policy-makers, the centre will
facilitate access to knowledge and translate complex scientific data and analyses into usable
information at all stages of disaster risk management from prevention to recovery. By
promoting more systematic and reinforced science to policy interface and fostering the
creation and sharing of new knowledge, the Centre will also support the United Nations
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
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Table 18.
ECHO 2015 BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION
Region/country
Africa
Sudan & South Sudan
Central Africa
Great Lakes
Horn of Africa
Southern Africa, Indian Ocean
West Africa
North Africa
Middle East and European neighbouring countries
Middle East
European neighbouring countries
Asia, Pacific
South West and Central Asia
South East Asia and Pacific
Central & South America, Caribbean
Central & South America
Caribbean
Worldwide disasters
Civil protection
Inside EU
Outside EU
EU Aid Volunteers
Complementary operations and support
TOTAL
7
72
1 587
0.4
4.6
100
Amount
660
159
92
62
171
20
141
16
560
529
32
130
103
26
63
29
34
39
57
2.5
3.6
3.9
8.2
35.3
%
41.6
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4.7.
Macro-financial Assistance
Macro-financial assistance (MFA) is an EU financial instrument designed to strengthen
macroeconomic and financial stability in countries that are geographically, economically and
politically close to the EU. MFA complements an adjustment and reform programme agreed
with the IMF. It can take the form of either loans or grants, and is released in tranches strictly
tied to the successful implementation of strong reform measures aimed at restoring the
beneficiary country's economy to a long term sustainable path.
During the course of 2015, the Commission made significant progress in the implementation
of existing MFA operations:
Georgia
(EUR 46 million, half in loans and half in grants): The Commission
disbursed the first tranche, consisting of a EUR 13 million grant and a EUR ten
million loan. The disbursement of the second and last tranche is planned for 2016.
Jordan
(EUR 180 million in loans): The operation was fully disbursed in 2015, in
two tranches of EUR 100 million and EUR 80 million respectively.
Kyrgyz Republic
(EUR 30 million, half in loans and half in grants): The Commission
disbursed the first tranche, consisting of a EUR ten million grant and a EUR five
million loan. The disbursement of the second tranche is planned for 2016.
Tunisia
(EUR 300 million in loans): The Commission disbursed the first two tranches
of EUR 100 million each. The disbursement of the third and last tranche is planned
for 2016.
In addition, the continuous deterioration of the political and economic situation in
Ukraine
triggered additional MFA support in the form of a new operation of EUR 1.8 billion. This
additional operation – the third one to be implemented in the country since 2014 – brought
the total EU MFA available to Ukraine to EUR 3.4 billion, which represents the largest
financial assistance ever granted to a non-EU country in such a short time. Following
approval by the co-legislators in April 2015, the first tranche of EUR 600 million was
disbursed in July. The remaining EUR 1.2 billion is expected to be made available during the
course of 2016 in two equal tranches of EUR 600 million. In 2015, the Commission also
disbursed the third and final tranche of EUR 250 million in loans from the first MFA
operation implemented in Ukraine since the onset of the crisis.
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5.
5.1.
5.1.1
M
ANAGING
A
ID
Monitoring Systems
The reformed external support to monitoring (ROM)
The Commission’s services have put into place a first set of reforms in the area of project
monitoring and reporting which aim to improve quality and accountability in these areas
during and at end of project implementation. They relate to the external technical assistance
to the Commission services and EU Delegations through the new Results Oriented
Monitoring (ROM) system.
The new system of external support to the Commission's own monitoring of project
implementation, in force since 2015, is focussing on reviews of projects under
implementation selected primarily in function of risks and more broadly in function of the
need of specific support during monitoring.
ROM project reviews of on-going projects are to assess the status of a project under
implementation through an analysis of project documentation and meaningful consultation
with all of the parties involved, including beneficiaries. ROM reviews are looking at progress
in input provision, activities undertaken and results delivered (outputs, direct outcomes).
They highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the project implementation with a view to
assist the EU Delegations and Commission operational services in dealing with questions and
problems that have emerged and to recommend solutions and/or revised approaches,
including, where relevant, to adapt to changing circumstances. ROM project reviews are no
project evaluations. In specific cases, a ROM project review may however lead to the
conclusion that a more in-depth assessment in the form of a mid-term evaluation is required
to address the problems that emerged by defining the approaches and conditions for re-
orienting the project.
Beyond the focusing of the ROM project review system on projects and programmes most in
need of the external support, the most important features of the reforms of the ROM system
relate to the quality of ROM project reviews through i) systematic use of specialised thematic
and sector expertise in the carrying out of ROM project reviews; ii) more time to be spent in
the field by the experts to allow for meaningful consultations of stakeholders; iii) introduction
of an external Quality Assurance (QA) system, independent of the consultants implementing
the ROM services. The new ROM project review system dedicates a strong attention to issues
relating to progress towards achieving project results.
The new ROM system also provides an additional specific support to end of project results
reporting linked to the reporting on the basis of the new EU international Cooperation and
Development Results framework (see also Introduction to Chapter 2).
The various changes have been integrated in the fully revised ROM Handbook which sets out
the scope, objectives, tasks, processes and products of the new ROM system in order to
ensure overall quality of the ROM system during its implementation. The changes to the
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ROM system have been accompanied by the introduction of a new ROM information
management system (the ROM module) managed by the Commission’s Directorate General
for International Cooperation and Development, replacing the old CRIS ROM module. The
new system offers a user-friendly interface and new electronic templates for monitoring
questions and ROM reports as well as specific spaces for comments and follow-up by the EU
Delegations or Commission operational services in charge of the monitoring of the project
concerned.
During the first year of implementation of the new ROM system, more than 1000 projects
(including some 380 in Sub-Saharan Africa, some 210 in Asia and the Pacific, some 200 in
Latin-America and the Caribbean, some 150 in the Neighbourhood region and some 65
projects directly monitored by Commission Headquarters) have been subject to a ROM
review, the recommendations of which lead to the preparation of follow-up plans.
5.1.2
Evaluation: review of the work programme
The Commission’s evaluation services manage exclusively strategic evaluations, covering
geographic, thematic, sector, instruments and budget support evaluations. Project and
programme evaluations are managed by the operational services (EU Delegations and
operational units) and inform strategic evaluations.
In 2015, the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development’s
Evaluation Unit
finalised:
seven country evaluations (Bolivia, Georgia, Jordan, Lesotho,
Madagascar, Timor Leste and Yemen), two joint budget support evaluations (Burundi and
Uganda), two regional evaluations (Pacific Region and Central America), and two thematic
evaluations (Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, and Environment and climate
change)
133
.
All Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations evaluations that
were on-going at the beginning of the year have been successfully finalised
134
. They were:
Third Instrument for Pre-accession assistance (IPA), Interim Evaluation, Roma, Fight against
corruption, Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument (TAIEX) and
Western Balkans Investment Framework.
The following Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development
evaluations were
on-going:
Bangladesh, Central Asia, Chad, Pakistan; Burundi, Peru and
Paraguay (Budget Support), Blending, Delegated cooperation, Higher education, Policy
Coherence for Development, Research and Innovation, Transport and Water Facility.
133
134
All DEVCO published evaluations can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/node/80199_en
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/news_corner/keydocuments/index_en.htm?key_document=08012624887bed
219
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In addition, the following evaluations were
launched
in 2015: Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast,
Ghana, Peru and Sierra Leone, EU approach to building resilience to withstand food crises in
African Drylands, Joint Programming and the Cotonou Partnership Agreement.
As regards the Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement
Negotiations, all but one of the planned evaluations was contracted: Public administration
reform, Economic governance, Competitiveness, Social protection and Cross border
cooperation. The evaluation of the Cooperation with the World Bank was postponed.
In 2015, the ‘Better Regulation’ package
135
was adopted, which includes Commission-wide
guidelines on evaluation placing greater emphasis on the need to use and disseminate
evidence to inform policy and programming.
Summary of evaluations
Bolivia (2007-2013)
The EU cooperation responded to the development priorities of the country. Impressive
outcomes have been observed in the areas of food security, nutrition and water supply, as
well as on the fight against drug trafficking. The use of budget support was mostly
appropriate, although in future project approach and capacity building initiatives should also
be considered. Greater coordination between the Commission and EU Member State
interventions should be sought in the scope of the Joint programming planned for 2017.
Georgia (2007-2013)
The EU’s strategy was reasonably effective in pursuing the main goals of the European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), although the focus on broader political aspects of the ENP
reform tended to crowd out attention from the actual sector outcomes and weaken strategic
monitoring. As a result the EU development cooperation in Georgia operated largely in
isolation. EU support improved compliance with international standards and conventions.
Tangible contributions were made towards: strengthening the rule of law, improving Public
Finance Management, and enhancing the role of Civil Society. Nonetheless, the support
aiming to improve the perspectives of conflict resolution proved to be less effective.
Jordan (2007-2013)
The EU strategy has been well-aligned with the national development priorities and
objectives, demonstrating responsiveness and flexibly to changes in the regional context.
However, this responsiveness was less evident in relation to changes in the national economic
context characterised by the gradual move to Upper Middle Income status and persistent
structural inequalities. The policy/political dialogue and the development cooperation have
been consistent, timely and mutually reinforcing. The budget support package has generally
135
http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/guidelines/toc_guide_en.htm
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been instrumental in supporting the government efforts in Public Financial Management.
While sector reform targets were formally met, the reforms are less visible on the ground,
raising concerns regarding effectiveness, impact and sustainability. Governance and
institutional strengthening are improving. Major challenges remain with regard to gender
equality and environmental issues.
Lesotho (2008-2013)
Whilst the EU's engagement with Lesotho was appropriate to the context of the mid 1990s,
the current support does not adequately address Lesotho’s specific developmental and
regional challenges. The provision of budget support, whilst helpful to improve sector
coordination, took insufficient account of the weaknesses of the public administration.
Continuation and future use of budget support should be reconsidered in light of
Government's lack of progress in implementing its own policies. EU support has been
instrumental in shaping the national social protection system, improving water service
delivery and environmental protection, and in strengthening the capacity of non-state actors.
Future EU cooperation approaches should be based on a pro-active political dialogue,
facilitating private sector investments and trade with South Africa.
Madagascar (2007-2013)
The cooperation strategy was aligned with the priorities of the government and contributed to
the improvement of living conditions of vulnerable people. In 2009, the strategy was adapted
to the prevailing political situation with a new portfolio relevant to the economic and social
situation of the most vulnerable groups. However, with the application of the Article 96 of
the Cotonou Agreement (mid-2009 to late 2011) many of the achievements made in the
previous periods were lost. The EU should redefine its cooperation objectives and support the
return of the public authority, the rule of law and democracy. The support to rural
development should be revisited and the health and education interventions expanded to
national level.
Timor-Leste (2008-2013)
The evaluation highlighted that whilst EU cooperation addressed relevant aspects of Timor-
Leste’s development over the period 2008-2013, its scope was constrained by insufficiently
pro-active mode of cooperation, limited effectiveness of cooperation strategy and
implementation, and positive but limited EU engagement in supporting Timor-Leste's
international ambitions. Weak policy dialogue and partnerships (especially in financial terms)
was partly caused by insufficient investment in Delegation staff. A new EU cooperation with
Timor-Leste should be developed, with much stronger emphasis on the strategic and on
policy dialogue.
Yemen (2002-2012)
EU cooperation has contributed to state-building and resilience objectives with some success
in a very challenging context, but overall results have been mixed and sustainability has been
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weak. The EU has not invested sufficiently in contextual analysis in Yemen and this exposes
the EU cooperation to significant risks. Moreover, the institutional disconnects within and
between Commission services and EEAS and inflexibilities of EU instruments and
programming processes are poorly suited to the context of Yemen and existing capabilities. It
is recommended that the European Commission services and EEAS develop a comprehensive
strategy with the Member States in Yemen to reinforce the policy dialogue that is led by a
well-supported and staffed Delegation.
Burundi Budget Support (2005-2013)
The substantial flows of funds under the BS contributed to the improvement of the
macroeconomic framework until 2010, enabling Burundi to reach the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) completion point and benefit from a reduced foreign debt. BS contributed
to impressive results in improving access to services in the education and health sector; it also
stimulated private sector initiatives and the restructuring of the coffee sector. It did not
however help achieve sustainable macroeconomic stability. Due to high fiduciary risk,
persistence of political tensions and lack of structural transformation, Belgium, Norway and
the Netherlands stopped providing BS funding as of 2011 preferring the use of sector pool
funds. A new aid strategy is required based on a revamped policy dialogue with the
authorities, which takes into account the fiduciary risks, institutional capabilities and better
coordination of different aid modalities.
Uganda Budget Support (2004-2013)
Uganda had made progress in reducing poverty, increasing real incomes and access to basic
services (education and water and sanitation) during the first part of the evaluation period,
although this was not sustained in the later years. Frequent supplemental budgets, especially
during elections, and low domestic revenue mobilisation and reduced aid flows have
undermined budget credibility and led to underfunding of basic services. Sector policies and
institutional capacities did not improve in the education and health sectors. BS funds partially
contributed to protect sectoral allocations. The use of a broader mix of aid modalities,
especially sector wide approaches, and accompanying capacity building measures, should be
considered.
Central America (2007-2013)
The EU support helped to give continuity to regional integration and contributed to increase
legitimacy for the Central American Integration System (SICA). Specifically, it contributed
to establish critical tools and mechanisms to support the key Regional Integration
Organisations of SICA advancing regional integration. However, resistance and conflicting
political interests of SICA Member States prevented the approval and application of many
tools by the regional authorities. EU support to improve access to security-related
information across countries and to carry out joint, practical and hands-on security
operations, facilitated the development of common approaches and helped build greater trust
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among national security agencies and governments. But lack of national drive towards
regional integration and SICA is a real challenge.
Pacific Region (2006-2012)
The focus on natural resources and environment and trade and regional integration was found
to be relevant. In marine resource management, EU support greatly improved regional stock
assessment methods, but serious concerns remain with regards to long-term sustainable
management of the fisheries resources. The EU promoted regional economic integration,
reaching limited results due to its inability to sufficiently address trade and growth constraints
in the region. There remain challenges in strengthening relationships between ACP countries
and Overseas Countries and Territories.
Environment and climate change (2007-2013)
The EU support has been relevant at country, regional and global levels, and has paved the
way for increased prioritisation of environment and climate change in current programming.
The combination of thematic and geographic instruments has been reasonably effective in
reaching the overarching policy goals. Mainstreaming has been effective, but there is still
much improvement that can be made. The partner-centric approaches adopted are slow but
promote ownership and sustainability. Results have been achieved but more is needed over a
long time span to create real impact. The support has been coordinated well and is
complementary to support from Member States and other donors.
Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (2007-2013)
Some important and inspirational results have been achieved, but they are patchy and poorly
documented. With a few exceptions, at country level, EU Delegations do not adopt an
integrated approach that effectively combines gender mainstreaming, gender specific actions
and political and policy dialogue to maximise gender outcomes. In addition, gender is not
clearly incorporated into country strategy objectives nor is it reported against clear indicators.
While guidelines and resources are available, these are not comprehensive and not well-
known. The Commission services and EEAS should clarify the leadership and management
arrangements for achieving results, including well-defined reporting and accountability
arrangements.
Roma (2007-2013)
The very good quality evaluation involved several stakeholders who showed appreciation for
the inclusive evaluative process. While it commended the commitment of the EU in this area,
the evaluation pointed out the poor design of projects, the limited inclusions of stakeholders
in implementation, the limited impact (even when outputs were delivered such as for
housing) and the ineffectiveness of interventions in the area of employment and social
inclusion.
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TAIEX (2011-2014)
The evaluation commended the programme for being relevant and responsive and its
contribution to the fine-tuning of important reforms, such as in Croatia in the late pre-
accession stage. The management structure is considered efficient, though cost-effectiveness
is difficult to evaluate and some logistics aspects could be improved.
Fight against corruption (2007-2013)
Interventions are considered relevant, though conditionality should be better considered.
Relevant laws and structures have been put in place in a timely manner with EU support.
Nonetheless, results have not necessarily been achieved and difficulty of staff retention
endangers the sustainability of results in some cases.
Western Balkans Investment Framework (2009-2015)
This blending instrument is considered effective in accelerating priority investments. It is
considered an effective operational and managerial system. However, sustainability is
problematic in the case of investments at local level, due to weaknesses of local governments
in the Western Balkans.
Third interim IPA evaluation (2007-2011)
The programme is generally achieving the expected results, especially where these are
directly linked to the Accession process or an
acquis
requirement. Lack of relevant indicators
does not allow tracking of impact. Local capacities are insufficiently reflected in design.
Outlook for 2016
The following Commission evaluations are scheduled to be launched in 2016: Azerbaijan,
Cambodia, Central African Regional, Central African Republic, Western Africa Regional and
Sustainable Energy for All, Sector Approaches, Security and ex-post evaluation of Croatia,
and evaluations of all the financing instruments to feed the Mid Term Review in compliance
with the Common Implementing Regulation.
5.1.3
Lessons learned
This section provides a summary of key emerging lessons from some of the evaluations of
EU cooperation in partner countries finalised in 2015 by Commission services. It is important
to notice that these evaluations cover essentially the period 2007-2014, before the new
programming cycle and the revision of several EU policies.
Geographical evaluations
EU interventions at country and regional level are, for the great majority, relevant and
well-aligned to national and EU development objectives.
This is particularly true when
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there is a shared and in-depth understanding of partner countries political and socio-economic
context, as well as awareness of local institutional capabilities.
EU cooperation has not invested sufficiently in contextual analysis and this deficit
exposed EU cooperation to significant risks.
For example in Yemen a study was
undertaken in 2009 (Khalil/McDonald), which was used to contribute to informing
cooperation choices. However, lack of revision of the analysis in tandem with the
deteriorating situation subsequently contributed to reduced programme responsiveness.
EU support is generally strengthened when there is strong local ownership over reforms
(for example in relation to
acquis
elements in Enlargement). Involvement of stakeholders at
the different stages of the project cycle can be critical in ensuring ownership and follow up.
EU support to sensitive areas (such as the rule of law, democracy, civil society strengthening,
and freedom of the press) should be pursued even when the local demand for reforms is
limited (Evidence from Bolivia, Central America)
Greater flexibility in the use of aid delivery approaches and procedures is needed to
adapt to changing environments.
One size does not fit all contexts. The intervention
approach must vary to reflect the diversity between and within regions. Whilst budget support
is an important aid modality in EU cooperation, a mix of delivery methods can also be
needed to better respond to differentiated and specific needs of each context (Evidence from
Bolivia, Burundi, and Uganda). This was also reflected in the Budget Support reform adopted
in 2011.
EU support to regional integration whilst effective in supporting regional bodies and
fostering harmonised approaches, is often undermined by limited national ownership
and commitment.
The EU should place more emphasis on facilitating national ownership of
the regional integration process and its purpose (Evidence from Central America and Pacific
regions).
EU cooperation needs the mechanisms to be able to adjust to changes on the ground
more rapidly.
This is particularly true for
fragile states and/or rapidly changing political
and socio-economic contexts.
It was noted that whilst EU cooperation flexibly adjusts to
changes in the regional context, this does not always happen in response to national changes.
The cooperation strategy needs to take into account that the key constraints to development
have changed and can be lack of access, markets, knowledge, capacity and policies - not lack
of funds
per se
(Evidence from Georgia, Jordan, Lesotho, Madagascar and Timor-Leste).
Thematic Evaluations
For international commitments to translate into practice and results, strong leadership,
well-developed structures and monitoring and accountability systems are needed.
The well-timed evaluation on Environment and climate change, ahead of the Paris Summit,
showed that a strong leadership and coherence between global, regional and national policy
dialogue were instrumental to mainstream environmental policies into EU cooperation.
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In contrast the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) evaluation clearly
demonstrated the EU’s weak delivery against its gender commitments was primarily due to
an institutional rather than a technical problem. The lack of high level leadership, institutional
incentives and prioritisation of key commitments across EU cooperation prevented the
mainstreaming of the GEWE agenda into policies and programmes and the intended results to
be achieved.
5.2.
5.2.1
Aid delivery modalities
Trends in aid delivery modalities and channels
A key message that emerged from both the Third Financing for Development (FfD)
conference in Addis Ababa and the UN summit for the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development is that domestic public finance has to be at the heart of all
countries' effort to achieve the objectives of poverty eradication and sustainable development.
With its Staff Working Document, 'Collect More – Spend Better, achieving development in
an inclusive and sustainable way', the Commission presented its holistic and comprehensive
approach to domestic public finance. The focus lies equally on improving the tax and revenue
policies and administrations in developing countries, as much as continuing to support the
overall public financial management systems, notably in expenditure management.
In 2015, the Commission intensified its long-standing record of supporting developing
countries in collecting more and spending better, either through budget support programmes
or through direct support for domestic public finance reforms to the amount of EUR 140
million, implemented at global, regional or national level.
The international community recognised the critical role of Domestic Resource Mobilisation
in the sustainable financing for development and as a consequence, the Addis Tax Initiative
(ATI) has been launched. It aims to foster and encourage support to tax reforms in partner
countries with a special focus on international tax issues.
The Commission is engaged in global partnerships with the UN, G20, IMF, OECD, World
Bank, International Tax Compact (ITC) and others. The Commission is contributing to the
IMF Topical Trust Fund on Tax Policy and Administration, to the IMF Regional Technical
Assistance Centres and to the IMF Topical Trust Fund Managing Natural Resource Wealth.
At regional level, the Commission cooperates with regional tax centres in Africa and Latin
America to support regional capacity building activities, policy discussions and to improve
the representation of developing countries in international tax discussions and standard
setting processes.
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5.2.2
Budget support
The 2011 budget support policy continues to be successfully implemented, supported notably
by the systematic use of the risk management framework and by the strengthened internal
governance structure: the Budget Support Steering Committee (BSSC) in the Commission’s
Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development and Financial Assistance
Steering Committee (FAST) in the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement
Negotiations. The mechanisms support the implementation of sound national policies and
effective dialogue with national authorities to help achieve poverty eradication, sustainable
and inclusive growth, and consolidation of democracies.
In the enlargement context the first budget support operation was introduced in 2014 in
Albania, followed by Serbia and Montenegro in 2015. Under the Instrument for Pre-
Accession Assistance, the programmes support strengthening of economic governance and
competitiveness, the rule of law and institutions guaranteeing democracy and fundamental
rights.
In 2015 the BSSC and FAST reviewed 127 decisions, of which 45 related to new Budget
Support programmes and 82 related to on-going programme disbursements. The two
committees also validated nearly 90 Risk Management Frameworks, which form the basis for
monitoring risks and guide the decisions concerning, designing and implementing budget
support operations. BSSC and FAST also provide strategic guidance, notably on the areas
where policy dialogue with the national authorities should focus, for example around
Domestic Revenue Mobilisation, public investment management, natural resource
management, and efficient and effective spending.
The more structured approach by BSSC/FAST is changing disbursement patterns, with
payments taking place more regularly throughout the fiscal year. These improvements are
also accompanied by a continuous decrease in errors detected by the European Court of
Auditors.
In 2015 a total over EUR 2.2 billion was newly committed and over EUR 1.5 billion paid
through Budget Support. Sector Reform Contracts remain the type most used with 81 % of
contracts, followed by State Building Contracts (9 %) and Good Governance and
Development Contracts (4 %). The remainder of 6 % are still ongoing general budget support
operations. State Building Contracts (SBCs) continue to be useful in stabilising post-conflict
and fragile situations, with new SBCs initiated in Guinea, Central African Republic, Chad,
Togo, Tunisia, Afghanistan and Nepal. More than any other type of contracts, SBCs aim to
support partner countries in ensuring vital state functions and to deliver basic services to
populations, notably in health and education.
Budget Support is the aid modality that best complies with the objectives and principles of
aid effectiveness. It will play a role in the Agenda 2030 and the related Sustainable
Developments Goals. Domestic revenue mobilisation, fiscal transparency and sound public
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financial management are closely interlinked and strongly supported by each budget support
operation.
In view of improving transparency and accountability in the management of revenues from
natural resources, the Commission continued to support the Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative (EITI).
The Commission participated actively in the comprehensive revision of the Public
Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) programme, to further improve its
usefulness as a diagnostic instrument and basis for reform and policy dialogue. In 2015
Commission was lead partner in 15 assessments.
5.2.3
Using EU grants strategically via blending
Blending, which combines EU grants with loans or with equity from other public and private
financiers, can leverage additional resources for an increased impact of EU aid. Since first
introduced at the beginning of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2007-2013,
blending gradually evolved into an important tool of EU external cooperation,
complementing other implementation modalities. EU regional blending facilities have been
set up in all regions and other blending instruments such as the Global Energy Efficiency
Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF) or the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) have been
established, which support the EU's global climate change objectives.
Up to the end of 2015 more than EUR 2.70 billion grants from the EU budget, the EDF and
Member States financed 289 projects in the external relations including Neighbourhood
regions. The grant contributions have leveraged more than EUR 23 billion of loans financing
by European Finance Institutions (EFIs) and regional development banks. By strategically
combining EU grants with market financing, blending has helped to leverage investments of
more than EUR 53 billion in EU partner countries.
With the adoption of the Africa Investment Facility, in 2015, all the regions of external
relations have access to a wide ranging blending instrument that is adopted according to the
regional EU priorities. Similarly, the thematic initiatives of ElectriFI and AgriFI in the
sectors of energy and agriculture respectively, were either established or launched their
implementation, generating significant other donor interest. At the end of 2015, the EU
supported blending projects with a total budget of EUR 53 billion in external relations.
In 2015 in the Neighbourhood, a total of EUR 367 million of EU grants supported projects
with an expected investment volume of almost EUR 5.4 billion. Also in 2015, in the regions
covered by the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, a total of
EUR 349 million of EU grants supported projects with an expected investment volume of
almost EUR 4.5 billion. The largest contributions went to projects in Sub-Saharan Africa
(34.6 %) and to the regional thematic projects in the sectors of energy and agriculture
(ElectriFI and AgriFI) (21.4 %). Smaller contributions went to Latin America (13.5 %),
Central Asia (12.6 %), the Caribbean region (9.7 %) and Asia (8.3 %).
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In December 2012, the EU Platform for Blending in External Cooperation (EUBEC) was
launched following a request by Council and Parliament to further increase the effectiveness
of EU assistance delivered through blending by providing recommendations and guidance.
The Platform is led by a Policy Group which makes recommendations based on work carried
out in technical groups. It is chaired by the Commission and involves representatives from
Member States, the European Parliament (EP) and the EEAS. In the technical groups the
Commission works together with experts from EFIs and Member States.
In 2015 the Platform continued the work on reviewing the governance of the existing
blending mechanisms in order to improve the effectiveness of blending operations in meeting
their policy objectives of poverty reduction and socio-economic development as well as the
efficiency of their management. To do so, the Platform reviewed the existing blending
facilities and undertook substantial technical work that led, for example, to an improved
Grant Application Form to be used by the EU blending facilities together with detailed
Guidelines and a new results measurement framework. The Platform formulated specific
recommendations on the future governance set-up of the EU blending frameworks as well as
on the increased use of specific financial instruments particularly in infrastructure, MSMEs,
agriculture and social sectors.
5.2.4. Trust Funds
The
EU Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular
migration and displaced persons in Africa (The EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa)
was launched at the Valletta Summit on Migration on 12 November 2015 by European and
African partners, with the signature of the Constitutive Agreement by the European
Commission and 25 EU Member States, as well as Norway and Switzerland.
It has been created to address the migration crises in the region of Sahel/Lake Chad, Horn of
Africa and North Africa encompassing a total of 23 countries:
Sahel region and Lake Chad: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, the Gambia, Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal.
Horn of Africa: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan,
Tanzania and Uganda.
North of Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.
Neighbouring countries of the eligible countries may also benefit, on a case by case basis,
from Trust Fund projects with a regional dimension in order to address regional migration
flows and related cross- border challenges.
This Trust Fund is aimed at supporting all aspects of stability and to contribute to better
migration management as well as addressing the root causes of destabilisation, forced
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displacement and irregular migration by promoting resilience, economic and equal
opportunities, security and development and addressing human rights' abuses.
The
EU Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis (EUTF)
was launched in December
2014 to provide a regional response to the Syrian crisis, thus enabling the EU and its Member
States to jointly intervene, flexibly and quickly, in response to shifting needs. It is now one of
the main EU instruments to respond to the forced displacement crisis in the region.
The fund is also open to all other international donors. An amendment to the founding
decision clarified that Internal Displaced Person's in Iraq fleeing from the interlinked
Syria/Iraq/Da'esh crisis are a beneficiary group of the EUTF as well as providing more
flexibility to support affected countries beyond the Syrian neighbourhood which also host
Syrian and non-Syrian refugees. This extension is addressed but not limited to providing
support in the Western Balkans to non-EU countries affected by the refugee crisis.
In 2015, EUR 597.65 million have been mobilised in appropriations for the EUTF including
more than EUR 50 million from 17 EU Member States (13 Member States have already paid
their contribution and 4 made pledges). Turkey became a member of the EUTF at the end of
2015 with a contribution of around EUR 24 million
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.
In addition, EUR 387.53 million has been committed in two Operational Boards during the
course of 2015 for programmes in support of basic education and child protection, training
and higher education, better access to healthcare, improved water and waste-water
infrastructure, as well as support to resilience, economic opportunities and social inclusion.
With the first meeting on 29 May 2015, the EU Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis
Board issued the Fund’s initial strategic orientations based on the EU Regional Strategy for
Syria/Iraq adopted by the EU's foreign ministers in March 2015. In addition, the Operational
Board committed a package worth EUR 41 million for the following programmes:
Education and food security in Turkey (EUR 17.5 million)
With the EUTF funding UNICEF and the Ministry of Education (EUR 12.5 million)
can ensure that more than 200 000 Syrian refugee children benefit from Arabic
teaching, psychosocial support, educational materials and refurbished school facilities.
With EUR 5 million funding for WFP and the Turkish Red Crescent, we have
extended until April 2016 the provision of monthly food vouchers to 41 000 Syrians
refugees in three major camps.
Regional higher education programme (EUR 12 million)
The programme aims to create new learning opportunities for up to 20 000 young
Syrians in Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan, starting with the academic year
2015/16.
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IPA I funding was recycled and contributed end of 2015 into the Trust Fund which made a Turkish
contribution (15 % co-financing) necessary to complete the exercise.
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Livelihoods of refugees and host communities (EUR 10 million)
The programme will improve livelihoods of refugees and host communities in Jordan
and Lebanon targeting up to 90 000 beneficiaries.
The second board meetings on 1 December 2015 welcomed eight new Member States and
approved EUR 348 million for urgently needed aid to 1.5 million refugees and overstretched
host communities in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq. This is the single biggest EU measure
in response to the Syrian refugee crisis to date.
This package included the following programmes:
Education (EUR 140 million)
This programme provides a massive scale-up of support to the Ministries of Education
in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan to enable them to enrol an additional 172 000 refugee
children in school, while also providing for accelerated learning programmes, non-
formal and early childhood education and child protection activities.
Resilience and local development (EUR 128 million)
The programme responds to the urgent need to improve economic opportunities for
refugees and vulnerable host communities beyond dependency on humanitarian relief.
It will be implemented through a mix of single-country and multi-country activities by
European NGOs, EU Member States development agencies, and the Red Cross/Red
Crescent movement. The programme will target more than 200 communities and 400
000 people across the region, addressing basic financial needs of vulnerable families,
engaging unemployed and disillusioned youth through work, skills development and
community engagement in preparation of a future return to Syria, while also
mitigating tensions between host and refugee communities.
Health (EUR 55 million)
This programme aims to widen and enhance access of refugees across the region to
primary, secondary and tertiary health care, psycho-social support, and protection
from sexual and gender-based violence. It will reach and benefit at least 700 000
refugees with a focus on Turkey and Lebanon. In addition, specific healthcare support
is foreseen in northern Iraq.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (EUR 25 million)
The programme is helping Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan and
Lebanon, where the needs to support municipal water and wastewater services are
greatest. It is expected to benefit up to one million people.
In partnership with the host governments, all these actions will be fully aligned and
implemented in accordance with the refugee crisis response plans of the affected countries, in
particular the Jordan Response Plan 2016-2018, the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, and the
national plans in Turkey and Iraq, as part of the regional UN refugee and resilience response
framework in this regard.
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5.3.
5.3.1
Improving ways of working
Progress on qualitative issues in aid management
In order to ensure the quality of design of development actions, an internal peer review
process is in place through Quality Support Groups (QSGs) that are composed of thematic
and geographic experts from the Commission's Directorate-General for International
Cooperation and Development, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and other
relevant Commission services. During 2015 135 actions were screened for identification and
292 actions were screened for formulation. A consolidated revision of the QSG process was
adopted by Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development management
at the end of 2015. Key features of the revision were: i) the adoption of an updated Action
Document template covering identification and formulation phases; ii) the establishment of a
clear and single quality review process for the design of all geographic and thematic actions;
and iii) the revision of checklists of the assessment templates, including the ones focused on
cross-cutting issues related to gender equality, climate change and rights-based approach.
Ensuring and improving quality standards in the project and programme cycle requires a
continuous process of learning uptake, methodological support and knowledge sharing. In
2015 the Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development
promoted 84 methodological learning events, of which 17 were organised in partner
countries, organised for staff in EU Delegations and HQ services in particular, benefitting 1
571 individuals. Moreover, exchange of knowledge and experiences has been supported by
the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development’s knowledge sharing
platform Capacity4dev
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. In 2015 81 new collaborative spaces were created on the Platform,
over 6 800 items (documents, blog posts and web pages) were posted, 477 events were
shared, and 49 new articles featured video interviews and contributions by EU staff, partners
and stakeholders.
5.3.2
Simplification of procedures
In 2015 the Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and
Development continued with its actions on simplification of procedures. The following was
achieved:
Simplification of procedures and contractual conditions for grants
The most important simplification in the field of grants lies in the revision of Annex IV to the
grant contract template. Instead of imposing on grant beneficiaries detailed procurement
procedures, the revised rules now allow a beneficiary to use its own procedures provided they
guarantee best value for money/lowest price, absence of conflict of interests and basic
principles of procurement.
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http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu
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Other modifications in the field of grants are: the use of the beneficiaries’ currency
conversion rules by default; allowing depreciation, leasing or rental of equipment as eligible
costs; introduction of a new simplified cost option (apportionment of costs related to field
offices).
Simplification of derogations and prior approvals
Over the last two years, the instructions on deviations (which include exceptions,
derogations, prior approvals and events to be reported) have been subject to a meaningful
simplification which avoids the processing of two parallel circuits for the deviation and the
transaction it relates to, and has been very well received by users.
Simplification of Programme estimates (PE)
The revised Guide of Programme Estimates (PE) was approved by the Commission’s
Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development management in
December 2015 and published in January 2016. This is the culmination of a two-year project
that has brought about meaningful simplifications in areas traditionally considered
cumbersome.
All the changes introduced had in mind making the management of Programme Estimates
easier for both parties: the Commission and Partner Countries. They can be summarised as
follows:
Abolishment of annularity (allowing PEs to be multi-annual);
One single PE is expected per Financing Agreement. This implies i) fewer contracts
to sign, manage and close, ii) fewer transactions in the system, and iii) easier financial
management and implementation of activities;
Increase in the threshold for
ex-ante
control by Commission services to EUR 100 000.
This means fewer small tenders to be revised by the Delegations. If needed, the ceiling can
be lowered by the Delegation itself;
Establishment of a link between the payment of top-ups and the performance of the
imprest administrator and the accountant, putting an end to very different treatments in
partner countries;
Possibility to use country systems for procurement within the imprest component.
This requires the assessment of the procurement and/or the grant pillar of the structure
managing the PE;
Possibility to use grants instead of PEs in two specific cases: direct labour operations
and support to the National Authorising Officer (NAO). In the latter, an operating grant
will be signed;
Easier financial management of PEs.
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5.4.
5.4.1
Communication & transparency
Communication and visibility
In a key year for the European Union as a Global Actor in development, the Commission led
the vast EU-wide communication effort that was the European Year for Development
(EYD2015). Eurobarometer results indicate that EYD2015 succeeded in creating
significantly better awareness among EU citizens of the EU's role and impact in international
development. (For further details see section 1.1.4)
Other communication actions contributed to further the EU’s visibility and leading role in
development. The most important of these actions was the 9
th
edition of the European
Development Days on 5-6 June in Brussels. This major event attracted more than 5 000
participants including key development stakeholders from all over the world. A Youth
Ambassadors event with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in Brussels in May also created
considerable visibility, as did 28 Kapuscinski Development Lectures delivered in all EU
Member States.
European journalists were invited to six press seminars organised by the Commission, six
related to development and cooperation and 14 on neighbourhood and enlargement policies,
which resulted in significant amounts of media coverage for EU support in these areas.
The Commission websites covering development and cooperation issues and neighbourhood
policy and enlargement negotiations underwent significant improvements to better serve its
European and international audiences, notably in the light of the ongoing Digital
Transformation programme, the Commission's ambitious project to ensure a more coherent
web presence. Each month the website covering development and cooperation issues had, on
average, 307 000 visits from 191 000 unique visitors and the website covering neighbourhood
policy and enlargement negotiations had approximately 158 000 visits from 108 000 unique
visitors.
Key publications produced in the area of external cooperation included a 'Storybook'
collecting all of the 52 EYD Stories of the Week, and communication materials on the EU's
contribution to the Millennium Development Goals.
On the enlargement negotiations the "2007-2014 Report: the transformative power of
enlargement" as well as the "2014 IPA report" were published. On the neighbourhood region,
the report "Support for the Eastern Partnership" alongside an info-package with thematic
material was prepared in the run-up to the Riga Summit in May 2015.
The Speak Up conference, a key forum for debate on freedom of expression and media in the
Western Balkans and Turkey, took place in November 2015 in Brussels. At its third edition, it
was a successful event bringing together more than 400 participants: journalists, media
analysts, decision-makers from the enlargement countries, authorities and experts from
international, regional and national organisations.
In addition, a series of 21 events reaching over 5 600 people were organised in cooperation
with pan-European organisations and think tanks in 18 Member States. These facilitated an
informed debate on the political, economic and social impact of enlargement policy and the
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IPA funding. Key products that contributed to a better understanding on how the enlargement
process works and the fundamental areas for reforms were a series of animated infographics
and videos on IPA funded projects.
The Regional Communication Programme OPEN Neighbourhood was launched in 2015 with
three components: Neighbourhood South, Neighbourhood East and the Media Hub.
Social media activity played an important role in enhancing visibility and communicating on
concrete results of EU policies in the enlargement and neighbourhood areas, with an
immediate audience of over 54 880 on Facebook and over 12 800 on Twitter. In addition,
over 300 requests for information from citizens were answered, many of them related to IPA
and ENI funding instruments.
5.4.2
Transparency.
December 2015 was the deadline for the implementation of the Busan commitments on the
publication of timely, comprehensive and forward-looking data on development finance, in
line with the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) standard and others.
Throughout 2015 the Commission has once more played an active role in improving the
implementation of the common standard (IATI and OECD CRS + FSS), provided financial
support to IATI and acted as active member of its Steering Committee. In order to continue to
contribute to the creation of a global standardised information system on development
assistance, the Commission will maintain a strong commitment to further increasing the
quality and quantity of the information made public according to the common standard.
Moreover, the Commission has continued to provide support to an ambitious transparency
agenda and to play a leadership role in advancing it with its Member States and partners.
During 2015 Romania and Lithuania became the first IATI publishers among the EU-13
countries. Challenges ahead include the use of published data for reporting and other internal
purposes and the promotion of aid transparency principles among Member States, partner
countries, beneficiaries of assistance and non-governmental organisations.
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