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ОInПthШe foТcuЕs СТВО SROUBCRIEIKTAY

integrated, smart, sustainable and
inclusive growth, and management
for growth.

Observing the integral picture, a complex structure was built, including European funds
institutions, programs and instruments for financing the integration for integration
with the EU funds for the candidate countries. However, in order to use
this support, the candidate countries need to work on the reforms and The financial support for the en-
provide professional administration in order to successfully use these largement by the European Union
funds, i.e. European money for our integration into the EU is achieved mainly through the so-
called Instrument for Pre-Accession
the Western Balkans are faced with lighted the need for all countries in Assistance (IPA), for the period 2007-
in terms of meeting the criteria as the region to strengthen their gov- 2013, known as IPA-I, and for the pe-
candidates for EU membership: de- ernance, especially economic gov- riod 2014-2020, known as IPA-II. Be-
mocracy and the rule of law; public ernance and improve competitive- fore 2007, the European Union used
administration reform and strength- ness, in order to meet the economic several instruments (programs),
ening of democratic institutions; as criteria for accession. None of the such as: PHARE, aimed at strength-
well as economic governance, com- Western Balkans enlargement coun- ening institutional capacity, socio-
petitiveness and growth. tries has received the status of a economic and regional development
functioning market economy by the and cross-border cooperation, ISPA
Challenges in the field of democ- European Commission. Public finan- for infrastructure projects in the
racy and rule of law include the cial management systems should be area of transport and environment,
functioning and independence of strengthened and structural reforms SAPARD to support agriculture and
institutions guaranteeing democ- should be a priority, while competi- rural development, as well as CARDS
racy, strengthening of civil society, tiveness should be increased in or- to support the participation of West-
fight against organized crime and der to support fiscal consolidation, ern Balkans countries in the Stabi-
corruption, providing independent, deal with high external imbalance lisation and Association Agreement.
impartial, efficient and accountable and high unemployment. Regarding Also, individual accession assistance
judicial system, as well as protec- competitiveness and growth, con- for Turkey was used. While for the
tion of the fundamental rights such siderable challenges remain for all countries that became new mem-
as freedom of speech and the rights enlargement countries, especially in bers of the EU in 2004 and 2007 a so-
of minorities and vulnerable groups. terms of job creation. Return to pre- called Transition Assistance 2004-
Further progress is also required in vious high growth rates is possible 2006 and 2007-2010 was used.
terms of reconciliation, overcoming only if further structural reforms
the legacies of the past and resolving are implemented, which will make Through IPA-II for the period
bilateral problems, while promoting economies more competitive and 2014-2020, the European Union al-
regional cooperation. more attractive to investors. locates financial assistance for can-
didate countries and potential can-
Special emphasis is placed on The Western Balkans have devel- didates, in the amount of 11.7 billion
public administration reform and oped a Strategy of Southeast Europe euros through individual programs
strengthening of democratic insti- 2020 through the Regional Coop- and 2.9 billion euros through a
tutions, which remain weak in most eration Council, modeled on Europe multi-beneficiary program for sup-
enlargement countries, with lim- 2020. The strategy aims to promote port of Albania, Bosnia and Herze-
ited administrative capacity, a high a comprehensive approach to the govina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Monte-
degree of politicization and lack of economic development of the re- negro, Serbia and Turkey.
transparency. gion with the following priorities:
Financial assistance under IPA
The economic crisis has high- meets the following four specific
objectives: support for political re-
forms; support for economic, so-
cial and territorial development;
strengthening of the ability of users
to meet the obligations arising from
the EU membership by supporting
progressive compliance with, imple-
mentation and adoption of the ac-

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