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Ukraine gets access to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA)

Ukraine gets access to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). Through this program, the European Commission provides candidate countries with support in the form of grants, investments and technical assistance.
 
📍 Under this programme, Ukraine will be able to receive financing for the implementation of key political, institutional, social and economic reforms on the way to membership. The IPA also promotes the gradual harmonization of legislation and policies in line with EU standards. It is important for us to take advantage of participation in the program, because the accelerated accession to the EU, which we seek, will require the accelerated implementation of reforms.
During the existence of this financial instrument, candidate countries have already received significant amounts of funds (some - hundreds of thousands, and some billions of euros) to bring their accession to the European Union closer. For example, Albania with a population of only 2.8 million received 640 million euros during 2014-2020 for the implementation of key reforms. Serbia, whose economy is three times smaller than Ukraine's, received 1.5 billion euros during the same period (this is about 200 million per year).
 
💸 The IPA budget from 2021 to 2027 is 14.1 billion euros. These funds were distributed among 7 EU candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey. Now part of these funds will be provided to Ukraine and Moldova. At this stage, the main task of the European Commission will be to prepare a framework for the 2 countries, to agree on the priorities of aid to individual Implementing Decisions for each country, and to plan budgets.
 
What this programme is about?
IPA is an EU program for candidate countries and potential candidates.
📍 Its purpose is to support the candidate countries in adopting and implementing the reforms they need to comply with the values of the Union and gradually align with the rules, standards, policies and practices of the Union ("acquis") with a view to future membership in the Union.
 
👉 How IPA was created?
Previously, when the countries of Central and Eastern Europe were integrated into the EU, funding for the preparation of these countries for membership was provided through a number of programs and instruments: PHARE, PHARE CBC, ISPA, SAPARD, CARDS. They helped in improving the capacity of public administration and creating the appropriate legal framework for EU membership.
After the accession of Croatia, the EU introduced the IPA, which has been used by the Western Balkans and Turkey since 2007.
Although the IPA has a solid list of priorities (strengthening the rule of law and human rights, promoting a low-carbon economy, supporting cross-border cooperation), the main focus of the programme is still investing in the socio-economic sphere of candidate countries.
During the existence of this financial instrument, candidate countries have already received significant sums of money (some - hundreds of thousands, and some billions of euros) to bring their accession to the European Union closer. From 2014 to 2020, the IPA budget was 11.7 billion euros for EU candidate countries. For example, small Albania with a population of 2.8 million received 640 million euros for the implementation of these reforms.
During 2014-2020, Turkey, whose economy is 4 times larger than the economy of Ukraine, received 3.5 billion euros (about 600 million per year). Serbia (an economy three times smaller than Ukraine's) received 1.5 billion euros during the same period (approximately 200 million per year)
 
📌 Implementation of the programme
Assistance is provided on the basis of multi-annual indicative planning documents, which the country creates in close consultation with national authorities. Civil society and other stakeholders are also involved in this process. The Commission and the beneficiary countries conclude framework agreements on the implementation of aid within the framework of the IPA.
 
In general, IPA activities are implemented and managed in different ways:
🔹direct management - the allocation of the budget is carried out directly by the European Commission either at the headquarters or in the EU representative offices.
🔹indirect management - the Commission entrusts the execution of budgetary tasks to IPA beneficiaries or organizations designated by them.
🔹joint management - implementation tasks are delegated to EU member states (only for cross-border cooperation programs).
Beneficiary countries usually receive various types of funding.
Each year, a plan is created for each country, which defines the main steps and the corresponding deadlines.
 
For effective management, special monitoring committees are created, such as:
☑️ The IPA Monitoring Committee controls the overall effectiveness, quality and consistency of the implementation of the goals defined in the Financing Agreements and in the Strategies (Country strategy papers).
☑️ A Sector Monitoring Committee is created for each program or sector. It checks the effectiveness of implemented actions, measures progress in achieving goals and results.
☑️ Coordination of monitoring and reporting is provided by NIPAC - IPA National Coordinator. NIPAC coordinates work with final beneficiaries, monitors the effective implementation of IPA. Usually, Ministers for European integration are appointed as coordinators.
 
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