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New Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance with a budget of over €14 billion

Today, the European Commission welcomed an agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the new Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III), with a total budget of over €14 billion, for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) period. This instrument supports candidate countries and potential candidates on their path towards fulfilling the EU accession criteria through comprehensive reforms. Today's agreement will now be translated into legal texts, which will need to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council.
In comparison to IPA I and IPA II, the new instrument will provide support to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey with an overall budget of €14.162 billion for 2021-2027, starting retroactively from 1 January 2021.
IPA III offers a stable policy-driven approach, with strategic and dynamic mobilisation of assistance, focusing on rule of law and respect of fundamental values, strengthening democratic institutions and public administration reform, promoting economic governance and reforms towards competitiveness. The new instrument will enhance the lead from the EU, as its programming is based on thematic priorities rather than country envelopes. This allows to reward performance and progress towards key priorities and increased flexibility to respond to the developing needs of the partners in their path towards accession.
Coherence and complementarity between IPA III and the new, almost €80 billion Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe will be ensured, including through the thematic and rapid reaction components of NDICI - Global Europe also benefiting candidate countries and potential candidates. Furthermore, strategic investments in connectivity of infrastructure, SMEs, energy efficiency, innovation, digital and green economy will be crowded in via the External Action Guarantee under the NDICI – Global Europe, which will have the capacity to guarantee investments up to €53.4 billion worldwide (including in IPA beneficiaries).
Image © European Commission, 2019
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