Accessing Integration: Problems and Solutions to Adapting IPA in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia (May 2010)

EMA supported by Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative of the Open Society Institute – Budapest, has produce a policy paper entitled “Accessing Integration: Problems and Solutions to Adapting IPA in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia”.

This policy paper published in May 2010 presents the findings of the assessments carried out in the above-mentioned Western Balkan Countries. It analyses the level of benefiting from the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), offering a comparative analysis based on the previous experiences with the CARDS program. In addition, this policy paper provides some indications as to what extent the national and local authorities of candidate countries are prepared to use IPA programs and to take over the responsibilities of managing these funds without direct assistance from the EU.

This paper derives from extensive interviews conducted with central, local government officials and civil society leaders in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro during 2009 and early 2010. The feedback gathered from these stakeholders has enabled EMA to draw up conclusions and offer policy recommendations to the European Commission and national governments of the respective countries under observation.

Problems and Solutions to Adapting IPA in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia