(Pre-Accession Structural Instrument)
Legal Basis: Reg. 1267/1999 of 21/99
Duration: 2000-2006
Financial resources available: € 1,058 million annually
ISPA is the third financial instrument dealing with assistance
to candidate countries during their accession to the EU. In particular,
ISPA operates in the area of environment and transport. The mechanisms
of its application refer directly to those of the Structural Funds
and the Cohesion Fund. ISPA contributes specifically to the achievement
of the objectives established in the Accession Partnerships with
each individual candidate country and to the implementation of
the corresponding national programmes. The programme is intended
to increase knowledge of the EU's policies and procedures, to
support adjustment to Community environmental standards and to
expand national networks and their connection to trans-European
transport networks. The following interventions are provided for:
1) environmental measures intended to enable beneficiary countries
to conform to Community law on the environment and to the objectives
of the accession partnerships;
2) measures in the field of transport infrastructure, consistent
with accession partnerships, for the completion of the trans-European
networks (TEN) and for access to such networks (including the
interconnection and interoperability of national networks).
The beneficiary authorities in the candidate countries propose
projects to be carried out (which must fall within the investment
plan adopted by the candidate country and approved by the Commission)
to their National ISPA Co-ordinator, who presents them to the
Commission (Regional Policy DG). These proposals are then examined
by the Commission and, when necessary, discussed with the States
concerned. If a project is considered admissible, it is submitted
to the Management Committee (made up of representatives from the
Member States) for assessment. If positively assessed, the Commission
then approves the project and the State concerned signs a Financial
Memorandum on the basis of which the relative executive agencies
are able to publish a call for tender, assign contracts and supervise
execution.
Further information is available at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/pas/ispa.htm
