EU funds for roads - CEDR

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(b) On the basis of the above-mentioned multi-annual indicative programming document, the
recipient countries prepare in cooperation with the EC (DG ENLARG) multi-annual or
annual programmes for each component. These programmes are finally approved (by
the EC), by country and by component, or, as appropriate, by group of countries or by
theme.
(c) On the basis of the above programmes, the projects are defined by the EC Services (the
EC delegation in each country) and are tendered by the EC delegations.
• External Cooperation Funds
External Cooperation Funds provide EU development assistance through multi-annual
programmes which are coordinated by DG Development (for African, Caribbean, and Pacific
countries) and by DG External Relations for the rest of the world.
When formulating and managing these programmes, the Commission consults the
authorities in partner countries 56 . This results in an agreed country and regional strategy
paper, which includes a multi-annual national indicative programme.
During the programming phase, the situation at national and sectoral level is analysed in
order to identify problems, constraints, and opportunities that cooperation could address 57 .
This ultimately results in a specific response strategy 58 .
As part of the programming process, partner countries, EU member states, and other
bilateral and multilateral donors are consulted in order to ensure that all their developmental
59
actions are complementary . This may lead to a joint programming exercise and
discussions on possible divisions of the work.
56
The EU is committed to the principle of ‘ownership’, i.e. that partner countries are fully involved in the process of
developing the strategies and programmes that affect them. Developing countries have the primary responsibility
to create an enabling domestic environment for mobilising their own resources, including implementing coherent
and effective policies. This allows the EU’s development assistance to be flexible and adaptive, responding to the
specific needs of the beneficiary country. The EU acknowledges the essential oversight role of democratically
elected representatives. It therefore encourages national assemblies, parliaments, and local authorities to get
more closely involved in preparing country strategy papers.
57 This involves a review of socio-economic indicators and of the priorities of the EU and its partner countries. The
purpose is to ascertain the main objectives and sectoral priorities for cooperation so as to provide a relevant and
feasible framework within which programmes and projects can be defined and prepared.
58 The response strategy is defined in line with EU development policy priorities⎯as outlined in the European
Consensus on Development and other documents⎯such as alleviating poverty, promoting sustainable
development, and achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. Every effort is also made to ensure that the
strategy is coherent with other relevant EU policy areas (trade, the environment, migration, employment and social
cohesion, agriculture etc).
59 The European Parliament, as well as the governments and national parliaments of the member states, are
integral to the programming process. They are involved in amending and approving the general policies, the multiannual
financial perspectives, and the annual budgets proposed by the Commission. In addition, they give their
opinion on the strategies for each Commission-run programme.
EU funds for roads