The Cohesion policy
The goal of the cohesion policy is securing the support to country members of the EU in the advancement of economic growth, decrease in unemployment and improving of competitiveness. The cohesion policy also secures the resources for removing the risks in the development of different European regions, in accordance with the principle of solidarity. In order to prepare for the correct use of the instruments of the cohesion policy, the future members of the EU must begin the preparations in the early phase of the process of joining the EU. The success in controlling the cohesion policy depends on several factors and therefore there are huge differences among the member countries of the EU in terms of their capability of using EU resources.
Progress in Chapter 22
The Republic of Serbia has gone through several steps in the process of negotiations for joining the EU within the frame of Chapter 22 which concerns the area of cohesion policy. An analytical view and the evaluation of compliance with the acquis of the EU, that is, the screening for Chapter 22, was published on October 1st and 2nd of 2014, and on January 28th and 29th of 2015. As a result of the screening process, the European Commission has written a Report on the screening stating that Serbia cannot be seen as sufficiently prepared for the negotiations concerning this chapter and proposes a creation of a detailed Action Plan as a measure for opening which would set clear goals and a time frame in order to fulfill the demands of the cohesion policy of the EU. The report has also given an evaluation of the degree of accordance and the capacity for the implementation in which Serbia is partially in accordance with the acquis in the areas which are covered by this Chapter. Under the MEI guidance, the Government of Serbia wrote an Action Plan for Chapter 22 which was adopted on April 4th of 2019. The Action Plan covers all the main sub-areas of Chapter 22: The Legislative Framework; The Institutional Frameworks; Administrative capacities; Programing; Following and evaluation; Financial guidance and control.
The goal of the project is to prepare the public administration of Serbia for an efficient implementation of the cohesion policy of the EU in the Republic of Serbia.
The expected results of the project:
- Adoption of the legal and institutional framework for the implementation of the cohesion policy of the EU.
- Preparation of relevant plans and program documents for the cohesion policy of the EU.
- Improved capacities of the institutions and the bodies in charge of the implementation of the cohesion policy, as well as partners and potential users at the national and sub-national level, via programs for capacity building.
Serbia is in the early phase of preparations as far as the implementation of the cohesion policy of the EU is concerned. It is necessary to solve certain deficiencies, especially in the area of establishing an institutional framework and the building of administrative capacities. However, the experience gained through using IPA instruments and its contribution to the development of structures and mechanisms for the implementation serves as a strong basis for future responsibility within the frames of the cohesion policy of the EU.