The Secretariat for European Affairs and the Delegation of the European Union today held information sessions on the topic “IPA II (2014-2020) Roll-Out”, addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in charge of European Affairs, Dr. Fatmir Besimi.

The Deputy Prime Minister Besimi pointed out that in the last several months, two parallel processes were worked upon: implementation of the current IPA and IPA II programming. The Programme covers defining priorities for future funding through the IPA II, in the National Strategic Document in the country. He emphasised that although this document is in ownership of the European Commission, the Government puts substantial efforts to contribute to this document through the existing work groups and structures which have already been established for the IPA I.

Experts from the European Commission services presented all the significant aspects of the IPA II, informed and discussed with the attendants about the regulatory framework, the type and scope of the assistance, the process, methodology and the new programming framework, the type of programmes and funding, the implementation process and all the remaining relevant themes.

The wider focus of the European Commission, for the support for the period 2014-2020 has been put on the social and economic development, the rule of law and the good governance, by determining the following priority sectors for IPA II:
Rule of law and fundamental rights (former justice and home affairs); governance and democracy (former public administration reform and European Union integration); environment (former environment and climate changes); transport; competition and innovation (former part of the employment and competition sector); education, employment and social policy (former part of the employment and competition sector); agriculture and rural development; cross-border cooperation.
The total amount of financial means which will be available to the Republic of Macedonia within the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance II is nearly 600 million euro.

By providing full transparency and inclusion of today’s event and the process of preparation of IPA II the Secretariat for European Affairs endeavours to contribute towards the preparation of the state administration for better programming and use of IPA II and structural funds, through selection and realization of projects which will be directed towards improving citizens’ life, and in that way we will justify our responsibility for the available funds and we will contribute towards greater preparedness for the future structural funds of the European Union, when the Republic of Macedonia will be part of it.