IPA Component I: Transitional Assistance and Institution Building

Component I falls under the responsibility of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement, which is also responsible for the overall co-ordination of pre-accession assistance. It involves institution building measures and associated investment, as well as transition and stabilisation measures still necessary in the Western Balkans. It is delivered through annual national and multi-beneficiary programmes.

Objectives of IPA Component I

All Western Balkan beneficiary countries are eligible for assistance under this component, which may be granted in particular in the following areas:

  • strengthening of democratic institutions and the rule of law;
  • promotion and protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms contained in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights;
  • public administration reform;
  • reform in the field of justice and home affairs, such as reform of the legal system, the police, the prosecution, the judiciary, the penitentiary systems, and the customs and border control system, with particular emphasis on improving the fight against corruption, organised crime, terrorism, and illegal migration, and establishing information systems linked to these areas;
  • modernisation of the regulatory framework, including support for investment to equip key institutions whose infrastructures or capacity to monitor and enforce legislation need strengthening;
  • establishment or reinforcement of financial control systems;
  • strengthening of the market economy, notably by helping self-organisation of economic actors and directly supporting economic activity, including through assistance to the private sector and help in industrial restructuring, as well as diversifying the economy, modernising key sectors and improving specific areas;
  • development of civil society and dialogue between the government and non-governmental bodies to promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights, respect for and protection of minorities, as well as civil society dialogue;
  • establishment of social dialogue as an element of good governance and to promote fair and just working conditions;
  • promotion of minority integration, reconciliation and confidence-building measures on all levels of society;
  • environmental policy, based on a high level of protection, promotion of the polluter-pays principle, sustainable utilisation of natural resources, energy efficiency, renewable sources and the progressive adoption of the Community policy in all areas including climate change;
  • improvement of access to financial facilities for small and medium- scale enterprises and public administrations;
  • institution building in the field of nuclear safety, radioactive waste management and radiation protection, in line with the acquis communautaire and European Union best practices.