On Monday, 12 March, in the Farnesina’s International Conference Hall, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, and the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, will open a Conference on the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) and the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) which – with a budget of 27.1 billion euros for the period 2014-2020 – constitute two important instruments with which the EU can facilitate the accession and development of non-member Countries.
The IPA funds aim to support beneficiaries in adopting the political, institutional, legal, administrative, social and economic reforms needed to comply with the values of the Union and to progressively fall in line with its rules and standards, while the ENI funds aim to build a special relationship with neighbouring countries for the purpose of creating an area of shared prosperity.
Italy actively participates in existing programmes, being aware of the political and economic importance of cooperation and of giving institutional support to Enlargement and Neighbourhood Countries.
The Conference aims to:
- Provide information on existing opportunities (nature, sectors, budget) and the ways of applying for access to the IPA and ENI programmes;
- Develop and disseminate best practices;
- Improve communications between major European and national players;
- Encourage the circulation and sharing of information among Italian actors, promote the coordination thereof, and single out actions capable of favouring broader participation.
The Conference represents the first time that all the principal stakeholders (Public Administrations, Regional Authorities, Agencies, Entities, intermediate and trade Associations, companies) and the European Commission convene to exchange information and evaluations on the IPA and ENI funds.
The Conference will also contribute to consolidating the institutional accompaniment process, enhance the role of the diplomatic and consular network and promote shared objectives and strategies with the private sector.
