What is Twinning?
The Twinning instrument was created with the aim of aiding EU candidate countries in the process of administrative and regulatory alignment to the EU acquis. Following the overwhelmingly positive results achieved over the years, the European Commission has decided to extend it to countries other than the candidate countries. Currently, the Twinning instrument also covers the European Neighbourhood Policy Countries (Southern and Eastern) and some countries in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia.
The purpose of Twinning
The purpose of twinning projects is to ensure the modern and efficient development of beneficiary country administrations. This objective is achieved through close collaboration between the beneficiary country’s public administration/body and its counterpart in the Member State. A key element of this collaboration is the secondment of public officials from the Member State (MS) to the public administration of the beneficiary country (PB).
A twinning project typically involves a Project Leader (PL), a Resident Twinning Advisor (RTA), and several short- and medium-term experts. The PL is a public official who supervises and coordinates the project. The RTA, responsible for implementing the project ‘on the ground,’ is seconded by their accredited administration/body in the beneficiary country.
The rules for managing Twinning projects are defined in the Twinning Manual, drawn up by the European Commission.
Operational Guidelines
- Publication
The EU Delegations in the beneficiary third countries or the project management authorities circulate calls for twinning projects to the National Contact Points of the EU Member States.
- Selection
Member States interested in a project express their availability to the beneficiary country, specifying the experts who will participate and the methods for achieving the indicated objectives. The participation proposals are then selected and, once the call is awarded, a specific agreement (Twinning Grant Contract) is signed between the parties.
- Implementation
The project implementation phase begins following the drafting of the agreement and, as indicated, requires the presence of officials from the Member States’ public administrations (RTAs and experts) in the beneficiary countries.
Accredited bodies (Full and Ad Hoc Mandated Bodies), included in a specific list of the European Commission, may also participate to twinning projects.
Full Mandated Bodies are bodies responsible for public services, operating under the permanent supervision of a government authority, subject to financial and accounting control by a government authority or other body designated, and having a sufficient and proportionate level of staff, commensurate with the needs of the project.
A body of this type capable of providing a limited contribution to activities may only obtain Ad Hoc Mandated Body status.
- Submitting a Twinning Proposal
The State Administration or public body interested in submitting a Twinning proposal must notify it to this National Contact Point (NCP) at least ten days before the project deadline. In this way, it is possible to connect two or more administrations or bodies potentially interested in the same project and coordinate the national proposal. Each Member State may submit only one proposal for each project.
The final proposal must be sent by email no later than the deadline set by the call to the following email address: twinnings@esteri.it.
Contacts
National Contact Point for Twinning and TAIEX
Office II (EU External Relations)
General Directorate for Europe and International Trade Policy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Email: twinnings@esteri.it
Telephone: +39 06 3691 5719; +39 06 3691 2141