Regional integration and 11 th EDF support in the Eastern, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean region

Transcription

1 Regional integration and 11 th EDF support in the Eastern, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean region ACP-EU joint Parliamentary Assembly 11 th Regional meeting

2 A new approach to Regional programming Involving new actors Support not only to the Duly Mandated Regional Organisations (DMROs), but also to national administrations and other players in the region which could receive support through other instruments in the past. Adopting a more pragmatic configuration Propose to support for EA-SA-IO under one single RIP, taking into account overlapping memberships and the commitment of the sub-regions to move ahead with the Tripartite Free Trade Area. Enhancing the role of Duly Mandated Regional Organisations The role of the DMROs will be reinforced as they will have a complete overview of the support provided for regional integration and cooperation, including financing of infrastructure development.

3 Main priorities 1. Peace, security and regional stability 2. Regional economic integration Institutional support to ROs Deliver at national level Trade-Related Assistance and support to private sector Connecting regional infrastructure networks Improving the strategic and regulatory framework of regional infrastructure networks 3. Regional natural resource management - Choice of sectors per sub-region based on RO strategy and core mandate

4 Overall RIP structure The overall envelope will be divided in separate indicative envelopes with respective financial allocations: One envelope per sub-region including support to each RO secretariat, to NAOs and/or to other regional or international actors (indicative total of 30-50% of RIP). Indicative allocations per regional organisation (TBC): -COMESA = 85 million -EAC = 85 million -IGAD = 80 million -IOC = 50 million -SADC = 90 million One envelope for financing infrastructure (indicative 40-50% of RIP); One envelope for cross-regional priorities, for example the stabilisation of the Great Lakes region, the implementation of on-going EPAs, the protection of the Nile Basin, the possible support to an inter-ros coordination mechanism (indicative 10-20% of RIP). The EU aims at doubling the resources earmarked for regional cooperation, bringing the overall amount to billion Euros for the ESA-IO region.

5 Sub-regional envelopes Sub-regional envelopes consist of programmed actions related to the core mandate of the DMROs, including Trade-Related Assistance. Programming: regional EU Delegations, in close cooperation with DMROs and their MS, and in consultation with national EU Delegations. Each implementing actors (RAOs, NAOs, other regional bodies) is in the lead for actions it will implement. DMROs will ensure consistency with regional strategies, and the Joint EU-Africa Strategy, by exerting a no-objection right on the projects pipeline. A mechanism will be put in place to avoid the duplication of actions financed by different envelopes due to overlapping memberships. Implementation: implementing actors identify, formulate and implement programmes.

6 Financing of Infrastructure EU is evaluating options to finance effectively infrastructure projects through blending operations Options include: - the use of existing or new blending falicilities; - projects concluded at national level; - additional innovative financing mechanisms (equity funds etc.) The DMROs will contribute to establishing the project pipeline and will give their no-objection through the High Level Committee. Flexible procedures may be applied. Soft infrastructure (border crossing, weight bridges, etc.) and support for regulatory aspects can be financed outside blending operations

7 Cross-regional envelopes Cross-regional envelopes include activities considered as priority for the region which do not correspond to DMROS' geographic configuration, e.g. sustainable fisheries or maritime security. The actions are programmed and identified with concerned regional organisations or implementing partners RAOs report to the High Level Committee on implementation.

8 High Level Committee Members of the HLC are the 5 Duly Mandated Regional Organisations (DRMOs = COMESA, EAC, IGAD, IOC and SADC) and the EU. The main role of the High Level Committee Endorses sub-regional envelopes. Endorses strategic orientations of the cross-regional envelopes; Contributes to establishing the infrastructure project pipeline; Monitors the implementation of the overall RIP envelope and of progress in regional integration in relation to the RIP; Undertakes reviews of the RIP

9 Next Steps First meeting in High Level Steering Committee (March 2014) Consolidation of the RIP (May/June 2014) Commission Decision on RIP (November 2014) Start implementation (January 2015)

10 Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) Eastern and Southern Africa EPA: - First sub-region in Africa implementing an EPA - The EU and Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe are provisionally implementing the interim Economic Partnership Agreement since May The EU stands ready to support the ESA countries willing to opt for a real economic and development partnership with the EU. The Eastern African Community (EAC) EPA: - Negotiations started again in September 2011, after a fourteen-month break. - End of January: EAC Ministers and Commissioner de Gucht met in Brussels and endorsed all the substantial progress made so far. - Both sides agreed to ask their teams to meet and work further to resolve all outstanding issues, thus paving the way for a conclusive ministerial.