EU financial assistance to Turkey This briefing paper 1 provides an overview on EU financial assistance provided to Turkey. Financial assistance for Turkey plays a key role in supporting the country's preparations for EU membership. It is provided under the decentralised implementation system: funds are managed under the responsibility of the Turkish authorities with control and monitoring by the Commission. Results from financial assistance projects are crucial in order to meet key conditions for the fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria, for example benchmarks for chapters to be opened in the ongoing membership negotiations. Priorities for the assistance are the political criteria, the implementation of the acquis communautaire and support to civil society. Some examples of concrete projects and results achieved are included below as well as a financial overview. This paper has been compiled by the European Commission services based on information generally available on Commission websites and monitoring reports. The European Parliament receives annual implementation reports for the financial assistance managed by the Commission and has been regularly provided with more detail on the basis of questions submitted or in discussions in parliamentary committees. This compilation was prepared following discussions with, and requests from Members of the European Parliament on financial assistance to Turkey, notably at the 63 rd meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee in February 2010. Allocations Since 2007 Turkey receives support under the Instrument of Pre-Accession (IPA), which has components for (i) institution building, (ii) cross-border cooperation, (iii) regional development, (iv) human resource development, and (v) agriculture and rural development. Table 1 Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) 2007-2013 budget allocations for Turkey in M Component 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 I Institution Building 256,7 256,1 239,6 211,3 228,6 233,9 238,3 II Cross Border Cooperation 2,1 2,9 3 9,6 9,8 10 10,2 III Regional Development 167,5 173,8 182,7 238,1 293,4 367,8 378 IV Human Resource Dev. 50,2 52,9 55,6 63,4 77,6 89,9 96 V Agriculture and Rural Dev. 20,7 53 85,5 131,3 172,5 197,9 213 Total 497,2 538,8 566,4 653,7 781,9 899,5 935,5 1 Drafted in April 2010
Implementation Two thirds of the funds allocated for meeting the political criteria, for approximation, application and enforcement of the acquis communautaire and for support to civil society have been contracted over the period 2001-2009, and over half have been paid out achieving many key results. Sector breakdown The table below includes a sectoral overview of all EC financial assistance to Turkey MEDA (2000-01), Turkey pre-accession assistance (2002-06) and IPA 2007-2009 (in Million ): Cumulated EC assistance 2000-2006 IPA 2007-2009 TOTAL Political criteria 115,4 104,7 220,1 Energy 11,4 39,3 50,7 Social Policy 36,9 14,6 51,5 Transport (IPA: acquis 12,6 16,8 29,4 Environment (IPA: acquis 45,4 41,0 86,4 Internal market 28,9 29,3 58,2 Agriculture (IPA: acquis 119,4 40,3 159,7 Justice Freedom & Security (JLS) 30,9 135,3 166,2 Economic Social Cohesion 462,0 851,7 2 1 313,7 Community Programmes & Commission for 218,2 249,7 467,9 Sustainable Development Public administration 33,6 15,4 49,0 Customs 44,5 19,2 63,7 Others 76,3 44,3 120,7 TOTAL 1 235,5 1 587,2 2 836,9 2 Under IPA, this constitutes in essence funding under Comp II-V.
Public administration, 49 Community programmes, 467.9 Other, 120.7 Customs, 63.7 Political Criteria, 220.1 Energy, 50.7 Transport, 29.4 Social Policy, 51.5 Environment, 86.4 Internal Market, 58.2 Agriculture, 159.7 Economic and social cohesion, 462 Justice, Freedom& Security, 166.2 Regional, Human Resource and Rural Dev., 851.7 Pie chart of the sector breakdown table above of all EC financial assistance to Turkey MEDA (2000-01), Turkey pre-accession assistance (2002-06) and IPA 2007-2009 (in Million ) Examples of Project results in key sectors Among the financial assistance provided, some of the key priorities are support for gender equality, civil society and vulnerable groups, including minorities. Gender Equality Two interlinked projects in 2006 and 2009 supported the establishment of eight fully equipped shelters for women which have been victims of domestic violence as well as a referral system. Moreover, public officials dealing with victims of violence and running shelters (police, gendarmerie, doctors, nurses, community leaders, social service experts, etc.) and women s NGOs in the eight selected cities have been receiving specialised training for services to victims. Partnership between municipalities and women's NGOs is a key element for the successful management of shelters. The first project also resulted in a National Action Plan in this field that is currently being implemented. A 2005 NGO grant schemes aimed at promoting and protecting women's rights as well as combating violence against women. This resulted in almost 40 NGOs working in these fields being supported. The 2005 project to promote gender equality was successfully finalised in 2009. It aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Directorate General on the Status of Women (KSGM) to mainstream gender issues into all public policies, to promote the implementation of gender equality legislation with the participation of central and local authorities and NGOs,
and to contribute to the establishment of a Gender Equality Body in line with EU practice and the acquis. Some concrete results of the project are the National Action Plan on Gender Equality 2008 2013 (currenly under implementation), the Discussion Paper on a Draft Model for a Gender Equality Body and basic tools on gender training. By having almost 800 decision makers and policy implementers informed on the subject, the project contributed to creating awareness on gender equality and gender issues. It is assumed that these results will support KSGM in achieving its institutional goals and being pro-active in promoting gender equality in Turkey. Civil Society In the field of civil society the EU supported NGO's and promoted an EU-Turkey Civil Society Dialogue aimed at enhancing mutual understanding on both EU and Turkey. In addition, civil society is often targeted within projects in sectors such as environment, education or human rights. Below is a list of civil society development / dialogue projects 2005-2009: 2005 - Strengthening civil society in pre-accession process: NGO Grant Facility ( 10,5 M) 2005 - Continuation of the Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme ( 3,8 M) 2006 - Promotion of the Civil Society Dialogue between EU and TK ( 21,5 M) 2006 - Supporting Civil Society Development and Dialogue in Turkey ( 4 M) 2006 - Civil Society Dialogue - EU-Turkish Chambers Forum ( 4,5 M) 2006 - Bringing together workers from Turkey and European Union countries ( 3,5 M) 2006 - Continuation of the Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme ( 3,35 M) 2007 - Empowerment of Women and Women NGO s in the least developed regions ( 5 M) 2007 - Promotion of the Civil Society dialogue between the EU and Turkey II ( 5.1) 2007 - Cultural bridges ( 6.6 M) 2007 - Continuation of the Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme ( 6.98 M) 2008 - Civil Society Development for Active Participation ( 3.05 M) 2008 - Parliamentary Exchange and Dialogue ( 2,2 M) 2008 - EU-Turkey intercultural dialogue ( 3,1 M) 2008 - Istanbul 2010 ( 1,6 M) 2009 - Improved Integration of Disabled Persons ( 3,2 M incl. NGO grant scheme 1,8 M) 2009 - Continuation of the Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme ( 6,9 M) 2009 - Civil Society Dialogue EU-Turkey Chamber Forum II ( 4,5 M) Minorities / Vulnerable Groups Below are some examples of support to minorities and vulnerable groups: Support for Cultural Rights ( 2,5 M under the 2004 programme) aimed at supporting the implementation of the legislative changes related to cultural rights and increase mutual understanding, knowledge and wider appreciation of the cultural variety of Turkey. Eradicating the worst forms of child labour ( 5.3 M under the 2004 programme) was successfully implemented in Sinop, Van, Ordu, Çankırı, Kastamonu, Erzurum and Elazığ. Aiming at increasing capacity at local and central level to tackle child labour in these 7 provinces, it provided approximately 3 000 children and their families with education, rehabilitation and support services.
This project was followed up through the Children First project ( 4.8 under 2006 programme) aiming at establishing child protection mechanisms in Adana, Ankara, Batman, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli, Mersin, Samsun, Şanlıurfa and Trabzon. The project was finalised in 2009 in a successful way and further follow-up projects are currently being discussed with the Turkish authorities. Support to the Solution of Economic and Social Integration Problems in Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa, Gaziantep and Erzurum as Major In-Migrant Destinations. 19 M was allocated under the 2005 programme for provincial institutional building as well as 4 pilot establishments to assist migrant communities to integrate into urban life. Useful links with information on financial assistance for Turkey: More detailed information on the implementation of EU financial assistance to Turkey can be found at the Commission websites indicated below, as well as on websites of the Turkish authorities managing the funds. IPA projects and programmes in Turkey: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/candidate-countries/turkey/financial-assistance/index_en.htm Financial assistance implementation Reports: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/press_corner/key-documents/index_en.htm IPA brochure: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/publication/ipa_brochure_2009_en.pdf EU Delegation in Turkey information on financial assistance: http://www.avrupa.info.tr/ab_mali_destegi.html