EBRD Technical Cooperation Programme Caroline Clarkson Official Co-financing Unit, EBRD Bratislava, 4 March 2010

What is the EBRD? International financial institution, promotes transition to market economies in 30 countries from central Europe to central Asia. Owned by 61 countries and two inter-governmental institutions – EC & EIB. A network of 36 offices in 30 countries More than half of our bankers based in the region Capital base of €20 billion

What are the EBRD Objectives? To promote transition to market economies by investing mainly in the private sector. To mobilise significant foreign direct investment. To support privatisation, restructuring and better municipal services to improve people’s lives. To encourage environmentally sound and sustainable development.

EBRD and Donors Successful and long-standing donor relationships. More than 30 donors and new donors coming up (e.g. Korea, Singapore, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic etc.). Every year about EUR 100 million fresh money from donors. About 50% from EC, remainder from bilateral donors. Approx. 40% tied funds, i.e. tied to nationality of source of funds.

EBRD TC Funds Programme since 1991 Technical assistance/ technical co-operation (TC) and non-TC funding (e.g. investment grants) supports a range of specific operations, including: –project preparation/ project implementation, –institution building, –development of management skills –regulatory development support/ policy dialogue. €1.53 billion in contributions from over 30 donor agencies since investments, €8 billion invested in % of EBRD investments by volume are supported by TCs in 2009.

TC Funds eligible for Slovak Firms EU Funds Early Transition Countries Fund (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) Western Balkans Investment Framework (Albania, B&H, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and region of Kosovo) UK, Norway, Japan and some US, Swedish funds. Shareholder Special Fund. Bilateral Slovak TC Fund.

EBRD Western Balkans Fund Nov 2006  EBRD establishes EBRD multi-donor Western Balkans Fund (WBF) (for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). To support private business investment and infrastructure development in the region. 16 donors committed EUR 26 million (incl. Slovak Republic but also for the first time other EU members such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia). In the last three years about 60 projects benefited from support from WBF, with focus on –transport –municipal infrastructure –energy projects

Western Balkans Investment Framework Increasing desire from European shareholders and especially the European Commission to coordinate more efficiently with other IFIs in the Western Balkans ECOFIN decision saw expansion of the WBF into the WBIF formally established in December 2009 Funds are virtually pooled, IFI (i.e. EIB, EBRD, CEB each with Euro 10 million), EC (IPA regional and national programmes) and European Western Balkans Joint Fund (i.e. bilateral donor fund) Croatia is now also included 16 donors old donors plus expected new donors such as Germany, Greece and Italy

Slovak Bilateral Fund In July 2009,Slovak Technical Cooperation Fund with EBRD was established for EUR 1M. Tied Fund for Slovak nationals (if individual consultants) or firms registered in the Slovak Republic. Up to 25% of the assignment’s budget can finance local consultants. Agreement was signed between EBRD and the Slovak government managed by the Ministry of Finance and concentrates its effort on the Early Transition Countries, the Western Balkans, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.

Slovak Bilateral Fund Procedure for approving use of funds EBRD provides a quarterly pipeline of projects. Ministry of Finance expresses interest based on knowledge of consultancy expertise. OCU monitor the progress of projects and liaise with Ministry on suitability of funding. Submission of approved Terms of Reference and budget for formal funding approval. Subsequent presentations focus on Municipal & Environmental Infrastructure (MEI) incl. water/wastewater, solid waste, Transport, Power/Energy including Utilities and Public Procurement Law Reform.

Questions? Contact: Caroline Clarkson, Associate Manager Official Co-financing Unit, EBRD Tel