1. TWINNING IN THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
Christophe INGELS Head of Sector Twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA EuropeAid – Neighbourhood Directorate Brussels 7-8 June 2012

2. The European Neigbourhood Policy - Countries
Morocco
Algeria
Tunisia
Libya*
Egypt
Israel
oPt*
Jordan
Lebanon Syria*
Armenia
Georgia
Azerbaijan Ukraine
Moldova
Belarus*

3. Some facts and figures on Twinning
in the Neighbourhood
(2004 – May 2012) 3 3

4. Since 2004…
- 215 twinnings launched in 12 Neighbourhood countries for an overall budget of € 235 million
- focusing on institutional capacity building...
- ... and legal harmonisation/approximation
- mainly in the Finance, Trade and Industry, Justice and Home Affairs sectors (more than 50% of total)

5. Status of twinning projects per Neighbourhood country (2004 – May 2012)

6. Twinning projects in the Neighbourhood per sector (2004 – May 2012)

7. 2004-2012 ENPI Region: Twinning projects launched - 12 countries - per year7 7

8. Number of proposals by Member States (as leader, mid 2012) 547 Proposals from 22 Member States for 214 Neighbourhood Twinning calls for proposals 8 8

9. Awarded twinning projects per MS and role (2005 –mid 2012)

10. Member States proposals per region (as leader, 2005 –mid 2012)

11. Recent trends of Member States proposals over two years (as leader)

12. Twinning - fundamental principles
- The domains of co-operation covered by twinnings are included in Association Agreements and Action Plans;
- Twinning is “demand-driven” with the involvement of the PAOs;
- It is aimed at developing the capacity of Public Administration in the partner countries supported by equivalent institutions in EU MS;
- It brings structural reform (should tackle systemic type of problems);
- It should include elements of approximation to the EU acquis;
- A Twinning project does NOT aim at replicating a particular MS administrative system but should be tailor-made;
- It is based on a commitment between both partners to work towards commonly agreed mandatory results.

13. Twinning: some major evaluation’s recommendations
- Keep the demand-driven approach but enhance it with a more global and coherent strategic approach (founded on the AAs or even the CIBs for the East)
- Revise and refine the reference to the EU Acquis and to relevant fields of co-operation
- Better involve political decision-makers in the twinning process
- Improve twinning feasibility, impact and sustainability through revision of the following selection criteria:
Improve compatibility of the needs expressed with twinning eligibility criteria
Select only focused and realistic mandatory results
Ensure that the absorption capacity of beneficiaries is sufficient
Ensure that the BAs are fully committed

14. Twinning: some major evaluation’s recommendations
- Strengthen the governance of twinning projects through the PAOs/UGPs
- Strengthen EU MS expertise, not technically, but rather in terms of project management and communication skills
- Proceed to the revision of twinning rules (greater simplification, stronger adaptation to the ENP context)
- Review the twinning concept and definition

15. Messages to stakeholders: Beneficiaries
Twinning is demand-driven and the role played by the beneficiary country is essential:
- PAOs are set up to play a pivotal role between the EC (delegation & HQ) and the national administrations for the identification, management of twinning projects and for promoting twinning. In decentralised management mode they are the contracting authority;
- PAOs coordinate as well the cooperation through SIGMA and TAIEX;
- The beneficiary administration must carefully identify its needs and evaluate its capacity to work hand-in-hand with the RTA;
- A high-level political commitment is necessary to carry out the reforms aimed at in the project.

16. Messages to stakeholders: Member States
The administration applying for a twinning should realise what it implies:
- The MS administration should not be seen as a label but rather as a resource and knowledge centre;
- The mobilisation of the MS administration’ resources should be facilitated by the RTA (reason why s/he should belong to the lead administration);
- The partnerships (consortia) between MS are encouraged and valued but should be based on a concrete and concerted synergy and complementarity ;
- Twinning is not a bilateral project but a European one!

17. Messages to stakeholders: EU Delegations
- Added-value of the instrument is based on its public dimension;
- Mandatory results should be well-defined...
- ...though the fiche itself should leave the opportunity to the MS to propose its own methodology and solutions;
- Where relevant the European dimension should always be taken into account;
- Use the twinning in synergy with the other institution building instruments (TAIEX, SIGMA) and in coordination with the PAO;
- Observe the rules and good practices of the twinning;
- Unit F4 in EuropeAid is your contact point for matters related to twinning, TAIEX and SIGMA;
- ALWAYS DESIGNATE ONE CONTACT PERSON for Twinning, TAIEX, SIGMA (thank you!)

18. Thank you and keep in touch
DEVCO F4 – Secretariat