The main objective of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) is to help Serbia face the challenges of European integration to implement the reforms needed to fulfil EU requirements and to make progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process. The indicative allocations to Serbia under the Multi-annual Indicative Financial Framework (MIFF) 2007-2009 amount to M€ 572.4.

The specific objectives of the assignment:

• Gap analysis of IPA 2007 programme
• Support the Donor Aid Coordination Unit  of the Ministry of Finance (DACU) and key line ministries in the drafting and preparation of project fiche to win future IPA (2008/9) funding support.
• Identify with the line ministries and DACU the IPA co-funding opportunities from national sources particularly for investment projects.
• Ensure that the project fiche complies with MIPD strategic objectives and that all necessary annexes conform to IPA funding requirements.

The performed services were the following:

• Carry out a review of the programming process under IPA 2007 (Gap Analysis both strategic and technical)
• Based on the above gap analysis assess draft project fiche under preparation by line ministries for future IPA funding 2008/9.  Carry out feasibility analysis of project fiche to ensure their practicality and readiness for funding support under IPA.
• Support the line ministry/DACU to address identified gaps in project fiche, whether strategic or technical that may impede future IPA support
• Support the line ministry/DACU in the final drafting and preparation of 20+-project fiche (including annexes etc.)
• Make recommendations and policy suggestions to improve the IPA programming process.

Support the elaboration of project fiches, to be submitted for EU IPA support, through advisory and training.

The expert of EUROPE Ltd was the industry expert (civil engineer) with professional experience in EU funding and investment / infrastructure support.  He advised on investment and infrastructure project fiches (Works contracts).

He reviewed the planning and designing of the draft fiches. He needed to verify if - by implementing EU-funded business related infrastructure actions targeted in the project fiche - Serbia would meet socio-economic objectives (industrial development, economic competitiveness, creation and stabilisation of the labour market, etc.)

Many construction projects in the area of transport and environment had to be reviewed.

The full portfolio of IPA support, the expert teams work includes projects from all sectors. All together, 56 project fiches needed to be elaborated either from their old version fiches or from their concept notes.

Sectors covered:

• Environment,
• Governance,
• Transport,
• Health,
• Education, etc.