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Romania->European Commission Support The Phare Program What is Phare? The Phare Programme is currently the main channel for the European Union’s financial and technical cooperation with the countries of central and eastern Europe (CEECs). Set up in 1989 to support economic and political transition, Phare had by 1996 been extended to include 13 partner countries from the region. Originally allocated Euro 4.2 billion for the 1990-1994 period, the Phare budget was increased to Euro 6.693 billion for the 1995-1999 period. Flexibility in the face of changing priorities Phare’s assistance takes the form of grants, and its work has grown to encompass a wide range of activities. Throughout the 1989-1996 period, Phare has shown a continuing flexibility in adapting to the changing priorities and character of the reform process in each of its partner countries. Since 1994, the Programme has been characterised by a large increase in support for the legislative framework and administrative structures, as well as for projects promoting democratisation and civil society, and for investment in infrastructure, including cross-border cooperation. Please see Programme types for further information on the different types of programmes under way in the partner countries. The road to enlargement Phare’s role has also evolved to keep pace with political developments that have taken place during its lifetime, in particular with regard to the future enlargement of the European Union. Ten of the partner countries have applied to become members of the EU. The key stages on the road to enlargement have been
In response to these developments, Phare’s role in the ten candidate countries has been refocused and reoriented. For these countries, Phare’s aim is to help them prepare for EU membership. Agenda 2000 and the Accession Partnerships In July 1997, the European Commission published ‘Agenda 2000 For a stronger and wider Union’, together with its Opinions on each candidate country’s application for membership. In ‘Agenda 2000’, the Commission outlined the broad perspective for the development of the EU and its policies beyond the turn of the century; the impact of enlargement on the EU as a whole; and the future financial framework beyond 2000, taking into account the prospect of an enlarged Union. ‘Agenda 2000’ offers a clear and coherent vision of the European Union as it enters the 21st century. Given the intensification of the enlargement process over recent years, ‘Agenda 2000’ also proposed a strengthening of the pre-accession strategy. The ‘reinforced pre-accession strategy’ will target support towards the specific needs of each candidate country as it prepares for accession. In this way the EU will focus support towards the precise problems identified in the Commission’s Opinions on the candidates’ applications for membership. Under the reinforced pre-accession strategy, all the different forms of support available (including Phare) for each country are brought together within a single framework, called an Accession Partnership. Individual APs have been drawn up with each candidate country, and outline the priority areas in which each country needs to make progress in order to prepare for accession. The reorientation of the Phare Programme As Phare’s objectives changed, it became necessary to adopt new orientations for the Programme, in order to redirect support towards the preparation of the candidate countries for accession in the key areas identified in the Accession Partnerships. As a result, all Phare activities now concentrate on the partner countries’ need for support for institution-building and investment. Please see Support for accession preparations for further details. The first priority is to help the administrations of the candidate countries acquire the capacity to implement the ‘acquis communautaire’ (the European Communities’ body of legislation). This process is known as institution-building. Phare will thus help the national and regional administrations, as well as regulatory and supervisory and other bodies, in the candidate countries to familiarise themselves with Community objectives and procedures and to prepare for their implementation. The second priority is to help the candidate countries bring their industries and major infrastructure up to Community standards by mobilising the investment required. This effort will be largely devoted to areas where Community norms are becoming increasingly demanding: environment, transport, industrial plant, quality standards in products, working conditions, and so on. Please see investment support for further details on this priority. Beyond 2000 In addition to Phare (Euro 1.5 billion per year), pre-accession support for all candidate countries will comprise two further elements as from the year 2000: aid for agricultural development (SAPARD) will amount to Euro 500 million per year, while structural aid will total Euro 1 billion per year. The structural aid will be directed mainly towards aligning the candidate countries with Community infrastructure standards, particularly in transport and environment. It will also help familiarise the candidate countries with the arrangements for implementing structural measures. Please see the Special Preparatory Programme for Structural Funds for further details on targeted Phare support in this area. Continuing support for the non-candidate countries With regard to the three non-candidate Phare countries, Phare’s new orientations affect neither the programmes currently under way nor the budgetary allocations programmed up to 1999. Instead, Phare will continue to provide support in their transition to democracy and a market economy.
All activities under the Phare Programme are normally undertaken by contracted suppliers by means of competitive tender. The type of contract applicable depends on the nature of activities to be provided. These activities fall into three different categories: To participate in Phare-funded contracts, as a supplier of goods or services, a firm or individual must You can also obtain information on upcoming service tenders and download an expression of interest form. Please note that the publication of a forthcoming tender opportunity does not commit the European Commission or any of its implementing bodies to implement the announced project. If you wish to be shortlisted for a particular tender, you must: Other key places where you can obtain further information on Phare and its programmes include the new Phare and Tacis Information Centre
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