Brussels, 28/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 27 March, the European Commission finalised a series of measures to promote regional cooperation in the Western Balkans for a total amount of €272.75 million for the 2012-2013 period. This funding comes under the multi-beneficiary and cross border programmes of the EU's instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA).
The aid will support cooperation with international financial institutions to mobilise funding, help develop civil society, support education, and help beneficiaries meet the requirements for EU membership and align their standards with the EU. The funding will also support education schemes such as student mobility programmes. These funds will thus complement the funding of individual national programmes by focusing on regional aspects and helping countries to learn from each other's experience.
For the 2007-2013 period, €11.5 billion was allocated to the pre-accession funds. (CG/transl.fl)