MEDA Regional Programmes

Regional co-operation is essentially a regional response to the opportunities and challenges resulting from the proximity of the Mediterranean area to Europe. Regional co-operation has a considerable strategic impact as it deals with problems that are common to many Mediterranean Partners while it emphasises national complementarities.

• The general aim of this form of co-operation is to promote closer integration between the 35 partners (25 EU Member States and the 10 Mediterranean Partners). More specifically, regional co-operation is intended:
   

• to be a catalyst to reinforce the effects of bilateral co-operation; 
  to intensify "South-South" co-operation (i.e. co-operation among the Mediterranean Partners themselves starting, where appropriate, on a sub-regional basis); and
   

• to tackle issues that have a cross-border dimension (e.g. infrastructure interconnection or harmonisation of standards).

Therefore, regional MEDA programmes complement and reinforce bilateral programmes. They cover a wide range of issues relating to all three chapters of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

In the political and security partnership, activities contribute to the creation of a region of peace and stability.

In the economic and financial partnership, the objectives at a regional level are: to conduct a dialogue on the alignment of sectoral economic policies; to foster co-operation between non-governmental entities such as chambers of commerce, economic institutes and trade promotion bodies; to carry out regional projects which usefully complement bilateral measures; and to support the setting up of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area, including support to sub-regional free trade agreements.

The aim of the social, cultural and human partnership is to bring people closer, promote understanding between them and improve their perception of each other. These goals apply in a variety of areas including justice and home affairs, the dialogue between cultures and civilisations, cultural heritage, audio-visual, youth and the media.

While the regional programmes are open to participation of all Partners, they are implemented in a flexible way with individual activities often open to smaller groups of Partners (sub-regional or "cluster" approach).

Very significant financial results for the period 2000-2004

At the financial level, MEDA II's performance has vastly improved compared to MEDA I. This is illustrated by the ratio of payments and commitments which has increased from 29% under MEDA I (1995-1999) to 77% for MEDA II (2000-2004). This has been a continuous process under MEDA II. The payments/commitments ratio increased from 55% in 2000 to 115% by the end of 2003.

Another important result is that a commitment rate of 100% has been achieved for the last five years. Similarly, utilisation of payment credits has also been at 100% for the last five years.

The reasons for operational improvement of MEDA II as compared with MEDA I

The improved results of the MEDA II programme are a direct consequence of structural reforms undertaken by the new Commission from 2000 onwards. These reforms have allowed for a more rational and rapid implementation of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.

This concerns in the first place the creation of the EuropeAid Cooperation Office in 2001. EuropeAid has introduced new working methods as a result of which implementation has become faster and more efficient.

Another important initiative has been the launch of the devolution process in 2002. Specialised manpower has been re-allocated from Brussels to Commission Delegations in Mediterranean third countries. This has made it possible to speed up the implementation rate and to improve the quality of bilateral projects considerably. Devolution of bilateral projects has been complete in the Mediterranean area since 2003, and those projects are now managed directly by the Delegations under the supervision of Headquarters. In addition, the devolution of some regional programmes to the Delegations started in 2004.

The implementation of a more coherent approach integrating all phases of a project, from programming to the final evaluation, has also contributed to a better articulation and a greater efficiency of the various instruments of co-operation.

The better balancing of important projects, based on substantial reforms within the Mediterranean Partners, and more classical technical assistance projects has also greatly contributed to the improvement in the quality and results of the MEDA II programme.

Finally, the extra emphasis given to partnership decision making has made it possible to ensure greater ownership for beneficiaries. This has also contributed significantly to better quality and improved results.