Commission approves 10 programmes for pre-accession assistance to Croatia, Turkey...

The Commission today approved a package of 10 operational programmes totalling € 920 million for 2007-2009 to support candidate countries in regional development and human resources. This investment is being made available in the framework of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). The candidate countries are: Croatia, Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner commented: "With these programmes, candidate countries will make significant progress in their preparation for accession. IPA programmes are good practical experience for these countries in view of their potential future participation in Cohesion policy. It will give them a taste of the community approach regarding the planning, implementation, control and evaluation of projects."

Social affairs Commissioner Vladimír Špidla added: "I am pleased that human resources development has now been incorporated as a specific component under IPA to prepare the countries for the future use of the European Social Fund. More particularly, for the three candidate countries concerned, I am convinced that it will contribute to promoting greater levels of employability as well as strengthening their existing education and training systems."

The programmes, developed by the beneficiary countries in close partnership with the Commission, received a positive opinion from the Member States.

Croatia: four programmes with investment worth € 180.7 million for regional competitiveness, transport, environmental protection and human resources development.

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: two programmes with investment worth € 56.8 million for regional development (including transport and environment) and human resources development.

Turkey: four programmes with investment worth € 682.7 million for regional competitiveness, environment, transport and human resources development.