Nordic
Support for Progress in Macedonia
The Government of Norway has decided to fund a
sub-regional programme “Nordic Support for Progress’ in Macedonia” to be
implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The
project consists of a socio-economic development support to the more
undeveloped parts of the country and also envisages support to the Macedonian
authorities responsible for leading the renewed efforts on the EU accession
process.
The Government of Norway has allocated funding for the
implementation of the Project in Macedonia during 24 months.
The Overall Objective is to contribute to a more
balanced socio-economic development and contribute to the implementation of the
Stabilization and Association Agreement and EU accession negotiations
priori-ties.
Specifically, the programme has objectives at the
local and national levels i.e. locally, to increase employment opportunities,
support social cohesion as well as to enhance local infrastructure in the less
developed areas with a focus given to the inclusion of youth, women and
vulnerable groups in the labour market. Nationally, the programme aims at
supporting the government to improve its capacity for EU integration.
The project has three results:
Result 1:
Improved Access to Employment of the Most Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups
(in Particular Women and Youth)
Result 2:
Enhanced Social Inclusion, Living Conditions and Local Infrastructure improved
Result 3: Support the government reform agenda in the
accession process
All Project activities will be undertaken in
partnership and cooperation with national and local institutions, with the aim
of allowing them to adopt/adapt the legal requirements and, where relevant, EU
accession criteria. This will ensure national ownership and support the
development of national capacities.
Background
Information - in relation to the
assignment
Macedonian Government is in
process of preparations for formal opening of accession negotiations with the
EU and is accelerating government reforms, including implementation of the
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) in two successive stages. At
present, there is an on-going transition to the SAA second stage and of
explanatory meetings of the European Commission on chapters of the acquis. The overall process is coordinated by the Secretariat for
European Affairs (SEA), as main coordination body in the accession negotiation
process.
The National Programme
for Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA), the key strategic and planning document in
the accession negotiation process, encompasses the on-going process of gradual
approximation of legislation with the acquis covering all areas already in the
first stage of the SAA, including those foreseen for the second stage. The NPAA
is planned, monitored and updated on a regular basis, by working groups for
approximation to the acquis, following the structure of 33 chapters of the
acquis.
The
process of alignment of the national legislation with the acquis, presents one
of the most important and challenging parts of the accession negotiation
process. It is continuous and demanding task for the administration, taking
into consideration the constant developments of the acquis and the
jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The
massive and difficult exercise of law approximation involve legal and non-legal
experts in all areas of the acquis, with limited knowledge of the EU law,
national legislation, and skills for transposition, planning and drafting
legislation. In general, there is need for setting-up consistent framework for
systematic capacity building of civil servants involved in the harmonization
process.
The
country developed methodologies and guidelines for legal drafting and law
harmonization with the acquis. With the advancement in the accession process,
these guidelines need adjustments in order to meet additional requirements for
full alignment with the acquis and implementation of the legislation, and at
the same time, preserve coherence of the national legal system.
The
Legislation Secretariat (LS) is responsible body for ensuring the legal
consistency of the national legislation and verification of the level of
compliance with the acquis, while the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA) is
responsible for checking the compliance with the SAA obligations and monitoring
the overall legislative process. Both institutions have the key role in the
coordination, planning and monitoring of law harmonization with the acquis,
within the framework of NPAA.
The project, under the Result 3: Support the Government Reform
Agenda in the Accession Process, will assess priorities and provide support
in the development of a consistent framework and tailor-made training
programmes for systematic capacity building of civil servants.
SEA will serve as focal point, provide all
relevant documentation, working tools and instructions, and designate contact
person/ coordinator to facilitate the work of selected specialist under this
ToR.