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 the 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), as 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 SAA first
stage, including those foreseen for the second stage. The NPAA is planned,
monitored and updated on regular basis by working groups for approximation to
the acquis, following the structure of the 33 chapters of the acquis.
The process of alignment of the national
legislation with the acquis represents 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.