Strategic Moves - Regional Environmental Center for Central and ...

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E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y
S T R AT E G I C M O V E S
in the implementation of the IPA is the countries’ capacity to absorb funds —
that is, to set up the necessary institutions; to prepare the required project documentation,
including feasibility studies; and to provide co-financing. The
staffing and administrative capacities of project proponents are often inadequate,
and in some cases the number of employees involved in project preparation, and
their expertise, have been underestimated.
Assistance from international bilateral donors plays an important role in knowhow
transfer, institutional strengthening, capacity building and the co-financing of
infrastructure projects. Funding from IFIs is also significant due to its favourable
terms. Governments would benefit from having clear strategies on how to combine
all the available sources of funding. One way to do this is by drafting national
environmental investment strategies that are closely linked to, or that are an integral
part of, their approximation strategies.
Project preparation facilities
Project preparation facilities are used by the EC and IFIs to fund technical assistance
for the preparation of a pipeline of sound infrastructure projects and to
promote them to financers. The activities of the Environmental Project Preparation
Facility (EPPF) have had a significant beneficial impact on project proponents by
ensuring high-quality pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, and subsequently a
strong project pipeline for future funding. The Infrastructure Project Facility (IPF)
supports infrastructure project preparation and builds project pipelines in the energy,
transport, environment and social sectors.
In 2008, the EC and partner IFIs initiated the Western Balkans Investment
Framework (WBIF) to be launched by 2010. The WBIF will, in addition to infrastructure,
provide support to investments in other sectors, such as the private
sector (including SMEs) and energy efficiency.
Regional cooperation frameworks
Regional cooperation is essential for peace and stability in the SEE region. It is
also a tool and a prerequisite for moving towards EU integration; tackling transboundary
environmental pollution and infrastructure development; and creating
a fruitful climate for investments in SEE. Regional cooperation creates an opportunity
for the cross-border sharing of knowledge and good practice. Donors and
IFIs often have a regional approach to programming, which expands the investment
market thus making it more interesting for investments.
Prioritisation of infrastructure projects
Building lists of projects that present a harmonised approach to investment
planning in SEE countries has been a cornerstone of the PEIP. The absence of such