Europe & CIS

EU cooperation

More than half the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have acceded to, or are seeking to join the European Union (EU). The countries of Southeastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (except Bulgaria and the Central Asian states) are the subjects of the EU's 'New Neighbourhood' policy, which seeks to expand partnerships and cooperation with these countries. 

As a response to the growing demand in the new EU accession countries and other EU neighbours for the unique expertise and the best practices that have been developed in the new member states, UNDP has developed a cross EU border cooperation initiative. Under this initiative, the new EU member states will deliver knowledge and expertise, based on their transition and development successes and lessons learned, to new neighbour and accession countries. UNDP will facilitate cross EU frontier cooperation, provide guidance, seed money and raise additional funds from governments, the EU and the private sector.

In this way, the unique expertise of new EU members will be disseminated east and south, particularly in the new accession and neighbouring countries. UNDP will also seek to 'regionalize' those country projects that have had a positive impact. Furthermore, it will continue to initiate regional multi-country projects with a view to resolving international environmental, economic and social challenges.

Most new member states are becoming providers of development assistance after having been recipients for a number of years. The Central European and Baltic states are success stories in their transition from centralised to liberal-democratic social systems. Policymakers, entrepreneurs, and non-governmental organisations in these countries contain a wealth of best practices acquired from the transition. The export and adaptation of these practices are extremely important for the accession countries and other EU neighbours to the south and east. UNDP is seeking to ensure that the policy advice and lessons learned will not be forgotten, and opportunities for larger policy impact will not be lost.

For UNDP to facilitate cooperation across EU frontiers on a significant scale, it is necessary to develop a new kind of cooperation and partnership with the EU and the European Commission. The partnership has to fully respond to the capacity-building needs of Central and East European countries on the one hand, and the intention of the EU to strengthen cooperation between EU members and their neighbours to the east and southeast on the other hand.