Structural policy instrument to prepare for accession
The Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (short ISPA from English Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession ) was one of three programs that the European Union accession preparations of the candidate countries supported.
Legal basis ISPA was the Regulation (EC) no. 1267/ 1999 of the Council of 21st June 1999 on a structural instrument for pre-accession. The claim expired with the final accession of a country.
The ISPA program was replaced on January 1, 2007 by the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).
goal
In addition to the PHARE and SAPARD programs , ISPA served to promote structural policy support for infrastructure projects in the areas of environment and transport and to improve economic and social cohesion in these areas. For the period from 2000 to 2006 it was endowed with EUR 1.04 billion annually. Funded measures had to be in line with the Accession Partnership commitments and national efforts to implement the acquis communautaire .
functionality
The funded projects (with a minimum volume of EUR 5 million) were carried out by public or similar bodies commissioned by the competent national authorities (a kind of ISPA coordination body). The member countries were accountable to the Commission ( Directorate General for Regional Policy).
After receiving the applications for funding from the countries in question, the Commission took a decision on the measures to be financed after receiving the opinion of its Management Committee (representative of the Member States chaired by a Commission representative).
The funding was given as non-repayable direct support, as repayable support or in another form. Up to 75% of the project costs were financed, an increase to 85% by the Commission's management committee was possible. The amount of funding has been adjusted according to the co-funding . Preliminary studies and technical assistance measures carried out on the initiative of the Commission could be financed up to 100% of the total eligible costs.
The European Parliament , the Council of Ministers , the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions have been informed annually by the Commission about the ISPA support measures.