Europa Windows

[Ailene Goldhirsh]

TheInstrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) is the means by which the EU has been supporting reforms in the enlargement region with financial and technical assistance since 2007. IPA funds build up the capacities of the beneficiaries throughout the accession process, resulting in progressive, positive developments in the region.

The EU pre-accession funds are a sound investment into the future of both the enlargement region and the EU. They support beneficiaries to implement the necessary political and economic reforms, preparing them for the rights and obligations that come with the EU membership. Those reforms should provide their citizens with better opportunities and allow for the development of standards, equal to the ones we enjoy as citizens of the EU. The pre-accession funds also help the EU reach its own objectives including a sustainable economic situation, energy supply, transport, the environment and climate change, and stability.

The general objective of the IPA III instrument is to support the beneficiaries in adopting and implementing the political, institutional, legal, administrative, social and economic reforms required by those beneficiaries to comply with Union values and to progressively align to Union rules, standards, policies and practices with a view to Union membership, thereby contributing to their stability, security and prosperity.

The IPA III Regulation was adopted on 15 September 2021, came into force on 20 September 2021 and is applicable retroactively from 1 January 2021. The IPA III Regulation is complemented by the Commission Delegated Regulation, which was adopted on 1 October 2021 and came into force on 3 December 2021. It sets out specific objectives and thematic priorities for IPA III assistance. The IPA III Implementing Regulation was adopted by the Commission on 15 December 2021 and entered into force on 16 December 2021. Furthermore, the NDICI-GE Regulation, which was adopted on 9 June 2021, entered into force on 14 June 2021 and applies retroactively from 1 January 2021, sets out certain horizontal provisions, which are also applicable for IPA III assistance. The Commission adopted a model for a Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) between the Commission and the governments of the IPA III beneficiaries on 31 March 2022. On this basis, individual FFPAs were agreed with the six Western Balkan beneficiaries and Trkiye and entered into force by the end of 2022.

The IPA III Programming Framework, as described in Article 7 of the IPA III Regulation, is the overarching European Commission's strategic document for the use of EU funds assisting the IPA III beneficiaries for the duration of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. It replaces the previous country-specific strategy papers.

The programming framework 2021-2027 reflects the specific objectives of the IPA III Regulation and focuses on the priorities of the enlargement process according to five thematic windows, which mirror the clusters of negotiating chapters as per the revised enlargement methodology.

Programming of EU assistance is based on EU thematic priorities rather than pre-defined country envelopes. This will allow rewarding performance and progress towards key priorities and increased flexibility to respond to the evolving needs of the partners in their path towards accession.

The most important novelty of IPA II was its strategic focus. Indicative Strategy Papers were the specific strategic planning documents made for each beneficiary for the 7-year period. These provided for a stronger ownership by the beneficiaries through integrating their own reform and development agendas. A Multi-Country Strategy Paper addressed priorities for regional cooperation or territorial cooperation.

IPA II targeted reforms within the framework of pre-defined sectors. These sectors covered areas closely linked to the enlargement strategy, such as democracy and governance, rule of law, and growth and competitiveness. This sector approach promoted structural reforms that helped transform a given sector and bring it up to EU standards. It allowed to move towards a more targeted assistance, ensuring efficiency, sustainability and focus on results.

IPA II also allowed for a more systematic use of sector budget support and gave more weight to performance measurement: indicators agreed with the beneficiaries helped assess to what extent the expected results were achieved.

The performance reward was a mechanism set up in the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance II Regulation 231/2014 (Art 14). It provided a financial incentive for individual IPA II beneficiaries in case of particular progress made towards meeting the membership criteria and/or efficient implementation of pre-accession assistance. The Regulation twice foresaw the use of the performance reward scheme in the period 2014-2020 (current Multi-annual Financial Framework). The reward was first allocated in 2017, benefitting Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia with an overall amount of EUR 78 million.

The amount allocated for the 2020 performance reward exercise was also EUR 78 million. The Commission proposed to reward the two countries, which had undertaken the most significant steps to advance EU reforms: Albania and North Macedonia.

The IPA II Regulation came into force on 16 March 2014 and was applicable retroactively from 1 January 2014. The IPA II Regulation was complemented by the Common Implementing Regulation (CIR), a set of simplified and harmonised implementing rules and procedures for all external action instruments, as well as the IPA II Implementing Regulation adopted by the Commission on 2 May 2014.

It was designed to provide financial assistance through five channels (known as "components"): transition assistance and institution building, cross-border cooperation, regional development, human resource development and rural development.

The development and implementation of a common interface for all single market-related notifications aims at simplifying the procedural steps and reducing the administrative burden for national administrations.

While the scope of the single notification window has been kept broad to encompass as many relevant notification procedures as possible, it does not cover reporting obligations, rapid alert systems, notification obligations in relation to EU competition rules, obligations to transpose and provisions on penalties.

The European Commission will regularly update the information, monitor the functioning of the portal and engage with the EU countries to discuss possible further improvements. Should you encounter any problems, please contact GROW-E3ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (GROW-E3[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

Europa Home Improvement Limited is a family run FENSA (29919) registered double glazing installer and NHBC registered home improvement company covering Herne Bay, Canterbury, Whitstable and surrounding areas. Established in 1976 we have now been trading for over 40 years and have an excellent local reputation for professional, reliable, honest, value for money home improvements.

A FENSA registered local double glazing installation company specialising in high quality 'A+' Rated energy efficient double glazed, or triple glazed replacement windows and doors with a 10 year insurance backed guarantee.

Whether you are interested in adding a new bespoke modern or traditional conservatory, bi-fold doors, updating your windows to energy efficient 'A+' Rated double glazing in either PVC-U or aluminium, a new composite front door in a vast range of colours or need new guttering, soffits and fascias, we have the products and expertise to ensure your home improvements are completed skilfully and professionally and fully comply with current building regulations (if applicable).

Chartered builder, knowledgeable and fully experienced in all aspects of home improvements, planning, energy saving measures and materials, building regulations and best practice to ensure your home improvements and extensions are the best quality and value for money. We offer a complete service from start to finish. Satisfaction guaranteed!

We fully appreciate home improvements are a considered purchase. You want a professional job, you may need advice or help with your ideas. This is why we are happy to provide a FREE, no obligation quotation for all our services. We listen carefully to you and answer any questions you may have. We offer a fully customised service and solution, enabling you to make your dream home a reality.

From the factory the doorwindows do not wind down very far.On this Europa the lowest it would go left two inchesof glass visible at the rear of the glass.This is annoying for track use as one has to explain tothe track marshals...every trackday... thatthe window is really fully down!If you don't have a compelling reason justdon't waste your time fooling with the window height.

Now one gets to the critical point of doing things thatare just a little alarming.Because there is not all that much that keeps all that glassand frame in place!The factory put that lowering stop where they didso the bottom of the glass would not contact the inner door surface.You will need to put a rubber block between the window holder bracketand the door.(I used a tiny bit of ultra thin fiberglassand polyester resin around the bottomof the block to make sure the block cannot just fall down.)And you need to make sure anything at the horizontal surfacewhere the glass enters the door that prevents the glass from movinginward is removed temporarily. Then pull on the bottom of the window and insert the rubber block.If you have to pull hard...stop!Something is holding you back.

To find the position you want for the motor-stop washerthe following test setup suffices. A small 12 volt battery and temporary wires.Connect the ground wire. Then touch one or the otherwires to the plus battery terminal till the window isdown where you want it and the rubber block ensures the windowdoes not hit the outer door surface.Remove the door motor (again!) and weld on the washer.

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