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Statistical co-operation with New Independent States

The TACIS programme provides grant-financed technical assistance to 12 countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Armenia (AM), Azerbaijan (AZ), Belarus (BY), Georgia (GE), Kazakhstan (KZ), Kyrgyzstan (KG), Moldova (MD), Russia (RU), Tajikistan (TJ), Turkmenistan (TM), Ukraine (UA), and Uzbekistan (UZ). The legal basis for the TACIS programme is a Regulation concerning the provision of assistance to the partner states in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 99/2000 of 29 December 1999). It covers the period 2000 to 2006 and concentrates on: supporting institutional, legal and administrative reform, the private sector, assistance for economic development, the social consequences of transition, the development of infrastructure networks, environmental protection, the management of natural resources, and the development of the rural economy.

In May 2004, the European Commission presented its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which aims to share the benefits of enlargement with neighbouring countries, while preventing the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbours. The Commission presents Action Plans for individual countries that may be seen as key political documents for the future development of relations, containing a set of jointly defined priorities in selected areas that are tailored to reflect the specific state of relations with each country, its needs and capacities, as well as the interests of the EU and the partner country concerned. The implementation of Action Plans will be monitored on a regular basis and country reports are foreseen to measure the progress being made with respect to the implementation of bilateral agreements and reforms. A European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) will from 2007 onwards replace the current TACIS and MEDA programmes for the ENP partner countries and Russia. Note that in June 2004 the General Affairs and External Relations Council agreed to include Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in the ENP, marking an important step forward in the EU’s engagement with the Southern Caucasus region.

Please find more detailed information in the Library section of this Interest Group, or by following directly one of these links:

  1. Policy framework - New Independent States
  2. Publications and data
  3. Meetings, seminars and missions
  4. Contacts/further information