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Comprehensive Institution Building in the framework of the Eastern Partnership

What is it?

The Comprehensive Institution Building (CIB) is an Eastern Partnership (EaP) initiative designed to help partner countries strengthen the capacities of key institutions involved in preparing, negotiating and implementing the new Association Agreements with the EU, the creation of free trade areas and the management of enhanced mobility opportunities in a secure environment.

The main goal of the CIB is to "fast track" institution building and reform in a limited number of key areas linked to the new agreements. It complements technical assistance and capacity development associated to support for sector reforms and regulatory approximation.

How does it work?

• The CIB Framework Documents identify mutually agreed key reform areas and challenges, and single out a list of CIB beneficiary institutions (core institutions). One lead institution in each partner country is appointed as CIB coordinator. The CIB Framework   Documents were agreed at bilateral level by the EU and each EaP partner country, between October 2010 and January 2011.
• To benefit from CIB assistance, core institutions are required to have their own Institutional Reform Plans (IRPs). IRPs are national action plans, and partner countries are responsible for their implementation. In most cases, the IRPs have brought several institutions together for the first time to work jointly on a specific area of reform. The CIB supports selected components of the IRPs: where EU assistance has added value compared to the use of national resources and/or other donors' contribution. EU Member States and other donors can contribute to the CIB by means of coordinated policy dialogue on the key reform areas, parallel co-funding of the IRPs, and as implementing partners.
• Since 2011, EU bilateral assistance package for each country (Annual Action Programme) contains a CIB component. This is usually combined with other institution building and capacity development activities within wider actions in support of agreements with the EU. The implementing tools are technical cooperation (including supplies of EU norm driven equipment), policy advice and twinning. Twinning is a preferred modality because it is based on peer-to-peer knowledge transfer, EU Member States' expertise and a mutual commitment to "mandatory results".

Funding

Total amount for CIB: €167 million from the ENPI budget 2011-2013. This is part of €350 million of additional funds that accompanied the launch of the Eastern Partnership.

The overall CIB allocation is divided among five countries: Armenia (€33 million), Azerbaijan (€19 million), Georgia (€31 million), Moldova (€41 million), and Ukraine (€43 million). Belarus is not participating in the CIB.

To find out more about the CIB in each EaP partner country, please consult Annual Action Programmes 2011-2013.