The EBA is now launching a study to answer the question: What is the relevance of Sweden’s reform co-operation in enabling countries to approach EU membership?
The Swedish government has decided to prioritize aid to countries in Sweden’s immediate neighbourhood in the coming years. This refers to countries in Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and Caucasus. The Swedish Governments concludes that it “…intends to maintain a clear focus on democracy, human rights and reform for future EU membership for countries in the neighbourhood that are pursuing it, and to contribute to improved conditions for their EU integration”.
Support to EU assession has been the overall aim of Swedish development co-operation to this region for a long time. When Sida describes its work in European countries, this is almost always done in relation to EU rapprochement. This is especially the case when it comes to Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo. Having had this priority for a long time, and in so many countries, more knowledge about Swedish reform cooperation is needed.
The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the relevance of Swedish aid for EU rapprochement and accession in relation to the requirements and frameworks set up by the EU for new countries to be accepted as members.
The evaluation will focus on countries where Swedish reform cooperation has been conducted to assist the country in becoming a member of, or approaching membership of, the EU.
Authors:
Dr Kerry Longhurst, Dr Stephen Webber, Dr Aleksander Shumkovski, Samantha Smith
Chair of the reference group:
Torbjörn Becker
Project manager at EBA:
Númi Östlund