Belgium – Market and economic research; polling and statistics – Capacity-building for the Implementation of Interreg and Cohesion Policy (BiH-MNE)

The overall objective is to prepare candidate countries for implementing cohesion policy in the lead up to and upon accession. The specific objectives are: 1) to train staff from administrations at central and local/regional level participating in Interreg programmes (and IPA III programmes, if staff overlaps) and responsible for accession negotiations to reinforce their capacities for participating in and later on implementing cohesion policy programmes 2) to organise thematic peer exchanges and technical clinics to reinforce and apply the knowledge gained during the training sessions, by allowing direct interaction with experienced Member State administrations and promote transfer of concrete practices In order to build up on activities already delivered and paradigm shifts initiated, these activities will be closely coordinated with other capacity building initiatives as well as other bilateral support measures the candidate countries currently benefit from IPA country programmes as well as Interact, TAIEX and Twinning, or other relevant activities.