Regional Activities in Europe

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Introduction Development Challenge FY 2002 Program Activity Data Sheets Summary Tables Program Summary Strategic Objective Summary USAID Search: ANE Regional Activities Previous Years' Activities 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 Last updated: 01     Introduction Regional assistance to the countries of Europe play a vital role, both in promoting cross-border linkages and in implementing post-presence activities in countries that have graduated from bilateral assistance. Increasingly, regional activities are viewed as a vehicle to promote lessons learned between the northern tier and Southeast Europe countries and to accelerate the integration of this region into Euro-Atlantic institutions. Development Challenge The European northern tier countries have advanced economic and democratic reforms and are on the path to accession to the European Union. By the end of 2000, USAID missions to these countries were closed. In contrast, years of ethnic violence have slowed the transition to democracy and private sector growth in Southeast Europe. In the European northern tier, USAID is implementing several legacy and regional mechanisms that will help ensure the sustainability of transition to market democracies in this subregion. The legacy mechanisms are endowments managed by private foundations, such as the Baltic-American Partnership Fund and the Polish-American Freedom Foundation - both of which promote democratic and economic reforms through small grants to indigenous organizations. On a regional level, the environmental partnerships (ECOLINKS) program helps to open European northern tier markets to U.S. environmental businesses while also addressing issues of environmental abuse. The Partners for Financial Sustainability program is available on a case-by-case basis to bolster past economic reforms and help improve local institutional capacity to deal with external financial shocks. In Southeast Europe, USAID focuses on reducing ethnic tension, supporting democratic processes, furthering economic reforms, and promoting regional cooperation among these countries and their speedy integration into Europe proper. Regional programs are designed to establish common standards and practices across borders in such areas as trade and customs, health, labor, energy, and the environment. This strategy is intended to facilitate economic relationships among neighbors, reinforce stability, attract foreign investment and increase competitiveness in international markets. FY 2002 Program USAID will continue to focus on sustainability issues in northern tier countries and the fostering of regional linkages among the countries in Southeast Europe. A variety of mechanisms will be used across all sectors of the program, including: conferences, working groups, regionally-based training events, multi-country assessments and evaluations, Washington-based technical services, and Washington-based coordination with other donors. Objectives under the economic restructuring area encompass activities in privatization, financial sector and fiscal reform; energy cooperation and trade; and environmental management. Objectives under the democracy and governance rubric encompass activities in civil society; the rule of law and judicial strengthening; and local government. Objectives under social transition encompass activities in humanitarian response; health promotion; healthcare access, including infectious disease control; social sector assessment and program design services; and regional review of social safety net issues. Cross-cutting support will also be provided through participant training, information technology development, and program evaluation and assessments. Activity Data Sheets 180-011 Increased Transfer of State-Owned Assets to the Private Sector 180-012 Increased Soundness of Fiscal Policies and Financial Management Practices 180-013 Accelerated Development and Growth of Private Enterprise 180-014 A More Competitive and Market-Responsive Private Financial Sector 180-015 A More Economically Sustainable and Environmentally Sound Energy Sector 180-016 Increased Environmental Management Capacity to Support Sustainable EconomicGrowth 180-021 Increased, Better Informed Citizens' Participation in Political and Economic Decision-Making 180-022 Legal Systems that Better Support Democratic Processes and Market Reforms 180-023 More Effective, Responsive, and Accountable Local Governance 180-031 Strengthened Humanitarian Response to Crises 180-032 Increased Health Promotion and Access to Quality Health Care 180-034 Mitigation of Adverse Social Impacts of the Transition to Market-Based Democracies, 180-041 Special Initiatives 180-042 Cross-Cutting Programs

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