Division 15 The Mediterranean partner countries need help to prepare for free trade with the Community and to raise the standard of living. The wider objective of Community interventions will be to increase the competitiveness of the partners' economies, with a view to achieving sustainable economic growth, in particular through improved export performance.

To this end assistance will be given in particular in the following fields:

• the creation of an enabling environment through the reinforcement of the macroeconomic framework and the development of the legislation and institutions necessary for a competitive market economy, which is the necessary basis for economic and social development. For this purpose, structural adjustment operations should be supported in close cooperation with the Bretton Woods' institutions, for those partners who are ready to implement the necessary reforms,

• the creation of an appropriate legal and administrative framework that is stable, reliable and consistent with Euro-Mediterranean partnership goals,

• trade facilitation, including assistance in the field of customs and indirect taxation, harmonization of standards and veterinary and phyto-sanitary regulations, as well as export promotion programmes,

• harmonization of legislation and standards and the strengthening of institutions in the field of the environment,

• development of the financial sector through support at the policy level and assistance to strengthen the central banks, to develop the commercial banks and to widen and deepen the financial markets; particular attention will be given to the stimulation of domestic savings and investment, as well as promotion of investment into the region, especially European. It is particularly important to improve access to financial services, and notably for private SMEs,

• improvement of business performance, in particular by the modernization of SMEs, as well as by promoting and encouraging the development of new ones, through business consultancy, training and information,

• business collaboration between European and Mediterranean companies, especially SMEs, through, for example, networking, joint-ventures, licensing, franchising, subcontracting, and specialized service centres,

• promotion of privatization to ensure the effective transfer of ownership, management and control to the private sector,

• cooperation in the energy, transport, water and telecommunications sectors regarding policy, interconnection and interoperability of infrastructure and networks, the improvement of quality and reduction of cost of service provision, industrial cooperation including on industrial zones and research and technological development,

• support to micro-enterprises with a view to promoting entrepreneurs and helping to integrate all segments of society in the process of economic growth,

• human resource development through the improvement of the management, targeting and quality of vocational and management training,

• enhancing the innovation systems of the partners through improved research and technological development capacities and technology transfer mechanisms and supporting the development of appropriate national innovation policies.