Article 3 Principles of assistance

The Commission shall ensure that the following principles apply in relation to assistance under the IPA Regulation:

• Assistance granted shall respect the principles of coherence, complementarity, coordination, partnership and concentration.

• Assistance shall be coherent with EU policies and shall support alignment to the acquis communautaire.

• Assistance shall comply with the budgetary principles laid down in the Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002.

• Assistance shall be consistent with the needs identified in the enlargement process and absorption capacities of the beneficiary country. It shall also take account of lessons learned.

• The ownership of the programming and implementation of assistance by the beneficiary country shall be strongly encouraged and adequate visibility of EU intervention shall be ensured.

• Operations shall be properly prepared, with clear and verifiable objectives, which are to be achieved within a given period.

• Any discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prevented during the various stages of the implementation of assistance.

• The objectives of pre-accession assistance shall be pursued in the framework of sustainable development and the Community promotion of the goal of protecting and improving the environment.