Annex II Priorities for Union support under this Regulation

To support the achievement of the specific objectives provided for in Article 2, also taking into account jointly agreed documents as set out in Article 3(2), Union funding may address the priorities set out in points 1, 2 and 3 of this Annex.

Some of those priorities may be relevant for more than one type of programme. Possible amendments to this indicative list of priorities shall respect the principle of shared ownership.

Cross-cutting issues, including deep and sustainable democracy, human rights, gender equality, the fight against corruption and the environment, shall be addressed within those priorities.

1. 1..

   Union support at bilateral level shall, as appropriate, address, inter alia, the following priorities:

   • human rights, good governance and the rule of law, including reform of justice, of the public administration and of the security sector;

   • institutional cooperation and capacity development, including for the implementation of Union agreements;

   • support to civil society actors and to their role in reform processes and democratic transitions;

   • sustainable and inclusive economic development, including at regional and local level, and territorial cohesion;

   • development of the social sectors, in particular for the youth, with a focus on social justice and cohesion and employment;

   • trade and private-sector development, including support to small and medium-sized enterprises, employment and implementation of deep and comprehensive free trade areas;

   • agriculture and rural development, including food security;

   • sustainable management of natural resources;

   • the energy sector, with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy;

   • transport and infrastructure;

   • education and skills development, including vocational education and training;

   • mobility and migration management, including the protection of migrants;

   • confidence-building and other measures contributing to the prevention and settlement of conflicts, including support to affected populations and reconstruction.

   The priorities set out in this point may contribute to more than one objective of this Regulation.

2. 2..

   Union support at multi-country level shall, as appropriate, address, inter alia, the following priorities:

   • human rights, good governance and the rule of law;

   • institutional cooperation and capacity development;

   • regional cooperation, in particular in the framework of the Eastern Partnership, the Union for the Mediterranean and the Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity;

   • higher education and skills development, students and staff mobility, youth and culture;

   • sustainable economic development, trade and private sector development and support to small and medium-sized enterprises;

   • the energy sector, including energy networks;

   • transport and infrastructure interconnections;

   • sustainable management of natural resources, including water, green growth, the environment and climate change adaptation and mitigation;

   • support to civil society;

   • mobility and migration management;

   • confidence-building and other measures contributing to the prevention and settlement of conflicts.

   The priorities set out in this point may contribute to more than one objective of this Regulation.

3. 3..

   Union support through cross-border cooperation programmes shall, as appropriate, address the following priorities:

   • economic and social development;

   • the environment, public health, safety and security;

   • the mobility of persons, goods and capital.

   The priorities set out in this point reflect common challenges. They constitute the framework for the identification of specific priorities with the cross-border cooperation participating countries. Civil society organisations will be involved in the development of the programmes and will be, together with local and regional authorities, their main beneficiaries.

   Financial allocations per type of programme

   • Bilateral programmes: up to 80 %

   • Multi-country programmes: up to 35 %

   • Cross-border cooperation: up to 5 %