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European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR)

Pre-accession assistance

European Commission - Enlargement - Pre-accession assistance

Pre-accession assistance helps the candidates and potential candidates for EU membership meet the accession criteria* and bring their institutions and standards in line with the EU acquis*. For the period 2007 – 2013, the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA)* is the sole funding vehicle dedicated to pre-accession.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) also provide co-funding for the candidate countries*.

Once they join the Union, the new member states, which are no longer entitled to pre-accession assistance, may receive temporary financial assistance through a Transition Facility* provided for by the treaty of accession.

For more details, see the following sections on our website: