10º) Is it possible to have a partner from a non Member State? Under which conditions? What are the countries funded under the PHARE, TACIS and MEDA programmes ?

It is possible to extend EQUAL transnational co-operation to similar projects funded under Phare, Tacis and Meda programmes (exclusively).

The MEDA programme is the principal financial instrument of the EU for the implementation of a political economic and social partnership with the southern Mediterranean. The programme focuses on the support for economic transition and on strengthening the socio-economic balance.

The MEDA programme includes Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority.

The PHARE programme is the main channel for EU’s technical and financial co-operation with the countries of central and eastern Europe. The main objective under the new Phare programme for the period 2000-2006 is to prepare candidate countries for accession. Under the new Phare guidelines individual candidate countries can apply for funding for "ESF type measures" (as an "investment support" measure).

The PHARE programme includes 10 candidate countries (countries that have applied for EU membership, e.g.: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia), and three non-candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia.

The TACIS programme is an EU technical assistance programme (know-how transfer) to support the economic reform process in the former Soviet Union. The technical assistance programme includes the support of various strategic sectors, including the development of human resources.

The TACIS programme includes the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine