Relevant country background. The operation of the Electricity Market in Cyprus is governed by the Regulating the Electricity Market Law of 2003 and its subsequent amendments, which sets the basis for the creation of competition in the electricity sector, in line with the Acquis Communautaire and more specifically the relevant Directives of the European Commission. CERA has embarked on a major reform of the energy sector, also involving the other institutional energy stakeholders. The reform of the energy sector includes the full implementation of the so called "Third Energy Package" of the European Union by 2019 and the formulation of a comprehensive strategy for the rearrangement of the Cyprus energy sector, with a view to introducing open, transparent and competitive energy markets. In addition, the current planning foresees an introduction of natural gas to the island within the next decade. The main developments over the last two years include adopting the new market model for the electricity market, which is based on the EU Target Model for electricity. The New Model will be implemented in July 2019, in the meantime an intermediate solution is provided. Also, new electricity tariffs were put in force. On 19 June 2015, Regulatory Decision 02/2015 - “Regulatory Practice Statement and Electricity Tariffs Methodology” [Κ.Δ.Π. 208/2015] was published. The objective of the revision of the Regulatory Practice Statement and Electricity Tariffs Methodology is to harmonise with the best practices in Europe, and to achieve a more rational method of calculating the Allowed Revenue and therefore the electricity tariffs. The primary objectives of the regulation of tariffs is the maximisation of the long-term competitiveness of Cyprus economy, the short term and long-term protection of the consumers’ interests against prices formed on a monopoly basis, fulfil the PSOs, secure energy supply and promote cost efficient and quality energy services provided by the Licensees. The Tariff Methodology contains other, more specific objectives, which require tariffs to: allow the prospect of recovery of efficient costs; be cost-reflective (i.e. reflect the true cost of supply); encourage efficient consumption decisions by consumers; avoid cross subsidies between different electricity sector activities; be fair and non-discriminatory unless justified on the grounds of other tariff objectives; and be simple, transparent and predictable, amongst other objectives. The determination of the level of...
Relevant country background. The Financing Agreement for Upland Development Programme in Southern Mindanao (UDP) was signed by the European Commission (EC) on 29 September 1998 and by the Republic of the Philippines, represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs, on 20 October 1998. The Department of Agriculture (DA) was nominated as the executing agency for the Project. The UDP began on 16 February 1999 and will last for seven (7) years. Its objective is to develop a replicable model for sustaining the upland resource base and improving the living standards and prosperity of communities who derive most of their income from upland farming. A major strategy of this approach is the implementation of appropriate soil and water conservation measures as well as cultivation of suitable crops by the upland farming communities considering that most of the upland soils located on steep slopes are fragile and are being used for agriculture which can severely accelerate land degradation. The Programme is implemented by the Department of Agriculture with funding assistance from the European Union. UDP has by now gained about 5 years of experience in assisting upland communities to achieve the objectives of increased income and resource management. The UDP Model has the following key elements:
Relevant country background. Not Applicable
Relevant country background. The European Union is the major trading partner of Lebanon. The Association Agreement between the European Union and Lebanon, in force since April 2006, foresees the establishment of a bilateral Free Trade area through the progressive elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers. The Agreement stipulates, among others that Divergences in standardisation, metrology, quality control and conformity assessment will be reduced; Legislation will be approximated and; Consumer protection schemes should be made compatible. Under the Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan, a number of specific actions have been agreed in order to create the conditions to facilitate Lebanon’s integration into European, other regional, and world trade. Moreover, trade facilitation and the improvement of the business environment and the competitiveness of companies are priorities in both the National Indicative Programme 2007-2010 and the Reform programme presented by the government to the international conference in Paris of January 2007. Among the priorities for action set by the EU-Lebanon Action Plan, fall the improvement of business conditions and the enhancement of Lebanon’s export potential. Furthermore, Lebanese manufacturers and service providers meet substantial problems in demonstrating compliance of their products and services to an increasingly complex and developing set of international regulations and standards. The Lebanese quality infrastructure and the regulatory framework still have significant weaknesses, resulting in slow harmonisation of trade regulations and lack of properly functioning key institutions. The current limited and unsustainable access of Lebanese products abroad is an indicator of the need for reform and structural strengthening of the quality infrastructure.
