Supporting Structural Reforms in EU member States
Last update: 01/2025
The close co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Commission Reform and Investment Task Force (SG.REFORM) has strengthened reform initiatives in EU member States. Since 2018, this joint work has concentrated on implementing structural reforms in the areas of human rights, the rule of law, and democracy, with the objective of addressing the specific needs of member States.
Key figures:
Action in EU member States
A total of 60 projects
Duration from 12 to up to 36 months
Worth of approximately € 33 million (2018- 2024)
6 successive co-operation framework agreements have been signed between the two institutions since 2019
6 projects launched through individual agreements between 2018 - 2024
Status of co-operation:
The Council of Europe has been a long-standing strategic partner to the EU/EC SG.REFORM. This collaboration has resulted in joint projects aiming to support the countries to achieve sustainable economic and social growth, to strengthen institutions and facilitate green and digital transitions. These projects are aligned with citizens' needs and EU priorities and supported by different financial mechanisms including the previous Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) and the current Technical Support Instrument (TSI).
The Technical Support Instrument (TSI) is the EU programme that provides tailor-made technical expertise to EU member States to design and implement reforms in a broad range of policy areas, such as green and digital transition, diversity, public and private finance, migration, business environment, health, Rule of Law and education. The support is demand driven and does not require co-financing from member States.
On 24 April 2024, on the occasion of the 4th Technical Support Instrument annual conference, the European Commission launched a new call within the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) for the 2025 cycle and its Flagship Technical Support Projects setting out the core fields of assistance.
Ongoing Projects:
- The Council of Europe is carrying out nineteen joint projects in 2025
- In the fields of the protection of human rights, strengthening the justice system, enhancing democratic governance and fighting economic crime these joint projects specifically target the following areas: border and migration policy, judicial independence, public financial management, governance and public administration, financial sector and access to finance, labour market, education, health and social services
Protect Human Rights
- Austria - Improving the support services for child victims of trafficking in Austria
- Multiple Countries - Promoting the Mental Health of Children and Youth by Addressing the Risks of Online Gambling and Gaming
- Croatia - Implementing the Barnahus model in Croatia
- Finland - Building an inclusive integration approach in Finland
- Italy - Reinforcing multi-level policy coordination for integration in Italy
- Ireland - Support the implementation of the Barnahus model in Ireland
- Malta - Supporting Malta in the design and implementation of a new National Anti-Trafficking Strategy
- Slovenia - Ensuring the best interests of the child in civil court proceedings in Slovenia
- Spain - Strengthening child-friendly justice through effective co-operation and coordination among different Barnahus-type services in the regions of Spain (2)
Strengthen Justice System
- Croatia - Support to Introduction of Paperless Commercial Courts in Croatia
- Cyprus & Ireland - Technical support for more effective and resilient NPM
- Greece - Supporting the reduction of backlog in the First Instance Courts of Athens and Thessaloniki (pilot courts)
- Malta - Attorney General and State Advocate in Malta – Implementation of action plan of offices re-organization
Enhance Democratic Governance
Fight Economic Crime
- Austria - Enhancing quality of public administration and cooperation, prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing
- Bulgaria - Enhancing the capabilities for risk-based AML supervision and financial intelligence in Bulgaria
- France - Development of FIU’s expertise focused on digital finance and virtual assets
- Multiple Countries - Effective implementation of the sanctions regime and enhanced cross-border cooperation in EU Member States
- Cyprus - Establishment of an asset management office in Cyprus (webpage coming soon)
Supporting Malta in the design and implementation of a new anti-trafficking strategy (2022-2025)
*co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the European Commission