The European Union launched its pre-accession programmes as assistance for the preparation of candidate countries to meet the membership criteria (the Copenhagen criteria as they are known). Candidate countries need to make considerable investments in order for their institutions to prepare for application of the acquis and to be able to meet the conditions for membership. For the 2007-2013 period, a programme called Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance – IPA – will be the only manner of financing candidate countries and will replace all the other pre-accession programmes. It will also replace the CARDS programme, intended for the countries of the Western Balkans. ISPA (Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession) was officially launched on April 1 2000, the aim being to provide assistance to candidate countries in their preparations for membership in the area of transport and environmental protection. During the period of 2000 to 2006 the programme will provide access to 1.04 billion euro (in 1999 prices), and in the European Commission it is the General Directorate for Regional Policy that is charged with its administration. The main priorities of the programme are preparation of candidate states concerning the policies and procedures of the EU in the area of training about policies and procedures in the EU, assistance in meeting EU standards in environmental protection, and expansion of transport networks and linkups with trans-European networks. The environmental protection sector of the programme funds projects aimed at harmonisation with EU regulations and involving heavy investment, such as management of solid and hazardous waste, water supply and drainage and air quality improvement.