The first step in the preparation of CSPs by the Commission services involves the dispatching of teams of independent consultants to each of the countries. These consultants are experts hired by the Commission to produce preliminary reviews of the current CSPs on the basis of the terms of reference, which act as guidelines prepared by the Commission to regulate their activities.

In particular, the consultants are appointed to help the Commission services to: assess the implementation of the current CSPs; update the Commission’s analysis of the national policy agenda and economic, social and political situation in each country; describe the ongoing co-operation of each country with other donors, including the different aid modalities being applied; highlight the medium-term challenges facing each country; and identify possible areas or sectors of intervention for future EC co-operation.

Each of the reports that result from the pre-programming missions is, therefore, an internal updating of the analysis, regarding EC policies in particular, which serves to outline any changes in the countries’ social, political and economic outlooks and indicates relevant sectors of intervention for future EC co-operation other than those present in the current CSPs.