From: Sebouh Z Tashjian <[email protected]>
Subject: EU assistance boost to neighbourhood countries
A1+
EU ASSISTANCE BOOST TO NEIGHBOURHOOD COUNTRIES
[08:07 pm] 05 December, 2007
The European Commission has just committed more than 1,4 billion from
its 2007 Budget for assistance to 17 countries along the Eastern and
Southern border of the EU. With these funds, concrete actions will be
financed in key areas including good governance, education, energy and
the social domain. The aim is to avoid new dividing lines along the
EU’s external borders and strengthen the prosperity, stability and
security of the entire region.
Under the new ENPI (European Neighbourhood and Partnership
Instrument), the substantial assistance package offered to the 17
countries is tailor-made and adapted to their different needs.
Energy sector reform will be supported for example in Ukraine or
Azerbaijan, with particular attention to energy efficiency and
sustainability. Poverty reduction is the focus of EC support to
Moldova, concentrating on the reform of the social assistance
sector. Fighting unemployment is the principal concern for assistance
to Armenia, where the EC contributes to develop vocational education
and training. In Georgia, an example for EC support is a
rehabilitation programme in the Georgian/Abkhazian conflict zone, and
assistance to public finance management reforms to enhance good
governance.
As for the southern countries, an important part of the bilateral
annual budget 2007 for the ten eligible countries is being devoted to
social sectors, including reform to basic public services: health &
education, as it is the case in Morocco and in Egypt. Support to
economic reforms and governance, employment, competitiveness and trade
are also priority objectives, for instance in Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan
and Syria. Governance, regulatory framework, and capacity building
actions as well as growth and sustainable development including local
development actions will also be implemented in most of the southern
countries.
A number of activities will also be funded at a regional level to
tackle challenges of common concern. Projects in the energy and
transportation area will include the development of trans-national
transport corridors and the integration of energy markets. Support to
border management as well as the Partnership for Peace programme in
the Middle East Peace Process will continue. Other initiatives will
concern the promotion of gender equality, the dialogue between
cultures in the Mediterranean region, or the creation of a platform
for exchange with media professionals. Investment promotion also
remains a priority.
Over the budgetary period 2007-2013, approximately 12 billion in EC
funding will be available to support these partners’ reforms, an
increase of more than 30% in real terms. The ENPI follows up on the
TACIS and MEDA programmes and has been designed for greater coherence,
flexibility and efficiency. It also includes new tools like the
Twinning facility (administrative reforms in cooperation with EU
administrations). Another component is Cross-Border Cooperation along
the EU’s external border, which has been renewed and brings real
meaning to the concept of neighbourhood.