In 2017 EU will allocate EUR 40-45 mln for reforoms in Armenia

ArmInfo. In 2017  EU will allocate   EUR 40-45 mln for reforms in Armenia . "The difference of EU support  programs and the programs of other donors implemented in Armenia is  the fact that they are allocated as grant  based assets  and on a  non-repayable basis," Hoa-Bin Hachemyan, the head of EU Delegation to  Armenia cooperation department stated answering the question of  ArmInfo reporter. 

According to Hachemyan, during recent 10 years the European Union  within the framework of budget support allocated for Armenia about  EUR 250 mln. " every year EU disposes  about  EUR 40-50 mln  for  different projects in Armenia, and  half of the sum mentioned is  being exposed exactly for budget support, and EU  entities dispose  about EUR 1 mln weekly," Hachemyan said. 

It is pretty difficult to estimate the productivity of all the assets  allocated, because, as Hachemyan stated, the assets are being  allocated for various support projects. At the same time he thinks  that all those assets were spent not in vain. " We reached an  essential success in Armenia, because 15 new buildings for district  courts, and 19 schools were build. We supported also the improvement  of  state administration framework and public finance management,  human  rights protection", stated the Head of Cooperation Department  of EU Delegation, noting that in 2016, due to budget support  programs, more then 24 thousand farmer were retrained. Hao-Bin  Achemyan recalled that due to EU financial support the implementation  of latest technologies during the last parliamentary elections became  possible.  

Touching upon upcoming programs, Achemyan stated that in 2016 the  agreement was sighned on 20 million EUR allocation to reforms in the  sector of state administration. Thanks to the program, the full  implementation of the system of digital management will be possible.  "We expect that in near future every citizen of Armenia will have a  document of identity as a digital card" , he noted. Besides, Eu  supports the implementation of digital healthcare. It is expected  that in 3 years, the citizens of Armenia due to digital identity  card, will receive a better medical services.  

To note, in 2016 interview to ArmInfo, the head of the EU delegation  to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski noted that 2016 was a record  year from the point of financial support to Armenia by EU, which  usually amounts approximately 50 million EUR. ?2016 is an important  year in the context of defining mid- term and long-term prospects",  he noted.