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.