ArmInfo. EU intiates new regional project on Armenian communities economic potential development support. The official start of EU f funded project on Armenian Local Economic Devleopment , assuming EUR 9,5 mln budget for 6 post soviet countries, was announced on April 28 in Yerevan. The project assumes also the local co-financing of local communities. Another EUR 5 mln will be rendered within the framework of technical assistance. The program will finish in December 2020 and is aimed at the improvement of sustainable and inclusive growth of local communities, increase of those economic competitiveness and creation of jobs.
According to the information shared with ArmInfo by Peter Korsby, the head of Mayors for Economic Growth project, the main beneficiaries of the project will be the local self-governance bodies, within the purpose of those more active integration in the development of local communities economy, under the closest development with the centralized authorities of the country. According to Korsby, in western countries self governance bodies play an essential role in community development, while at post soviet region all the decisions are being made by central authorities, and the local authorities are doing nothing. "
It is very important today that heads of local communities could understand their responsibility for their regions development and could be more active," the project director mentioned. According to Hoa Bihn Adjemyan, the EU Delegation in Armenia cooperation department head, the main idea of the project is the cooperation between civil society, local self governance bodies and private sector.
To mention, on April 11 another EU funded project with EUR 2,9 mln budjet started IN Armenia and the appropriate call for proposals has an objective to enhance people to people contacts and local community development within the country and within the region through sport, culture, education and tourism. Projects proposal can support among other things the development of (1) outdoor activities such as summer and winter sports that can have an impact on tourism development; (2) educative programs complementing existing compulsory education and higher education institutions offering innovative learning platforms and spaces; (3) cultural associations promoting the development of performing arts, music, theatres, literature, painting, animation, filming, etc.
EU takes a commitment to promote the improvement of civil society and local communities in the whole context of the development of Armenia," Pitor Switalski, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia stated.