Tuesday, March 20 2018 18:01

ArmInfo. The EU is initiating a  new program to promote the development of the business potential of  Armenian youth. "The EU wants to support the Armenian youth, so that  it does not choose the way of emigration, but feels itself in demand  at home," said the head of the EU delegation to Armenia, Ambassador  Piotr Switalski. On March 20 in Yerevan, an official start was given  to the 4th grant programs within the framework of the EU initiative  "The European Union for Youth".

According to the diplomat, the Armenian youth today must cope with  the multitude of challenges facing modern mankind. At the same time,  Armenians have a competitive advantage - they are very talented, have  a high IQ and a rich cultural heritage. At this stage, as Ambassador  Switalski assured, the EU is ready to assist Armenian youth -  starting from the implementation of various educational programs,  opening career centers in the country's universities before  undertaking SME development assistance programs.

According to Lawrence Meredith, Director of the Eastern Neighborhood  Policy of the European Neighbourhood Policy And Enlargement  Negotiations (DG NEAR), promoting the development of the youth of  Armenia as one of the priorities of the EU, as disclosure of  potential, access to education and employment issues makes them  active members of society .

The projects launched today are aimed at increasing the incomes,  employment and employment opportunities of young people by  encouraging entrepreneurship, building new skills, improving the  skills of the staff and providing labor practices, as well as  stimulating youth activity in the public life of the country.  In  particular, special attention will be paid to the regions of Armenia.

The initiative, as EU representatives noted, is part of an extensive  package of new measures to support youth and education agreed in  November at the Eastern Partnership Summit (Armenia, Azerbaijan,  Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine). The co-financing  of the EU in the implementation of the EU for Youth program will  amount to 26 million EUR.

The first program aimed at stimulating education and addressing  employment issues among young people with disabilities. The program  covers about 4,000 young men and women aged 16-30 in Gegharkunik and  Tavush regions of Armenia. The second program is aimed at stimulating  the entrepreneurial skills of young people and increasing their  competitiveness in the labor market. The third program is aimed at  securing employment among young people.

Earlier, on April 7, 2017, the head of the cooperation department of  the EU delegation to Armenia Hoa Binh Achemyan, responding to a  question from ArmInfo, said that in general, over the past 10 years,  the European Union provided Armenia with 250 million EUR in budget  assistance. "The EU annually directs from 40 to 50 million EUR for  various programs in Armenia, and half of this amount is directed to  budget assistance, which means that, in addition to the funds for  infrastructure programs, the EU structures allocate about 1 million  euros a week," said Achemyan. At the same time, Achemyan stressed,  the difference between the EU assistance programs and the programs  implemented by other donors in Armenia is that they are provided in  the form of grant funds and on a gratuitous basis. "The EU, as part  of the EU4Business initiative, since 2009, has provided 25,000  Armenian companies in total about 268 billion AMD (473 million EUR).