EU EARMARKS 22 MILLION EUR TO IMPROVE TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT IN EASTERN NEIGHBORHOOD

arminfo
Thursday, August 2, 14:42

Environment and transport will be the focus of the EUR 22 million
2012 Regional Action Programme for the Eastern Neighbourhood, part I,
adopted by the European Commission, EU Neighbourhood Info reports. A
press release said that in the area of the environment, the programme
will "encourage partner countries to move towards green economies by
promoting sustainable production and consumption processes." It will
do so in particular by supporting cleaner techniques and the efficient
use of resources in the manufacturing, agriculture, construction and
agro-industry sectors, as well as promoting green financing and green
procurement. The programme will also help enhance forest protection in
the region by supporting forest law enforcement and governance. On
transport, the funding will support the Eastern Partnership and
Central Asian countries implementing a Regional Road Safety Action
Plan, which will help make the road infrastructure safer for vehicles
and road users in these countries. "Areas such as the environment,
climate change or transport know no borders," the press release said,
adding: "The European Commission is interested to work together with
the Eastern partners to make our Neighbourhood become a greener and
safer place for everyone who lives there." The funding comes from the
European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), which is the
main financial and cooperation instrument of EU assistance to Russia
and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries - Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The ENPI East
Regional Action Programme 2012 is due to be adopted in successive
tranches throughout the year. Its first part is made up of three
components: Forest Law Enforcement and Governance project II for the
ENP region and Russia - EUR9 million, FLEG East II; Greening Economies
in the Eastern Neighbourhood - EUR10 million, EaP-GREEN; Implementation
of the Regional Road Safety Action Plan for the Neighbourhood East
and Central Asian countries - 3 million EUR, TRACECA.