ArmInfo. The European Union will provide Armenia with a grant of 31.2 million euros for the implementation of the EU-Armenia Regional Development Programme. At the February 21 sitting, the RA government approved the draft agreement with the EU for signing.
As RA Minister of Economic Development and Investments Tigran Khachatryan noted in his speech, the program will be financed from the EU budget within the framework of the European Neighborhood Program. The program provides for increasing the institutional capacity of farmers in the communities of Shirak, Lori and Tavush regions. The project envisages the creation of venture funds that will provide the necessary services to the peasants of these areas, including by increasing the existing potential, the Program is planned to be implemented in 72 months. In addition, part of the grant funds will be used to redeem a 50% contribution of the country in the "Horizon 2020" project. Of the total program cost of 31.2 million euros, the EU will finance projects in the amount of 28.5 million euros, the remaining funds will be provided by the RA government. The project operators will be the Austrian Development Agency, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the German Association for International Cooperation.
According to RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, only within the framework of the grant programs huge money are coming and will come to the country. According to the head of government, this issue is very important to use these resources effectively. "For such money, it's impossible not to achieve results, and 100% guarantees are needed for their efficient use. Otherwise, it will be a matter of stealing financial resources," Nikol Pashinyan said, calling upon him not to weaken control over the flow of funds and wage an uncompromising fight against corruption.