Wednesday, January 18 2023 20:11

ArmInfo.Today the Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative has been officially launched.

According to the press service of the EU Delegation to Armenia, on 18  January, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea  Wiktorin, together with Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher  Grigoryan, Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia Patrik Svensson,  Ambassador of France to Armenia Anne Louyot, Ambassador of Germany to  Armenia Viktor Richter, Ambassador of Poland to Armenia Pawel  Cieplak, Ambassador of Switzerland to Armenia Lukas Rosenkranz, Head  of Austrian Coordination Office in Yerevan Klaus Kapper, Head of the  European Investment Bank Regional Representation for the South  Caucasus Maciej Czura, Governor of Syunik region Robert Ghukasyan,  Head of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus & Eastern Partnership  Coordination Unit at European Commission Directorate General for  Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations David Cullen, launched the  Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative.

The Resilient Syunik Team Europe initiative is the joint undertaking  of the European Union, the European Investment Bank and EU Member  States Austria, France, Germany, Poland and Sweden, with Switzerland  also joining as an external partner.  

"The European Union is committed to working together with the  Armenian Government for the development of the regions that are in  most need for support. We are pleased to announce that EU Member  States Austria, France, Germany, Poland and Sweden, as well as  Switzerland and the European Investment Bank have come together to  join efforts in order to leverage a greater transformational impact  for the benefits of the southern Syunik region of Armenia,"  emphasised in her speech Ambassador Wiktorin. 

The Resilient Syunik TEI is aligned with the regional development  priorities of the Government of Armenia, as well as the priorities  outlined within the Flagship Initiative on Building Resilience in the  Southern Regions of Armenia under EU's Economic and Investment Plan.  The main objective of this initiative is to contribute to the  sustainable socioeconomic and institutional development of the Syunik  region. The initiative in particular aims to contribute to: improved  business environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises  (MSMEs) and enhanced private sector competitiveness; improved access  to high quality, people-centric public services; prioritization of  green regional development and increased protection, sustainable use  and restoration of biodiversity.  

"I would like to thank the European Union and the EU member states  for all the programs and efforts implemented particularly in Syunik  in this difficult period full of challenges for Armenia. Syunik is  really vital for our country, so any project aimed at sustainable  development of the region is in the centre of special attention of  the Government. Moreover, the current geopolitical developments  further emphasize the strategic role of Syunik, including on the way  to building sustainable peace in the region," said Deputy Prime  Minister Mher Grigoryan in his speech.  

The initiative has an approximate five-year budget of initially EUR  51 million. It is a flexible mechanism, which can be further expanded  and is open for EU Member States to join with new initiatives to  promote the development of the Syunik region.  

"Team Europe approach is about sending a strong joint EU message  about meaningful partnerships and solidarity to build back better in  a green, just, sustainable and inclusive way while addressing human  development needs. The Team Europe Initiative together with EU's new  Global Gateway initiative and the Economic and Investment Plan  represent our long-term response to a changing geopolitical landscape  that increasingly requires a collective action to the current  challenges", reiterated David Cullen, Head of Armenia, Azerbaijan,  Belarus & Eastern Partnership Coordination Unit, DG NEAR.  The launch  event was concluded with signature of two contracts for projects to  be implemented under the Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative.    The "R2D Syunik: Recovery, Resilience, Development for Syunik"  project is co-funded by the European Union and the Austrian  Development Cooperation and implemented by the Austrian Development  Agency. The EUR 11 mln project aims to enhance competitiveness of  micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and to support  rehabilitation of sustainable small-scale community infrastructure in  Syunik.  Implementation of the 60 months long project starts in  January 2023.  

The "Partnerships for Syunik. Enhanced Community-based Social  Services'' project is co-funded by the European Union and implemented  by People in Need, Caritas Armenia and Winnet Armenia.  The EUR 1.6  mln project aims to contribute to delivery of financially sustainable  community-based social services in Syunik through effective  cooperation of civil society and local authorities.  Implementation  of the 36 months long project starts in February 2023.  

"We have great appreciation for the support extended to Syunik by all  the countries and organisations participating in the Team Europe  Initiative who visited Syunik during the last year and expressed  their willingness to invest in development of the Syunik region.   Such large-scale projects and investments by our international  partners in particular in the difficult and challenging times for  Syunik, send a signal of hope and optimism for the local population,"  emphasised Governor of Syunik Robert Ghukasyan.