The European Union is going to allocate more than 1.5 billion euros to Armenia in the next 5 years for five key programs, including the development of the Syunik region. The document was presented today in Brussels, highlighting the initiatives that the European Commission intends to implement by 2025 in the member states of the "Eastern Partnership".

As for Armenia, the European Commission is planning to

1. Support 30.000 small and medium-sized enterprises for a sustainable, innovative, competitive economy;

2. Promote socio-economic development and communication by supporting the North-South corridor;

3. Investments in information technology, science, and technology,

4. Strengthen the resilience of the southern regions.

5. Investing in green Yerevan for energy efficiency and launching environmentally friendly buses.

The first pilot project will provide € 500 million in assistance to 30.000 small and medium-sized enterprises. "Recovery of the economy after the pandemic is a top priority for Armenia," the European Commission said, noting that by helping Armenian businessmen, the European Union will help create new jobs, develop and modernize businesses, and sustainably sustain Armenia's long-term socio-economic recovery.

In this regard, according to the document, priority will be given to entrepreneurs who work with nature-saving technologies, especially in the regions, as well as businesses run by women.

The second program intends to support the socio-economic development of Armenia, emphasizing that one of the priorities of Armenia's national agenda is the operation of the North-South corridor, which will provide access to international trade routes and markets.

"Improving transport infrastructure will allow closer ties between the regions, as well as Armenia's connection with neighboring countries and the European Union. EU investment in this area will focus on the yet undeveloped sections of the North-South highway, including the Sisian-Kajaran road," the European Commission said.
It is planned to allocate 600 million euros for the implementation of this project, which will be allocated for the construction of a new Sisian-Kajaran tunnel in the south. The third landmark program provides support for innovative technologies and science.

"Armenia has a strong information potential, the sector has grown by about 20% in recent years, but additional support is needed to reveal its full potential. The EU used to support e-government, but now new investments are needed to expand those services to regional and local levels. In total, up to 300 million euros are planned for this purpose," the European Commission report states. 

The fourth direction envisages supporting the strengthening of the resistance in the southern regions of Armenia. "The Syunik region in particular needs support," the report said, noting that the region has already had problems due to underdeveloped infrastructure, and has recently been hit by war-torn and displaced people who need shelter, jobs, and education.  

"Based on the needs of the northern regions, the European Union will invest in strengthening the sustainable socio-economic development of Syunik. The priority areas may be housing, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, education, healthcare, renewable energy sources, and support for local small and medium-sized enterprises. For this purpose, it is planned to provide support of 80 million euros," the report says.

The last, fifth direction refers to the capital city, particularly the green Yerevan.
"In order to improve the quality of life of the people, to improve the air quality of Yerevan, it is necessary to address the issues of waste management and energy efficiency," the European Commission said in the report, adding that the EU was ready to invest in a "smart city" package. In this context, it is planned to support the "import of green buses", which will do less damage to the environment of the capital, as well as will improve and modernize the public transport.

The agenda also includes improving the quality of life, including a number of programs aimed at waste management and waste recycling in Yerevan. In total, up to 120 million euros will be allocated for the implementation of these goals.

At the same time, the document emphasizes that when the opportunity arises, the European Union is ready to assist in the post-war reconstruction of the South Caucasus, the transformation of the conflict, including the demining of war-torn areas, socio-economic development, peace, and reconciliation.

In addition to Armenia, the European Commission has identified similar programs for other Eastern Partnership member states: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Ukraine. These plans are expected to be discussed next December at a joint summit of the leaders of the 28 EU member states and members of the Eastern Partnership.

"We want to set an agenda that responds to today's unprecedented challenges and opportunities, while also being viable in the future," said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
"All our initiatives will continue to be supported by democracy, good governance, the rule of law, which are so important to achieve positive, certain results in our cooperation," he added.