The European Union (EU) has announced the doubling of the bilateral assistance package in support to private sector development and strengthening institutions in Belarus from 14.5 million euro in 2015 to 29 million euro in 2016.
The EU Representative Office in Belarus posted a message to this effect on its official web site.
The funding is intended to support the country’s efforts to implement reforms and will allow for fresh support to regional and private sector development, migration and asylum management, and continued support to the European Humanities University.
Funding will be provided to strengthen private sector development (14 million euro) by contributing to participatory and sustainable social and economic development in Belarus. With a focus on regions with low competitiveness, the EU will provide support to innovation for local inclusive development. The program will support the strengthening of local business advisory services and as a result increase the know-how of small and medium-sized enterprises. It will also provide additional support to access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and social enterprises.
The actions will also help Belarus to address the phenomenon of increasing numbers of irregular migrants (7 million euro) by assisting the Belarusian government in the development and implementation of a fully-fledged irregular migration management strategy in line with international migrants’ rights and standards, which will contribute to the strengthening and respect for human rights and fundamental rights aspects in the area of irregular migration. The action will support an Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Program, as well as the construction or renovation of temporary migrants’ accommodation centers.
Another initiative will also provide support (6 million euro) to strengthen institutions by supporting the implementation of structural and institutional reforms in key areas through enhancing the capacity of Belarusian public governmental institutions, state and semi-state enterprises in policy advice. The action will also promote good governance, justice, gender equality and rule of law. Twinning will be proposed as a new modality for cooperation with Belarus. (Prime-TASS/Business World Magazine)
