In 2016 the EU will increase its financial support of the Republic of Belarus twice, told journalists on March 31 in Minsk the head of the EU delegation in Belarus Mrs. Andrea Viktorin.
As BelaPAN informs, today in the Minsk hotel “Renaissance” hosted the signing ceremony of memoranda of understanding between the United Nations development Programme and the Executive committees of 30 pilot districts that won in the competition of the joint project EC and UNDP “support to local development in Belarus”.
In the words of Victorine, this year the European Union will provide Belarus with € 29 million. Funds will be used to solve problems related to migration, regional development and economic development of the country. About 7 million euros will be allocated for economic development of the regions. “The final amount is still being discussed”, — said the European diplomat.
“The main thing is not numbers, and the organization for cooperation between local authorities, civil society, other partners for the purpose of sustainable development of regions. It is also important that the initiative proceeds from below”, said Mrs Andrea Viktorin.
According to the press service of the UN office in Belarus signed memorandums “will become a symbol of the readiness of the 30 pilot areas to test the territorially-oriented approach (TOR) for development of small towns and rural areas.”
“Subsequently, in the pilot areas planned for large-scale work on creation of local action groups on planning TOR uniting the interests of governments, NGOs and business in development of priority development areas. Members of local communities will have the opportunity to participate in training events and visits to EU countries to study the experience in the field of sustainable territorial development. At the end of 2016 — beginning of 2017 will host a major contest of local initiatives, in which each district can receive up to 70,000 euros on the decision of local problems”, — reported the press service of the UN office on the eve of the signing of MOUs.
