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.
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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 €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.
