National programme for Belarus
03.11.2007 | Publications
The new National EU programme for Belarus was approved in the end of September by 27 EU member states. In a few months it is going to be accepted by the European Parliament. The EU help to Belarus was recently provided through TACIS technical support programme. This year a new influence mechanism was introduced – the European Instrument of Neighbourhood and Partnership, which offers Belarus not just several projects, realized simultaneously, but a complete National programme with a budget of 5 million euro. According to the EC representatives on Geographical Coordination and Europe Overseeing “the national programme budget for Belarus is just 5 million euro, because we haven’t signed an operation plan with them. In comparison: our Ukraine support funds are 142 million euro per year”.
What kind of program would it be?
The details are kept secret for now, because not all the coordination procedures are completed. But it is known that it will be devoted to supporting the reform of Belarusian energy systems, strengthening energy saving and using renewable sources of energy like water and wind in particular.
According to Jean-Eric Holzapfel, the EU representative office in Ukraine and Belarus Coordinator on contacts with Belarus, the programme will definitely consist of three components. The first one is involvement of NGOs, civil society and local authorities in executing the programme. The second – technical support and possible correction of governmental energy strategy. The third component is a project on energy saving and alternative energy sources.
A European group of experts is going to come to Minsk soon to discuss the peculiarities with the Belarusian authorities.
J.-E. Holzapfel noted that all the components of the program suit the two major EU priorities for Belarus: socio-economic development and democratization and good governing.
What did the Belarusian authorities want?
The Belarusian authorities did, of course, express their suggestions during the programme development, because the programme is a cooperative one. Mr. Holzapfel clarified: “The wishes of our Belarusian partners were based on governmental energy strategy. There were fruitful discussions, which resulted in a good project”, but “we weren’t discussing support in construction of nuclear power plant in Belarus”.
When will the programme start?
As was mentioned, at first the programme must be approved by the European Parliament and the final decision is up to Eurocommission.
After that the programme must be officially approved by Belarusian side before the end of the current year. Then tenders will be invited for the project realization. The earliest the execution could start is middle of 2008.
The EU is going to implement and carry out other initiatives, where coordination with Belarusian authorities isn’t required: democracy and human rights promotion projects, mass-media support, decentralized programme of interstate cooperation, etc.
Now a TACIS programme for 2005-2006 is realized.
This publication was prepared with EU assistance and doesn’t necessarily reflect the official EU viewpoint. Visit the website for additional information.
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