Prime Minister announces support for Eastern European reforms
Britain will support projects tackling corruption, improving access to justice and advising small businesses in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova
Ten projects worth nearly 拢3.5 million will form the first tranche of projects of the UK鈥檚 Good Governance Fund, Prime Minister David Cameron said at the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga today.
The Fund, launched at the March European Council, is providing up to 拢20 million in 2015/16 to support economic reform and good governance in at least five Eastern neighbourhood and Balkan countries.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
These initiatives will help to improve the business environment and encourage investment, strengthen a free and independent media, and support judicial reform. This is driven by the aspirations of these countries and will help them build a better future for their people.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:
A stronger, more democratic and more successful Eastern neighbourhood is in all our interests.
These new projects will fight corruption, improve the judicial system and make it easier to do business in these countries, helping to boost stability and prosperity on the EU鈥檚 doorstep.
The ten projects announced today include:
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Over 拢2 million for projects in Ukraine, including 拢1 million to establish an anti-corruption body and 拢200,000 for projects supporting independent media organisations and journalists
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拢750,000 for a technical assistance programme in Moldova which will support rule of law reforms, access to justice, judicial reforms, arbitration and mediation
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拢650,000 to build Georgia鈥檚 capacity to better communicate and advise local small businesses on the opportunities to trade with the world鈥檚 largest single market
The Eastern Partnership Summit brings together the EU and its Eastern Partners - Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Belarus 鈥� to assist Eastern European countries as they undertake political, economic and governance reforms.