“EU Regional Policy and Instruments” workshop to be held in Goris

PanARMENIAN.Net - On May 27, 2010, Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Centre (AEPLAC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Marzpetarans of Vayots Dzor and Syunik organizes a workshop on “EU Regional Policy and Instruments”. The target group will comprise communities’ officials, both directly elected and appointed by the central government, as well as delegates of various social layers at grassroots level, i.e. NGOs, educational institutions, cooperatives etc.

Guided by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement as well as European Neighborhood Policy and Eastern Partnership, EU supports social development of Armenian communities by regional development programs with special emphasis on disadvantaged areas. Here focus is laid on infrastructure, human capital, and SME development modeled on EU cohesion policy. Other key objectives of EU support have been strengthening local self-government, enhancing capacities of local communities and civil service institutions, support to rural development and by facilitating market access and reducing poverty.

Participants will avail from the workshop obtaining the latest information on EU and EU-Armenia relations and development opportunities. In addition the workshop is anticipated to be highly effective in terms of articulation of the needs at grassroots level and communication between civil society and state entities, preconditions for development of a realistic Armenia’s EI Information and Communication Strategy.

The workshop is the second in the series capturing the whole landscape of Armenia. The country is virtually divided into 3 segments – Northern, Central and Southern. The first workshop was held in Vanadzor for the Northern segment comprising Tavush, Lori, Gegharkunik and Shirak marzes. Central part includes Aragotsotn, Kotayk, Armavir, Ararat marzes and Yerevan, where the last workshop will be held in autumn 2010, AEPLAC said in a press release.