The Joint Co-operation Initiative
for Crimea Financing Agreement will support economic development and
contribute to reducing disparities affecting certain regions in Ukraine.
The
agreement was signed by EU Commissioner Stefan Füle and Basil Dzharty,
Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea. In addition, the two
officials also discussed the EU-Ukraine relations and the important
reform agenda.
“I am delighted to sign the agreement and to launch
this important cooperation,” said Commissioner Füle. “The approval of
the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to this ambitious program means that
we can work together on a new set of concrete measures to support the
development of Crimea and Sevastopol.”
Under the terms of the
deal, the EU will allocate €12 million ($17 million) for the next four
years. The funds will be particularly used in two sectors: tourism and
attracting foreign investment.
Commissioner Füle added that half
of the funding will be used for addressing the social needs in the
region such as rebuilding the infrastructure of some of the poorest
areas in Ukraine.
“The EU has a long experience of regional
development and cohesion policies and I am happy that we can begin to
translate some of this experience into our relations with Ukraine,”
added the EU Commissioner.
The European Commission previously
supported Crimea’s preparation of its Socio-Economic Development
Strategy 2011-2020 and the Regional Operational Plan which was recently
adopted by the Parliament of the autonomous republic.
In addition,
the EU has two Info Centers operating in Simferopol and in Sevastopol.
Recently, the Committee on Crimean affairs in the Verhovna Rada was
established and the EU plans to maintain close contacts with it.
“I
hope our co-operation with Crimea sets an example for the rest of the
Eastern Partnership, where the EU will shortly launch a new platform on
Regional Development.”
