The European Commission has adopted the first part of the 2012 Regional Action Programme for the Eastern Neighbourhood whose main objectives will focus on funding projects in the field of transport and environmental protection. The remaining part of the Action Programme is expected to be adopted in successive tranches over 2012.
 

The funding approved by the European Commission comes from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), which channels the main source of assistance for the countries forming the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and Russia. In this first phase of the Action Programme, a total €22 million funding has been approved which will primarily dedicated to projects in the field of transport and environment.

The first part of the Program comprises three components. The first, worth €9 million is dedicated to the Forest Law Enforcement and Governance project II for the ENP region and Russia (FLEG East II). The second component will be devoting €10 million to Greening Economies in the Eastern Neighbourhood (eap-GREEN). Finally, the third component of the Programme will focus on implementing the Regional Road Safety Action Plan for the Neighbourhood East and Central Asian countries (TRACECA) and will receive up to €3 million.

The countries part of the Eastern neighbourhood, therefore benefiting from this assistance to develop projects funded through the European cooperation services, include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. By financing these projects, the EU will support these countries in moving towards a sustainable economy, promoting processes of sustainable consumption and production in sectors such as agro-industries, construction, etc., or supporting the development of sustainable public procurement processes. Furthermore, they will finance the improvement of road infrastructures in the region which will allow safer movement of people and goods.