The assistance package of €40mio will fund several programmes in different areas such as the strengthening of culture policies and civil society, support of SME networks, border management, air quality governance and disaster preparedness. All the projects to be financed with this programme will have a regional scope as they each will each benefit at least two of the seven partner states along the Eastern border of the EU (Russia, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia).

The assistance package will address the following areas:

1. Regional cooperation in the cultural sector can help to promote a more stable, secure and prosperous eastern neighbourhood. This part of the programme will allow civil society to play a more active role in regional cultural cooperation.

2. The contribution of SMEs to economic growth and development in the eastern Neighbourhood faces common constraints linked to a lack of inter-regional and international SME networking, funding mechanisms and weak business environments.

3. All countries face a range of environmental challenges, with air pollution in particular representing a significant health concern. The region is exposed to several disasters, some related to climate change, which could critically undermine regional efforts for sustainable development. It is therefore important to strengthen capacity in terms of prevention, preparedness and response efforts. This is one of the five flagship initiatives of the Eastern Partnership.

4. In the field of border and migration management, serious challenges are posed by organised crime, with large parts of the region constituting key smuggling and trafficking routes. Integrated Border Management is also a flagship initiative of the Eastern Partnership.

5. The allocations from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) Annual Action Programmes are the main source of Community assistance for partner states along the Eastern border of the EU and the Mediterranean.

The aim of the assistance is to promote enhanced cooperation and progressive economic integration between the European Union and the partner countries and, in particular, the implementation of partnership and cooperation agreements, association agreements or other existing and future agreements. Furthermore, the assistance shall also encourage partner countries’ efforts aimed at promoting good governance and equitable social and economic development.