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KEP ITALY co-finances 9 projects with 260.000 EUR

The CEI Fund at the EBRD, entirely contributed by Italy, has approved nine projects in the framework of the CEI Know-How Exchange Programme (KEP ITALY) to be co-financed with 260.000 EUR, out of 70 submitted proposals. The selected projects support the alignment of the non-EU CEI Member States with European and international standards by transferring high-level know-how and expertise.

The assignments will tackle a wide variety of priority topics including sustainable agriculture, disaster prevention, water management, food security, competitiveness and development of the maritime economy in line with the recently launched EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR). 

The approved projects target know-how beneficiaries mostly from the Western Balkans. Projects to be implemented for the benefit of institutions and organisations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia have been approved. One project for a Moldovan beneficiary and one regional project will also be co-financed.

The role of know-how provider has been given to Italian institutions in 6 projects, while two projects will be coordinated by Slovenian and Romanian organisations respectively. The project with a regional dimension, entitled Next generation competitiveness Initiative (NGCI): South East Europe Competitiveness Outlook 2015, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, will have the OECD as know-how provider.

The Maritime Cluster Cooperation Project will be implemented in Montenegro with Italy as know-how provider country. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a project dedicated to the Development of guidelines for implementation of the EU Directive 2009/128 for sustainable agriculture has been approved. In Serbia, a project dedicated to food safety and one dedicated to emergency management are both to be implemented with the help of Italian know-how providers.

The approved KEP Italy project in Macedonia tackling innovation in rural areas will receive the relevant know-how from Slovenia. Moldova will look up to the experience of the Romanian know-how providers in a project dedicated to agricultural and industrial development, in particular related to the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). Finally, Albania will benefit from an Italian know-how provider in a project dedicated to water supply, sewerage networks and future city development.

“This year, in addition to the projects financed in the framework of the Call for Proposals, three emergency KEP projects have been co-financed with resources from the CEI Fund at the EBRD contributed by Italy”, said Guido Paolucci, Programme Manager, CEI Fund at the EBRD. “They were approved after the devastating flooding that hit the Balkans in May 2014, causing loss of life and forcing thousands to leave their homes across the region, with the aim to help overcoming the damages caused by the devastating tragedy” he explained.

For more information: dovier@cei.int, biadene@cei.int
 

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