Launch of the new ENPI strategy for 2015-2020 with funding of EU 209 million

The European Neighbourhood Partnership Initiative (ENPI) held a conference in Rome last week to review the outputs of the programme outputs during the past seven years and to launch a new strategy for 2015 - 2020 within the framework of the ENPI programme which was granted a budget of Euro 209 million.  The strategy includes a number of components namely, strengthening social and economic development, supporting education, diversifying sustainable tourism, technology transfer, and support to SMEs in research and innovation. Countries eligible for the programme include Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Malta, Spain, France, as well as Israel.  Cooperation with Syria was however suspended in 2011. Some 70 people from Lebanon participated in the conference including representatives from Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and municipalities, as well as organising involved in development programmes in Lebanon especially those receiving EU funding.
Source: Al-Safir 13 December, Al-Mustaqbal 15 December 2014