Syria and European Union EU to start 3 new joint cooperation programmes

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jan 15 2010

Syria and EU to start 3 new joint cooperation programmes

The European Union (EU) and the Syrian Government signed financing agreements for three new cooperation programmes to start in 2010. The EU will provide € 30 million for joint actions in Secondary Education, Public Finance Reform and Waste Management, according to press release sent to Global Arab Network.

The EU support programmes have been developed jointly with the Syrian partners and form part of the overall European Union support to Syria, which amounts to € 210million per year in grants and loans.

Secondary Education
Complementing an ongoing programme in support of higher education, this new €10 million programme, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, will focus on secondary education. By providing more quality education to more students, it will offer better opportunities to young Syrians. Students will benefit from the development of new curricula and the introduction of innovative teaching methods, such as the use of information technology. In addition, the programme will set up guidance and counselling systems to inform students about job opportunities. The programme will also address the improvement of the management of schools and the education sector as a whole.

Public Finance Reform
This € 10 million programme, in cooperation with Ministry of Finance, will directly support the Government's Public Finance Reform agenda and enhance revenue and public expenditure management in Syria. One of the key aims of the programme is to improve tax policy and revenue planning, as well as the efficiency of public financial management. The programme contributes to the Syrian Government reforms for transparency and accountability of spending.

Waste Management
The environmental services in rural Damascus, an area with a high influx of Iraqi refugees, are strained. To stabilise the solid and medical waste situation, this €10 million programme, in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Administration, will provide environmentally sound municipal waste collection, and safe transport and elimination of hazardous medical and solid waste in these areas. To achieve this, the EU will provide solid and medical waste equipment, combined with training to ensure their safe and efficient handling.

This programme is also a part of an overall EU-Syrian cooperation to enhance the management of environmental services for the benefit of the whole population