The EU and its Member States representatives in Georgia launched two new Team Europe development initiatives for the country, one focusing on “Balanced Territorial Development” and the second one on “Green and Health”.
The launch event took place in Aragvi, during a local festival, hosted by the Embassy of the Czech Republic to Georgia and the Local Action Group. Local citizens as well as government representatives and the diplomatic community travelled to Aragvi for the launch event. The official opening included speeches by Team Europe Ambassadors, as well as Nino Tandilashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mzia Giorgobiani, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, Tamar Gabunia, Deputy Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Manana Narimanidze, Mayor of Dusheti Municipality.
During the opening, Pawel Herczynski, Ambassador of the European Union, stated: “The Team Europe approach brings together the European Union, its member states, and European financial institutions to achieve better results and more tangible benefits for the people of Georgia on their path to the European Union. We are proud to launch two new initiatives today that will help create new opportunities and greener and healthier lives for citizens of Georgia.”
“I am sincerely delighted that the Czech Republic has been supporting this beautiful region since 2018 through a complex project “Sustainable Development of Aragvi Protected Landscape and local communities”. With the co-financing of Austria and Slovakia, we have been helping Aragvi region to reveal its potential in a sustainable way, establish good protection of the natural and cultural heritage, but also support local communities and improve their socio-economic conditions”, highlighted Petr Mikyska, Ambassador of Czechia.
“Austria is an active member of the Team Europe Initiative and is co-chairing the TEI “Balanced Territorial Development”. The guiding principle of our development cooperation is “Better Together”. In this context, the current partnership with our neighboring countries Czech Republic and Slovakia to support the Aragvi Protected Area serves as a good practice example. The success of this joint support encourages us to enhance joint implementation between EU Member States in other mountain regions in Georgia as well”, said Thomas Mühlmann, Ambassador of Austria.
In the coming years, Team Europe will work together to implement the two initiatives launched today.
About Team Europe
Initially a way to enable the joint EU response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Team Europe has evolved into a series of initiatives aiming to scale and focus the joint efforts of the European Union, its member states and European financial institutions with the aim of achieving transformational impact in the partner countries worldwide.
In 2023, Team Europe is launching two major initiatives for Georgia:
“Balanced Territorial Development”, aiming to help bridge the divide between urban and rural communities and create new opportunities for people in all regions of the country.
