Yerevan /Mediamax/. The European Commission has announced a new support programme of EUR 30 million to help Armenia provide better work opportunities to it citizens, strengthen the country's fiscal governance, and improve the participation of Armenia's civil society in the democratic decision making processes.

Announcing the package, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said:

“This renewed support to our eastern neighbour will allow crucial reforms to take place. This is good news for Armenian citizens as these reforms, be it through better public services or increased job opportunities will benefit them directly”.

The action, "Better Qualifications for Better jobs" (€15 million) will seek to improve the efficiency of Armenia's labour market and the employability of its workforce, with a particular emphasis on agricultural employment.

The "Public Finance Policy Reform Programme" (€10 million) will address the accountability,

transparency and effectiveness of public spending in Armenia in line with international standards and practices. This should also help prevent corruption.

The "Civil Society Facility" (€5 million) will strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations to effectively contribute to democratic decision making processes. The project will improve the organizational capacity of CSOs as well as their capacity to engage in policy formulation/monitoring.