High-Level Conference On Fostering Sustainable Development In Eastern Partnership Countries

The High-Level Conference on Fostering Sustainable Development in Eastern Partnership Countries was opened on 26 October 2016 by high level representatives from the European Commission, the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP) and the local government of the host city Yerevan. The event was attended by over 300 senior city officials and experts.

During the Conference, the European Commission launched two important initiatives in support to local authorities in the EaP countries: the new EU Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) initiative and the second phase of Covenant of Mayors East (CoM East), targeting the business sector and energy efficiency respectively.

The welcome addressers emphasised the importance of local government and the value of the European Commission in supporting regional and local authorities of the Eastern Partnership countries. In particular, speakers praised local authorities’ role in promoting decentralization, institutional and legal reform and local sustainable development.

The second day of the Conference was entirely dedicated to Covenant of Mayors East. The welcome address was delivered by the Deputy Minister of energy and Infrastructure Mr. Hayk Harutyunyan and the representative of the EU Delegation in Armenia Mr. Hoa-Bihn Adjemian.

In his welcome address, the Deputy Minister Harutyunyan emphasized the importance of the national policy and national energy efficiency planning within NEEAPs as a State-level action plans, creating the framework for local government action in implementation of the national energy efficiency policy. He further noted some successful energy efficiency projects implemented in Armenia. Mr. Harutyunyan emphasized the importance of discussions of central strategies and local initiatives, once again mentioning the Mayors as the key implementers of the strategic action plans.

In conclusion, DG NEAR and CoM East team presented the upcoming 2017 Call for Proposals. The speakers clarified that a strict selection will be applied in order to support only those projects that could serve as models for other cities in the future.