Team Europe launches social, environmental initiatives for Georgian regions

The European Union, its member states and financial institutions will implement two major initiatives in Georgia, with one focusing on creating new opportunities for people living in regions, and the other aiming to protect the country’s nature, improve waste management services and make municipalities greener.

The former push will be carried out under the "Balanced Territorial Development” principle, which is aiming to "help bridge the divide between urban and rural communities and create new opportunities for people in all regions" of the country, the Delegation of the EU in Georgia said. 

The latter component will aim to address the environmental aspects to enable residents to "live better and healthier lives". 

The initiatives will be carried out under the Team Europe project, which aims to achieve "transformational impact" in partner countries worldwide. The project in Georgia is running on the back of the project “Sustainable Development of Aragvi Protected Landscape", which has involved Czech, Austrian and Slovak institutions in the region since 2018.

The launch event, hosted by the Embassy of the Czech Republic, involved local citizens, Government officials and diplomats on Saturday.

Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, highlighted Team Europe’s initiatives to achieve “better results and more tangible benefits” for citizens of the country on its path to EU membership.

He also said he was “sincerely delighted" with the Czech Republic's support for initiatives in Georgia through the "complex  development" of the area of Aragvi Protected Landscape and local communities. 

Petr Mikyska, the Czech Ambassador to Georgia, noted the co-financing from governments of Austria and Slovakia in the efforts to help the subject region "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”.

In his turn, Thomas Mühlmann, the Ambassador of Austria in Georgia, said his country was an "active member" of the Team Europe initiative and noted the success of the jointly supported project had encouraged the Austrian side to enhance joint implementation between EU member states in mountainous regions in Georgia.