20/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - Fund for five neighbourhood and Balkans countries. At the European Council on 20 March, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced to his counterparts that the UK would launch a new multi-year programme to support economic reforms and good governance in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The programme will be allocated a budget of £20 million for 2015-2016 and aims to provide expert advice, training and assistance to the governments of these countries. The new fund will support activities such as strengthening the rule of law; liberalising and modernising key sectors such as energy and banking; improving the business environment; fighting corruption; and strengthening independent media. The fund could be extended to other countries at a later stage. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)