On Tuesday 15 November, the European Commission approved eight new initiatives under the EU partnership instrument for a total of €32 million. The EU cooperates with its partners from third countries through this instrument in order to help bring progress to the EU's strategic interests and to tackle global challenges.
The Commission has thus approved a flagship programme linked to the EU's digital single market for a sum of €8 million. This programme is aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas such as personal data protection, trust and security in cyberspace, cross border access to electronic evidence and ICT standardisation.
In the area of the environment and climate change, one initiative will focus on reducing black carbon emissions in the Arctic (€1.5 million). Another initiative, for €3 million, will support the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council diversify their economies away from a nearly-exclusive reliance on hydrocarbon extraction. Two initiatives are intended for China – one on furthering carbon capture and storage (€1 million) technology in China, and the other on promoting greener environmental policies and legislation and fighting illegal wildlife trafficking (€3 million).
The Commission has also extended the partnership instrument's action to Latin America (€7 million) and to South East Asia (€7.5 million) in order to promote European standards on aviation and reduce the impact of air transport on the environment and climate change.
The final initiative, for €1.2 million, will be dedicated to strengthening strategic dialogues in many policy areas, such as democratic governance, consumer protection, climate change, environmental protection and economic growth and sustainability. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)