Brussels, 23/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted a decision relating to the Tacis 2001 action programme for Kazakhstan for a total of 14 million euro. Contracts financed under this programme will take effect on 31 December 2004 at the latest to end 31 December 2005 at the latest. The decision aims to cover the financing or participation in the financing of measures aimed at backing the country's transition to a market economy and to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in partner States.
Community assistance will focus on three fields of cooperation: 1) aid to institutional, legal and administrative reforms (4 million euro); 2) support for the private sector and assistance to economic development (2.5 million euro); 3) strengthening environmental protection (2 million euro). A reserve of 0.5 million euro will also be created. In addition, funds will be reserved for the strengthening of institutions and the development of human resources in the framework of the Bistro programme (which receives 1.5 million euro) and the small projects programme (3.5 million euro).