Brussels, 31/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The TACIS Institution Building Partnership Programme, which gives technical assistance to former Soviet Union countries: New Independent States (NIS) has been launched during a conference held on 30-31 January in Brussels and was attended by NIS partnership countries, Mongolia and EU Member States. This new programme, whose budget is EUR 15 million is designed to support democratic institution building in NIS countries and Mongolia through partnerships between non governmental and non-profit making organisations and local and regional authorities. The projects will be carried out jointly by EU partner organisations and the local communities and will focus on reform of the public administrations, economic development, social policy, environmental protection and urban management. The European Commission will co-fund the projects with amounts between EUR 100,000 and EUR 200,000.