Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The European Union (EU) has disbursed 5 million euros to Kyrgyzstan's state budget.

This financial support was provided within the "Sector Policy Support Program, Social Sector - Kyrgyzstan 2012-2014", Kyrgyz National News Agency Kabar reported on December 6.

The overall amount of the program is 13 million euros to be disbursed during 2013 and 2014 fiscal years, which is subject to the fulfillment of conditions related to reform in the targeted sectors.

The EU continues to support state budget of Kyrgyzstan with this contribution under the Sector Policy Support Program, providing grant resources since 1996.

The Sector Policy Support Program promotes reforms in social protection, particularly targeting the social benefits system, the provision of social services to the population, child protection, including supporting the Optimization Plan for the management and financing of child care institutions, and public finance management, prioritizing the improvement of internal audit and control systems, and the Medium Term Budget Framework.

Bilateral relations between Kyrgyzstan and the EU have been governed by a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement since 1999.

Support is provided through the EU's Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), Instrument for Stability, European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, thematic programs.

EU assistance to the country under the DCI in 2011-2013 focuses on three focal areas, in particular judicial reform and the rule of law, social protection reform and income-generating activities as well as education reform.

The EU and Kyrgyzstan also cooperate in the framework of a regional approach which includes all five Central Asian republics: the EU and Central Asia Strategy for a New Partnership (2007).

In April, 2013, the EU said it has allocated 4.5 million euros since 2011 to support a program on the prevention of conflicts and peace building in Kyrgyzstan.