What is Tacis?
The Tacis Programme is a European Union initiative for the New Independent States and Mongolia which fosters the development of harmonious and prosperous economic and political links between the European Union and these partner countries. Its aim is to support the partner countries initiatives to develop societies based on political freedoms and economic prosperity.
Tacis does this by providing grant finance for know-how to support the process of transformation to market economies and democratic societies.
In its first four years of operation, 1991-1994, Tacis has committed ECU 1,757 million to launch more than 2,000 projects.
Tacis works closely with the partner countries to determine how funds should be spent. This ensures that Tacis funding is relevant to each country own reform policies and priorities. As part of a broader international effort, Tacis also works closely with other donors and international organisations.
Tacis provides know-how from a wide range of public and private organisations which allows experience of market economies and democracies to be combined with local knowledge and skills. This know-how is delivered by providing policy advice, consultancy teams, studies and training, by developing and reforming legal and regulatory frameworks, institutions and organisations, and by setting up partnerships, networks, twinnings and pilot projects. Tacis is also a catalyst, unlocking funds form major lenders by providing pre-investment and feasibility studies.
Tacis promotes understanding and appreciation of democracy and a market-oriented social and economic system by cultivating links and lasting relationships between organisations in the partner countries and their counterparts in the European Union.
The main priorities for Tacis funding are public administration reform, restructuring of state enterprises and private sector development, transport and telecommunications infrastructures, energy , nuclear safety and environment, building an effective food production, processing and distribution system, developing social services and education. Each country then chooses the priority sectors depending on its needs.
Tacis works with 13 partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaidjan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.