Aid to local development

EU signs grants for four municipalities; launches new call for proposals

The European Union announced that it has signed grant agreements with four municipalities across the country for a total of €310,340 ($416,000).

The agreements were signed with the municipalities of Andaket (Akkar), Deir Qanoun, Doueir (South Lebanon), and Assia (Jbeil).

The municipalities were selected upon project plans they submitted following a call for proposals launched in 2010 by the EU. The projects cover socio-economic activities in the fields of environment and eco-tourism.

The initiative aims to support development actions implemented by non-state-actors or local authorities. It is part of the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan for Lebanon.

The EU also said that it has launched a new call for proposals for other local authorities to submit their projects. The total allocated budget for the projects is €700,000 ($938,000). The deadline for submitting the proposals is on January 11, 2012.