On Tuesday, June 3^rd, 2014 [11:00, Armenia Marriott hotel], a formal opening ceremony will mark the official start of the EU-funded project “Support to Democratic Governance in Armenia”. The project is implemented by the British Council in cooperation with its implementing partners CDPF, Grant Thornton and Thomson Foundation. It is funded by the European Union and the total value of the project is EUR 949,670. 

The project period is for eighteen months and it was launched in March 2014. 

The overall objective of the project is to foster the process of bringing Armenia closer to the European Union and strengthening democracy and good governance through support to democratic institutions, civil society and increasing awareness of the Armenian population on the process of EU-Armenia relations. 

The project’s main components include:

1. To support the establishment and implementation of regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability of the civil society organizations and strengthening their capacity to engage in entrepreneurship activities. 

1. To strengthen the capacity of civil society to become more engaged in the legal reform and the monitoring of its implementation, to carry out social entrepreneurship and other financial activities, to be better involved in political analysis and active citizenship. 

1. To strengthen the capacity and professionalism of the media outlets in order to support free and pluralistic for promoting good governance, accountability and wider participation in public policy-making. 

1. To raise awareness on the civil society developments and their engagement in the promotion and implementation of political reforms in Armenia. Increase awareness and visibility among the public on the EU support related to this. 

During the ceremony the audience will be addressed by the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, H.E. Ambassador Traian Hristea, RA Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan , and British Council Armenia Director Arevik Saribekyan.