03
How Recovered Assets Could Finance Critical Projects Many other region-wide projects directed to high-priority development needs
EaP region’s average annual losses due to IFFs linked to criminal activity (estimated total EUR 29.9 billion)
If only 10% of IFFs in the region were successfully recovered, this would fund:
1.7 billion
1.29 billion
90% EUR 26.9 billion 10% EUR 2.99 billion
COVID-19 Emergency Package
EU-ACT project
EU4Culture programme
TOPCOP programme
Financing of Critical Projects The Eastern Partnership benefits from numerous projects both from the European Union and other international organisations such as the World Bank, the OSCE and the OECD. Through the EU4Business, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in EaP countries were supported with a budget of approximately EUR 790 million in 2019. Some 116 projects helped SMEs by improving access to finance, promoting better regulations, and taking advantage of trade opportunities. The EU4Business initiative in the EaP region has helped generate EUR 1.3 billion in income and almost 120 000 new jobs, while also increasing exports by 5.9%.172 Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in June 2020 the European Commission provided EaP countries with an
emergency package for immediate needs and for medium-term social and economic regional recovery (up to EUR 900 million).173 Among other EU-funded projects are:174 The EU4Culture programme, with a budget of EUR 7.8 million, aimed at bolstering social development in the region; The EU-ACT project, with a budget of EUR 14.5 million, aimed at building capacities to increase regional and crossborder cooperation in the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking; and The TOPCOP programme, with a budget of EUR 6 million, aimed at 45
