Covenant of Mayors - East project lead meets with Armenian officials to discuss climate and energy initiatives

On April 1, 2024, Mr. Christophe Frering, Team Leader of the EC “Covenant of Mayors East” regional project, met with Mr. Vache Terteryan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of RA (Covenant National Coordinator) and Mr. Emin Yeritsyan, President of the Union of Communities of Armenia (Covenant Supporter).

The event was aimed at informing CNC and CS about the first meeting of the CoM East Project Board held on March 14th in Brussels, discussing the activities planned within the framework of the project in Armenia and coordinating their implementation with the ministry.

In particular, Mr. Frering informed the national partners about functions of the newly established Board, acting as a regional strategic advisory, networking and coordination body for the CoM initiative in EaP countries, and about main topics discussed by the Board members, CoM East Secretariat and the invited stakeholders, such as current progress of the regional project, the plans for the project's development in 2024 and beyond in EaP countries, improved cooperation with the within the region and between the EaP and the EU, etc.

As for national level events, Mr. Frering updated the partners on organization of the third capacity building training for the Armenian signatories, planning of events and contests within the framework of the EUSEW, gathering the first meeting of the Practitioners’ Group and the upcoming visit of the group of Moldovan signatories to Armenia within the scope of “City to city” exchange program.

Mr. Yeritsyan, underlined the importance of the capacity building activities of the project, mentioning that the next training would target development and financing of project proposals, thus, helping signatories to transform local energy and climate initiatives into competitive proposals eligible for funding by international financial organizations and donors.

Mr. Terteryan thanked the project team for the work done and highlighting that the climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives of the Covenant of Mayors are consistent with the state policy in the field of climate and energy. The Deputy Minister assured that the Ministry, as the National Coordinator of the initiative in Armenia, is ready to continue supporting the implementation of the project within its capabilities and competencies, and has proposed more active communication between the local project team and contact persons in the Ministry.

Mr. Terteryan also welcomed the idea of organization of the study visit of the Moldovan delegation to Armenia, and agreed with the proposal to include into the mission agenda of the delegation a meeting with the Ministry to introduce the results of the territorial and administration (amalgamation) reforms, key objectives and outcomes of the state subvention program supporting communities with implementation of infrastructure projects and the results of liberalization of the Armenian electricity market that has opened new opportunities for local administration of communities and population for the production and use of renewable (solar) energy.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants agreed to intensify cooperation to materialize the planned national events and prepare for the fourth meeting of the Covenant of Mayors Club in Armenia.