Training visits to the EU for representatives of Business Support Organisations (BSOs) from the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine) are extended following the success of visits over the past year.
BSO reps from the EaP countries have been undergoing training at their EU counterparts since August 2016. Meanwhile, EU experts have also been travelling to EaP countries to give courses there.
Now the deadlines for applying for and completing the visits have been extended. Representatives of EaP BSOs can apply for an exchange until 15 June 2017, while the visits themselves can be made until 15 July 2017.
Tailor-made training programmes
BSO Exchanges are carried out under the East Invest 2 project. The visits consist of tailor-made training programmes open to reps from chambers of commerce, employers’ federations, SME associations, business and professional associations, and any other organisation active in the field of investment promotion, trade facilitation or SME networking.
Focus topics range from membership and services, and financing and accounting practices, to regional development, strategy and networking.
The programme is divided into two components:
- Reps from BSOs in the six EaP countries undergo training at a BSO in EU countries; and
- EU experts visit the BSOs in the EaPs to carry out training.
Since the exchanges began in August 2016, seven EaP reps have visited their counterparts in the EU, while three training missions have been carried out by EU experts in the EaP countries.
How to apply
For more details and application forms, see:
- Call for Applications
- Pool of EU expertise (Component 1 and 2)
- Application Form for Component 1
- Application Form for Component 2