Necessity for USAID Economic Assistance Programs in the Europe and Eurasia (E&E) Region

USAID is keen on improving the efficiency of its efforts and seeks to not replicate efforts of its EU counterparts. Many have argued E&E countries benefit from a wide range of EU economic convergence and harmonization programs and because this technical assistance in economic growth primarily serves EU enlargement and neighborhood policy goals, USAID assistance should gradually be phased out. However, given the extremely fragile economic situation in the E&E region and the need for a wide range of economic growth activities, this logic may be overly simplistic.

This project aimed to analyze current and suggest future USAID strategy and partnerships in the Balkan region in light of the ongoing European economic crisis.