EU steps up its assistance to revive the Spirit of Mosul and Basrah

The EU has announced €20 million of development cooperation to contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq through the restoration of its cultural heritage and the creation of jobs and opportunities for vulnerable youth. The funds, to be signed on 21 February, will come under the flagship initiative ‘Revive the Spirit of Mosul’ run by UNESCO and designed to foster social cohesion and promote peace.

This initiative, which also has the full support of the government of Iraq, will focus on two main goals: the restoration and rehabilitation of cultural heritage, and the revival of educational and cultural institutions.

European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: “The EU is committed to the reconstruction of Iraq. With today’s new support, we will help to restore the rich cultural heritage of Mosul and Basrah, and at the same time create much-needed jobs and opportunities.”

This initiative will provide jobs and skills opportunities for vulnerable youth who will work on the restoration of urban infrastructure, thereby helping to recover the historic urban landscape of Mosul and Basrah. In doing so, it will foster social cohesion and identity around urban cultural heritage.

It will focus on providing tailored technical and vocation training opportunities for youth in the construction sector; set up intensive employment and on-the-job skills development schemes for site reconstructions; and provide small grants to Small and Medium Enterprises and associations with a focus on the revival of socio-economic and cultural activities.

The agreement was signed in Brussels by European Commission’s Director-General for International Cooperation and Development, Stefano Manservisi and Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture.

Original source: European Commission
Published on 20 February 2019