This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.

This report presents key findings from an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of existing institutional frameworks for strategic planning of sustainable infrastructure in the six countries of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It follows the methodology and format developed for a similar study published in 2019, Sustainable Infrastructure for Low-carbon Development in Central Asia and the Caucasus, which covered eight countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Two chapters from the present report – Azerbaijan and Georgia – are updated versions of the chapters published in the aforementioned 2019 study.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the countries of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) The EU Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint initiative for strengthening the relationships between the European Union, its member states and six countries (hereafter the Eastern Partnership countries): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. had experienced rapid growth and, in many cases, begun undertaking sweeping market reforms. As EaP countries turn their attention to the economic recovery, the planning and delivery of sustainable infrastructure that provides high-quality essential services (e.g. electricity, mobility) could allow governments to stimulate the economy while laying the groundwork for more sustainable development patterns aligned with long-term climate and development goals. EaP countries continue to diversify their economies and energy supplies and chart diverging courses towards alignment of legislation and policy with regional integration initiative (i.e. the Eurasian Economic Union in the cases of Armenia and Belarus; the European Union in the cases of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine). At the same time, their infrastructure systems require increased investment to support inclusive economic development and facilitate integration into global value chains.

This report presents the regional situation of infrastructure investments in the countries of the EU Eastern Partnership, including the gap between growing infrastructure needs and sluggish investment flows, and the resulting challenges for trade integration and regional connectivity. It describes regional infrastructure development initiatives, including TRACECA and the Belt and Road Initiative, and their potential role in improving connectivity. It also presents the makeup of current infrastructure investments in the six countries of the Eastern Partnership (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine), focusing on the transport and energy sectors.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Armenia and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Armenia’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Armenia’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Azerbaijan and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Azerbaijan’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Azerbaijan’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Belarus and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Belarus’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Belarus’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Georgia and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Georgia’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Georgia’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Moldova and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Moldova’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Moldova’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.

This chapter describes sustainable infrastructure planning in Ukraine and presents current trends in investment in large-scale infrastructure projects. It compares Ukraine’s infrastructure plans in the energy, transport, industry and water sectors against its international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The chapter also explores Ukraine’s strategic documents for long-term economic development, sectoral development and the environment, including those related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It identifies misalignments between stated goals and observed investment flows and provides recommendations to improve strategic planning for sustainable infrastructure.