Transboundary cooperation EU’s technical assistance International technical assistance is viewed in Belarus as an additional resource for sustainable social and economic development. The European Union is Belarus’ largest provider of international technical assistance. The country receives assistance via the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument which replaced the EU TACIS Program. Within the TACIS Program in 1991-2006 Belarus received €216.5 million from the European Union. EU technical assistance is received by ministries, border and customs services, oblast and regional executive committees. Local authorities consider EU transboundary cooperation programs as top-priority.