Brussels, 07/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - As expected (EUROPE 10152), on Monday 7 June, the Council decided to end consultations opened with Madagascar almost a year ago and adopt new measures, in the form of suspending aid, as included in the Cotonou agreement. In compliance with Article 96 of the ACP-EU agreement, the European Union made a commitment (in July 2009) to mediate with Madagascan political groups, in an effort to find an agreement on a transition process based on consensus and a return to constitutional order. The efforts made have not been successful (the authorities in the country effectively launched a unilateral transition process) and the EU has subsequently decided to respond by adopting appropriate measures. These specifically include the suspension of budgetary support in the national indicative programmes included in the 9th and 10th European Development Fund (EDF). Projects and programmes included in the 9th EDF will continue to be carried out, except those involving actions and payments directly involving the government and its agencies. Implementation of the National Indicative Programme (NIP) as part of the 10th EDF has also been suspended. Humanitarian aid, however, has not been affected.
Concerned by the “political impasse” in Madagascar, the commissioner for development, Andris Piebalgs, explained that “the European Commission will continue to support mediation efforts and stands ready to review its position at any time”. In a press release, the commissioner explained that if there are any positive developments, “the Commission reserves the right to propose to the Council of the European Union the adoption of accompanying measures for this process”. (A.B./transl.fl)