Brussels, 27/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU is providing financial support for the electoral process in the Central African Republic to cover the presidential elections of 23 January and the legislative elections on 20 March 2011. The European Commission announced on 25 October that it planned to provide €9.5 million to this end.
Aid will come from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), which funds cooperation between EU and ACP countries for the period 2008-2013.
Over 95% of the sum will be paid into a common “basket fund” established by the United Nations Development Programme with a view to contributing to the preparation of elections, with an estimated budget of around €15 million.
In a press release, the European Commission welcomes the signing by the independent electoral commission of an agreement on the timetable, and encourages signatories to continue with the elections in a consensual spirit. General elections in the Central African Republic are the tenth free and democratic elections held in the country since constitutional order was restored in 2005. (A.N./transl.jl)