Brussels, 20/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU aid to South Sudan, a future state whose independence will be proclaimed on 9 July this year, will be the weightiest issue covered by the Foreign Affairs Council which is to meet in development format in Brussels on Tuesday 24 May. The day before, if the last parliamentary reservation by an EU member state can be lifted, the Council will have formally decided, without debate, to allocate €200 million to that country. Funding would be used to back the necessary strengthening of the capacity and development of a future state called upon to meet the enormous development and stability challenges that face it if it wishes to avoid becoming a dreaded “future failed state”, a European source stressed on Friday. Among the number of challenges facing the country, the same source cited the lack of capability, the large number of weapons, the militia, the inter-ethnic conflicts and the outstanding issues that must still be settled if the comprehensive peace agreement of 2005 between North and South Sudan is to be fully implemented. The programme of work includes:
South Sudan. Andris Piebalgs, European Development Commissioner, will report to the EU27 ministers on his recent visit to North and South Sudan, during which the two parties reaffirmed their resolve to successfully achieve the process of separation, as the success of the South very largely depends on that of the North. Discussion will be on sectors that are to be targeted as a matter of priority and on implementation of the joint aid programme between the Commission and member states to best support, in a coherent and effective manner, the government of South Sudan in the immensity of its task. Future accession by that state to the Cotonou agreement linking the EU to 78 ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) will also be tackled, given that South Sudan will ask to become a member of the ACP/EU partnership after proclamation of its independence. The €200 million (which are in addition to the €150 million already made available since 12 July 2010 via NGOs to cover the needs of the most vulnerable populations of Sudan, and of which €85 million are reserved for South Sudan) come from funds that have not been used by Sudan under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) and earlier EDFs. Khartoum did not ratify the revised Cotonou agreement in 2005 due to the provisions relating to the International Criminal Court.
Official Development Aid. With a view to the European Council in June, ministers will adopt conclusions on the annual Commission report published on 6 April on the performance of member states individually and of the EU collectively, in terms of official development aid.
Water and development. Ministers will hold a political debate on the sustainable management of water, a theme that is dear to the Hungarian presidency. (A.N./transl.jl)