Brussels, 20/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The progress made by Niger along the way to a return to democracy has persuaded the EU to fully resume development cooperation, the EU Foreign Affairs Council confirmed in Luxembourg on Monday 20 June. The investiture of the new president of the Republic in April completed the country's democratic transition and fulfilled all the commitments made during consultations with the EU under the terms of Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. “I am very satisfied with the return to democracy in Niger, through a very successful process of transition”, said Catherine Ashton, High Representative for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She assured the newly elected authorities that the EU is determined to support their efforts to overcome the security and development challenges they face. Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said that most cooperation projects that had been suspended had already been resumed and “the procedures for approving new projects amounting to €87 million are in very advanced stage”. (A.N./transl.rt)