Brussels, 28/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Niger, an ACP country threatened by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), is to receive a further €91.6 million from the EU for the country's security and development, and also emergency aid of €12.6 million to respond to the food crisis. This was announced on 26 November by Andris Piebalgs, European Development Commissioner, to the president of the Republic of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, and Prime Minister Brigi Rafini during Piebalg's first official visit to the country, with which development cooperation has recently resumed (see EUROPE 10422). It was an occasion for the commissioner to discuss the strategy for reducing poverty in Niger and to present the new comprehensive strategy adopted by the EU in March this year for development and security in the Sahel (see EUROPE 10341), of which the new financial support is a part.
The commissioner also signed three conventions on financial support with the Nigerian authorities amounting to a total of €42 million. The funds will finance: - a programme to support statistical systems and the registry office which aim at strengthening national capacities of management of different certified documents and support the General Census of Population in 2012; - a programme to support justice and rule of law, through which the EU will contribute to the reform of the judicial system and a more effective fight against insecurity; and - a programme to support civil society that needs to improve dialogue between different groups, also with the state and its partners.
“This visit confirms the importance of relations between the EU and Niger, and demonstrates our shared commitment to respond together to challenges initiated by poverty that is still high in the country. The situation in the Sahel is a serious threat for the development of Niger and for countries in the region. Existing instability and insecurity must be combated by a preventive, comprehensive and development orientated policy”, the commissioner said.
The new support comes from the €458 million allocation to Niger for the period 2007-2013 under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) which finances cooperation between the EU and the 78 ACP states, bound by the Cotonou Agreement. Resumed cooperation with Niger, announced in July this year, has been accompanied by updating of the priorities in order to take account of the country's economic, social and political developments. EU aid therefore focuses on rural development and food supply security, regional integration and governance, and budgetary support. (AN/transl.jl)