Brussels, 13/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - An EU-Madagascar friendship group has been set up at the European Parliament to relaunch dialogue with this country from the ACP group of states (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific).
Philippe Boulland (EPP, France) stated on 11 January during the setting up of the group which he chairs that “the group's objective is to bring together parliamentarians, European institutions, Madagascar representatives and actors on the ground, so that they can gain a better understanding of the island and relaunch dialogue between the European Union and Madagascar”. He added that “behind all the political tension is a poor population that particularly survives on emergency EU aid and initiatives by many Madagascan partners. The group will help to raise European funds for Madagascar, in accordance with progress made in the democratisation process defined on the roadmap.”
After having suspended its development cooperation with Madagascar in 2009, the EU decided in December 2011 to relaunch (according to certain conditions and on a gradual basis) the political transition and accompaniment process in the country, in response to the roadmap for a crisis exit strategy signed on 16 September by the vast majority of Madagascan actors (see EUROPE 10509). (AN/transl.fl)