Brussels, 09/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The new civilian government in Burma will receive €150 million in support from the European Commission for the extensive democratisation and development reform programme. The commissioner for development, Andris Piebalgs, will be visiting Burma/Myanmar on 12 February for a two-day mission (see EUROPE 10549), where he will announce the package to President Thein Sein and the government ministers he will be meeting. He is also expected to be meeting Aung San Suu Ky and he will participate in a UN conference, co-funded by the EU, on development opportunities that are beginning to open up in the country. His speech will focus on the promotion of human development and growth for all.
On Thursday, a few days before he left, the commissioner stated: “The European Union welcomes the unprecedented developments taking place in the country on core values of the EU - democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The momentum of change in Burma/Myanmar is impressive and the EU recognises the need to do all it can to support the country at this time. More dialogue will help better policies to emerge, more money for development cooperation will promote economic and social development and help reduce poverty.” The €150-million support package will initially be used as assistance in 2012-2013 to the sectors of health, education, agriculture and aid to people uprooted because of their ethnicity. Assistance could also be extended to other areas, depending on how the situation evolves.
On 30 January, heads of state and government from the EU27 welcomed the remarkable programme of political reforms undertaken by the government and parliament in Burma/Myanmar, including the release of a considerable number of political prisoners, conclusion of ceasefire agreements with ethnic groups, the dialogue established between the president and Aung San Suu Kyi and amendments made to the electoral law, which will allow the National League for Democracy to participate in the elections on 1 April. An EU mission will soon be opening in Yangon. (AN/transl.fl)