Brussels, 03/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The way is open for strengthened political dialogue between the EU and Madagascar, prior to the resumption of cooperation, if the roadmap signed in September 2011 by the vast majority of Malagasy actors is scrupulously respected, however (see EUROPE 10509). Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development, explained this to the press in the evening of Monday 2 July after his meeting with Omer Beriziky, Prime Minister of Madagascar. Accompanied by his finance minister, Beriziky is currently visiting Brussels for meetings with the EU authorities. This is the first official visit by a Malagasy representative since the political crisis of 2009. The progress made towards transition is at the origin of this step forward, and the two speakers are very pleased about it.
The commissioner repeated the EU's political line on the Malagasy crisis and its conditional support (under Article 96 of the Cotonu Agreement). He insisted on the importance of holding free and democratic elections. “The EU supports the United Nations recommendations and calls on the organisation of credible and transparent elections to end the crisis” he said, adding that the EU fully supports the mediation work of the SADC on this.
Beriziky explained: “We are here to relaunch the cooperation between Madagascar and the EU in the framework of the Cotonou Agreement. We have been in crisis for three years, and this crisis has lasted far too long. We have lost a great deal of aid which we should receive from the EU. Today, following concerted effort to leave this crisis through the implementation of a roadmap which has been accepted by the international community, we believe that it is time for this cooperation between the EU and Madagascar to resume and to get off to a good start” (our translation throughout).
Piebalgs assured the Malagasy prime minister of the EU's support for the action he is taking to make a success of the transition process. “It is essential that all parties respect the terms of the roadmap. It is the only mechanism capable of ensuring a consensual transition with a planning established a priori” he said, adding that during this period the EU is continuing to help the most vulnerable populations. Indeed, €100 million will be spent this year, particularly to support basic social services in the fields of health and education, to improve food security and increase agricultural income, and to support civil society and rural populations. In the framework of transition, the EU is ready to consider additional support to the most vulnerable populations and to prepare the mobilisation of all the funds available for next year. (AN/transl.fl)