Brussels, 23/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - Suspended since 2009, cooperation and development between the EU and Madagascar resumed on 8 August with the European Commission's adoption of new support programmes for health, education and strengthening civil society to the benefit of the most disadvantaged populations - populations who have been hard hit by the political instability and economic crisis in this country which counts among the least developed (LDC). The resumption of cooperation and development will “enable the country to move forward on the path of dynamic development”, European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs said.
The aid will be implemented through local and international NGOs, international organisations such as UNICEF, and directly by the European Union.
Announced at the beginning of July during the first official visit of Madagascar's Prime Minister Omer Beriziky to Brussels, this gradual resumption of cooperation is the logical continuation of the strengthened political dialogue between the EU and the Malagasy authorities in a context of exiting the political crisis (see EUROPE 10647). (AN/transl.fl)