Brussels, 29/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Of the US$460 million that the international donors' conference for Mali (Addis Ababa, 29 January) hoped to raise in order to finance the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), $455.53 million (i.e. €335.6 million) have been raised in total, including €50 million from the EU. Andris Piebalgs, European Development Commissioner, confirmed in Addis Ababa on Tuesday that the EU had already earmarked this amount for the African Peace Facility to finance AFISMA's non-military needs (see EUROPE 10773 and 10767).
Piebalgs declared (our translation): “I am pleased to announce that the European Union is to allocate €50 million in favour of AFISMA. The African Peace Facility may cover non-military spending such as medical expenditure, daily allowances and transport costs for troops deployed on the ground”. He also confirmed the establishment, by EU military structures, of a clearing house to coordinate calls for logistical assistance from AFISMA with the offers made by member states, and the deployment in February of the EUTM Mali training and advisory mission for the Malian armed forces. However, beyond support to AFISMA, Piebalgs said the EU was resolved to support the efforts made by the Malian authorities to exit the crisis and, in this respect, he welcomed the recent adoption by the Malian government of the roadmap for organising the re-conquest of North Mali and for organising elections that are to bring a return to constitutional and democratic order.
The international conference in Brussels on 5 February confirmed. Implementation of this road map is expected to be the main aim of discussions during the meeting of the support and follow-up group on Mali, scheduled to be held in Brussels on 5 February. For that reason, the European Union is now preparing for the resumption of development cooperation with Mali, the commissioner said, mentioning the €250 million available. The extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council of 17 January, however, had made this allocation subject to progress being made in implementation of the road map.
Piebalgs pointed out that EU humanitarian aid continues and that the EU27 development ministers will, on 11 February, be examining the conclusions of the mission (currently in Bamako) for assessing what is needed in order to develop a coordinated programme for ambitious support of Mali. Pledges of donations made in Addis Ababa are intended to cover both military and humanitarian needs in Mali. (AN/transl.jl)