Brussels, 30/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The progress made towards democracy in the last few months by Somalia, which now has a new parliament and government, and the economic reconstruction of a country coming out of 20 years of conflict were central to the talks on Wednesday 30 January between the leaders of the institutions of the European Union and Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, President of Somalia, on his first official visit to Europe and guest of honour at the Foreign Affairs Council of Thursday 31 January. The appeal launched in Brussels by the Somali President for the reinforced support of the EU has already been heard. An international conference for a “New Deal” with Somalia, on a political, economic and security level, will be hosted in Brussels in the autumn, announced Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at a joint press conference held on Wednesday by the European External Action Service (EEAS).
This conference will be discussed at the lunch of EU foreign ministers with the Somali President. The conclusions of the Council are expected to express the EU's support to the vision and priorities of the new government, and to welcome both the progress made and the prospects of an international conference chaired by the EU to bring the international response into line with Somalia's new needs.
“We must move from emergency aid to reconstruction. Somalia is in the situation Europe was in 1945. We cannot do it alone. We need the international community and the EU”, said Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, thanking the EU for its assistance and for this initiative, for which no date has yet been set.
Catherine Ashton stressed that Somalia had fought for stability and that it deserved the EU's support at political, security and development level to complete its transformation towards sustainable peace and stability.
Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, assured the Somali President of the EU's support in his efforts towards a better future: “We will continue to reinforce these relations, because Somalia is on the path of transformation in order to take its place in the community of nations. I congratulated the President on the efforts he is making to ensure that his people take ownership of the government, policies and future of the country”, which is faced with many challenges: “economic relaunch and reconciliation extended to all regions, clans and social groups”, he said. He added: “Alex Rondo, the Special Representative of the EU for the Horn of Africa, is playing a key role in coordinating the EU's actions throughout the entire region. The EU has also appointed its first ambassador to Somalia, Special Envoy Michele Cervone d'Urso, in recognition of the progress made with the end of the transition in September of last year”.
Under the European Development Fund (10th EDF covering the period 2008-2013), which finances development cooperation between the EU and the ACP (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific) states, €517 million have been earmarked for Somalia, with the priority sectors of intervention being governance, security and the rule of law, education and the relaunch of the economy. On top of this are maritime security, water resource management and mine clearance projects in liberated areas (€102 million). Since 2011, the EU has also allocated €126 million in humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in Somalia who have fallen victim to droughts, flooding, famine and conflict. Currently, the withdrawal of the African Union force (AMISOM) in Somalia is scheduled for 2020. (AN/transl.fl)