Brussels, 08/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 8 October, the European Union and UNESCO announced that a fresh boost will be given to the two organisations. This will enable them to strengthen their cooperation and their joint actions in a wide range of areas - education, culture, science and technology, water and oceans, and the freedom of expression. Bringing its annual contribution to UNESCO's activities to €30 million, the European Commission will contribute to the implementation of new projects like the preservation of Timbuktu's manuscripts in Mali, an advanced survey of groundwater resources in Iraq, the strengthening of capacities of Mediterranean youth networks to advocate for their rights and representativeness, and technical assistance for developing countries to reinforce the role of culture as a driver for sustainable development.
A year ago, the memorandum of understanding signed between the EU and UNESCO to strengthen their effectiveness in priority areas for intervention enabled financing for, among other things, the rapid reaction capability for the tsunami in Haiti and the international taskforce of teachers for Education for All, which helps countries recruit and train an adequate number of competent and motivated teachers. (AN/transl.fl)