Brussels, 06/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - While the French military operation in the Central African Republic (CAR) has only just begun, the European Commission announced, on 6 December, that the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) had given its go-ahead the previous day to funding of €50 million for the African-led International Support Mission in the CAR (MISCA/AFISM). The EU's financial support will be mobilised through the African Peace Facility (which is part of the European development fund, EDF). It will cover costs of allowances, accommodation and feeding the troops deployed in the field. The salaries of civilian AFISM-CAR personnel and various operational costs such as transport, communication or medical services will also be borne by the facility.
The Commission points out that, albeit considerably slowed down due to the security and institutional situation, EU development cooperation has never been suspended in CAR. Projects worth €23 million are being prepared using funds from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), and must be decided before the end of 2013. The immediate priority, once security is restored, will be to support the process of transition towards the restoration of democratic institutions and the provision of basis social services to the population. During a meeting with journalists before the France-Africa summit opened in Paris, Commission President José Manuel Barroso spoke of French intervention and said he hailed France for its initiative and its courage. (OL/transl.jl)