Brussels, 10/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - During a visit to the European Union institutions, on 9 and 10 December, the Malian president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, stated his determination to work towards national reconciliation and the sustainable development of his country by restoring security and building the rule of law with the help of his partners. He gave his word that funding would be put to good use. His discussion partners - Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, Andris Piebalgs, European Development Commissioner, and Martin Schulz, European Parliament President - gave him their assurance that the EU would continue to provide support. Commissioner Piebalgs's announcement of further funding, mainly €12 million for reform of the justice system and an envelope of €615 million for the 2014-2020 period, were evidence of this commitment to help the Malian government in its task, in addition to implementing the promises made on 15 May this year by the EU to allocate €1.350 billion (€524 million of which comes from the European Commission) for implementation of the plan for Mali's sustainable recovery (PRED).
Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday 10 December, just a few days from the second round of the legislative elections scheduled for 15 December, the Malian president thanked the EU for its assistance in restoring Mali's territorial integrity and underlined the urgent need to rebuild Mali's security forces. “A weak army and corrupt security forces cannot do the job when crime rears its ugly head. The EU has come to our rescue. The donors' conference for Mali's recovery has pledged €3.2 billion to fund Mali's sustainable recovery plan. That was a decisive stage in cooperation. Mali appreciates it and welcomes the EU's decision to provide budgetary support of 25% to 50%. We are counting on you to make disbursement procedures easier. We are in a state of absolute urgency, weighed down by difficult disbursement”, he said. He then went on to add: “Mali is resolved to find the most suitable mechanisms for international aid transparency and efficiency. We shall no longer accept what led to the collapse in March. We want to build a state where law prevails. We have decreed zero tolerance on corruption. This trust will not be misused”. (our translation throughout).
During his meeting with Piebalgs on Monday 9 December, the Malian president had been briefed on the approval of new projects in support of his government's priorities, namely: - a project to support structural reform of the Malian justice system together with funding of €12 million that will allow the rehabilitation or rebuilding of certain courts and facilitate the implementation of a homogenous penal policy and the delivery of a quality justice system throughout the territory, together with the involvement of civil society organisations, the National Human Rights Commission and the Republic's ombudsman on reform; - and the resumption of work on the 565 km of road between Bamako and Timbuktu as of January 2014 (€32 million).
“As there is no development without security, we have pledged to help the Malian authorities address the crisis and stabilise the country. Justice is a key sector for good governance and the national reconciliation process as it will allow impunity to be countered”, the commissioner said.
A conflict prevention programme, with a budget of €5 million, will be approved before the end of the year. Also, for the period 2014-2020, the EU's support will continue via the mobilisation of €615 million for reform of the state, food supply security, education and the construction of the road linking Gao and Kidal to Algeria.
Of the €524 million promised in Brussels on 15 May this year by the European Commission at the donors' conference for the development of Mali, the Commission has already committed €468 million and has already disbursed €208 million, mainly for direct support of the Malian state budget, support for the electoral process and support for the provision of basic social services for the population. The next international follow-up mission will be held in Brussels in February 2014. (AN/transl.jl)