Brussels, 13/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - The window of opportunity offered by the defeat of the M23 rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be the focus of the conclusions on the DRC and the Great Lakes region that the Foreign Affairs Council will adopt in Brussels on Monday 16 December. The Council will confirm the EU's full support for the global peace, security and cooperation agreement for the DRC and the region, and its commitment to support the long-term development and stabilisation of the Great Lakes region through its development aid.
On Thursday 12 December, the ministers and secretaries of state for development from the 28 EU member states underlined the opportunity now offered to address the roots of the conflict, not to tolerate impunity, to support Congolese women who have suffered enormously, and to coordinate European aid through joint programming.
European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs said that under the 11th European Development Fund, an envelope of €1.3 billion for 2014-2020 is planned for three countries from the Great Lakes - including around €619.9 million for the DRC (compared to €694 million under the 10th EDF). The priorities for the aid will be governance, reform of the security sector, rural development and agriculture. (AN/transl.fl)