Brussels, 15/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 14 May, Andris Piebalgs, the European Commissioner for Development, began his visit to Mali to coincide with the first anniversary of the conference of the donors for the reconstruction of the country, which mobilised €3.3 billion euros in Brussels on 15 May (see EUROPE 10981).
On Thursday 15 May, the commissioner is holding a follow-up event to examine these commitments - the opportunity to take stock of the challenges which remain to guarantee the provision of basic services for the population, the return of administration in the north of the country, national reconciliation and democracy.
“A lot of progress has already been made in recent months in the areas of development and governance. But much remains to be done to ensure that Malians can prosper in a safe and democratic society. The EU was one of the first to mobilise support in the recent crisis and the government can count on us to continue to provide help with rapid and concrete reforms”, the commissioner stated in a press release on Wednesday.
During this visit, Piebalgs will reopen the work on the road between Niono and Timbuktu , in the presence of Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, and te French Secretary of State for Development Annick Girardin. This work was interrupted when the region was occupied by rebels and terrorist groups. The commissioner will also launch a new programme aiming to restore and protect the cultural heritage of Timbuktu and will visit the Back to School project, which will help 200,000 young Malians between the ages of 3 and 18. As well as the prime minister, he will meet the justice minister, Mohamed Ali Bathily, and the foreign minister, Abdoulaye Diop. (AN)