Brussels, 03/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 3 February, the European Commission announced that Kiribati, a small island state in the Pacific, will receive an envelope of €23 million in EU development aid for the 2014-2020 period.
The aid will be allocated under the European Development Fund (11th EDF) which finances cooperation between the EU and the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) states as part of the Cotonou Agreement.
The funding for Kiribati will focus on socio-economic development, strengthening administrative capacities, and fighting climate change. The national indicative programme for Kiribati, which defines the framework and priorities of this cooperation, is in line with the priorities of the Kiribati government. It was signed in Brussels on Tuesday by European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica and Kribati's President Anote Tong.
The figure of €23 million is 80% more than the amount previously allocated to this ACP country (for 2008-2013). “Despite the geographical distance between the EU and Kiribati, I'd like to underline the EU's ongoing commitment and support to being a firm partner to the country, as well as the Pacific region as a whole: particularly in its fight against climate change”, said Mimica at the signing ceremony.
The Kiribati authorities want to improve the economic opportunities and means of subsistence of the population through developing the island of Kiritimati, which has for long remained uninhabited but which offers real perspectives in terms of tuna fishing, maritime transport for passengers and goods, tourism, and development of the private sector. The authorities also want to fight climate change, which affects Tarawa - the country's main island.
An archipelago of over 33 islands, Kiribati is one of the most isolated countries in the world and is particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Wanting aid to be effective, the programme for change (which sets out the framework and priorities for the EU's development cooperation) refocuses aid on the countries and sectors that most need it. (AN)