As part of the international conference on Burkina Faso held in Paris for the financing of the national economic and social development plan (NESP), the European Commission announced considerable support from the European Union for a maximum of €800 million on Wednesday 7 December.
The NESP lays the foundations for implementation of the new government's objectives for 2020. European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimima said that the plan was ambitious and should result in the consolidation of Burkina Faso's democracy and sustainable development.
Mimica signed three initial financing agreements for a total of €205 million at this international conference. The first is expected to consolidate the rule of law and governance, and to increase the government's budgetary capacities by 2020; the second is aimed at facilitating the population's access to water; and the third is expected to enable healthy management of public finances.
This financial aid from the EU is of the utmost importance for Burkina Faso, a country affected by chronic poverty and great social inequality. (Original version in French by Thomas Régnier)