12/01/2017 (Agence Europe) – In a special report published on Thursday 12 January, the European Court of Auditors gave a positive assessment of the way in which the European Commission has managed development aid for Honduras. According to the auditors, EU aid has had a positive impact, despite the level of poverty in the country increasing, rising deforestation, violence remaining widespread, and a persistently high homicide rate. The auditors suggest, however, that the EU approach improves its coherency and that the action it takes is more targeted at a time that the Commission is seeking to introduce a joint a programme with member states to help Honduras in 2018. EU aid increased from €223 million for the 2007-13 period to €235 million for 2014-20. (JK)