The new government in Haiti can count on additional EU aid of €63.5 million for the country's needs, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016.
Making an official visit to Haiti, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica announced on Friday 21 April that this new aid package under the European Development Fund (11th EDF) would be granted soon.
Of the total amount, €14.5 million will be allocated for direct budget support, €4 million for an agricultural project and €45 million for the construction of National Road #3, connecting Port-au-Prince to the northern town of Cap Haitian, the second biggest town and port of Haiti. The financing agreement for the latter project was signed by Haiti's Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, the European Commission states in a press release.
Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) Group of states, and is linked to the European Union by the Cotonou Agreement. It enjoys around 42% of the envelope for the Caribbean region in the 11th EDF, which finances EU-ACP cooperation until 2020. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)