Two EU cooperation programmes with the Lao People's Democratic Republic have been launched in the country by the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, for a total amount of 55 million euros, the European Commission announced on Monday 9 September.
This is the very first visit by a European Commissioner to the country since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the EU and Laos in 1975.
50 million euros will finance a nutrition budget support programme to facilitate access to safe and nutritious food.
5 million will go to an ASEAN Regional Integration Support-Lao PDR Trade-Related Assistance (Arise Plus) for smallholders and SMEs to promote more broad-based and sustainable growth.
As part of this visit, Neven Mimica is scheduled to participate in the official launch of the first Criminal Code adopted in the Lao People's Democratic Republic and meet members of the government to review cooperation between the EU and Laos - a country that is preparing to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) category in 2024.
The EU's cooperation envelope with Laos for the period 2014-2020 totals 203 million euros, making the EU the country's leading development partner. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)