The EU intends to strengthen its cooperation with Niger, a key partner of the EU in the strategic Sahel region, and to this end sets out the political priorities for this cooperation with a country whose president, Mohamed Bazoum, remains an ally, says an unofficial document consulted by EUROPE.
This non-paper, dated 19 October and prepared jointly by the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission, concerns the framework of priority policies envisaged with this West African country to strengthen the EU’s support to the government, both in terms of security and defence as well as development, in order to foster stability in the country and in the whole Sahel region, but also to take advantage of Niger’s potential in terms of energy supply to the EU.
Thus, the EEAS and the European Commission identify the following five priority objectives:
Defence. Strengthen Niger’s capacities, encourage an EU-Member State-Niger defence dialogue and support the coordination role of the Nigerien government vis-à-vis the Sahel Coalition partners, both in the fight against terrorism and in security-defence capacity building.
Internal security. Support the coordinated and targeted implementation by Niger of actions to strengthen internal security and stabilisation in priority areas.
Help the Nigerien authorities to manage the short-term effects of the food and nutrition crisis on the most vulnerable populations and to respond in the medium term to the structural causes of this crisis, by promoting both the coordination and coherence of agricultural and nutrition policies - two policies that should be prioritised, the document stresses.
Improve transparency in the management of public funds, the effectiveness of budgetary control and accountability by implementing the recommendations of the European Court of Auditors in its 2021 report, including streamlining the use of exceptional procedures for the execution of public expenditure and public procurement and strengthening the financial management and accounting capacities of local and regional authorities.
Education. Support the implementation of education sector reforms, including youth, with a focus on the continuity of education in vulnerable areas and on education sector governance.
See the EEAS and European Commission note (in French): https://aeur.eu/f/3u2 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)