Brussels, 21/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is to benefit from some 120 million euro under development co-operation between the European Union and this country of the ACP group (Africa/Caribbean, Pacific). Poul Nielson, European commissioner for Development, signed the country's national indicative programme on Monday, planning instrument for aid over the next ten years. This signing formalised the official resumption of co-operation with the country, that was suspended in 1991 following serious interruptions in the democratisation process and the bloody events of the past few years.
The credits, from the resources of the 7th and 8th European Development Funds (Edf), will fund programmes aimed at combating poverty, the reconstitution of the social fabric, the rehabilitation of economic structures and infrastructures, as well as consolidation of the peace process and support for national reconciliation through the setting up of democratic institutions. This programme, that rests on a fair distribution of Community aid to the whole of the Congolese territory, will be implemented depending on progress achieved on the path to national reconciliation in the framework of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue.
Commenting on the granting of this aid, Commissioner Poul Nielson declared: "With this decision, the Commission is demonstrating its desire to encourage peace and have the populations benefit from increased co-operation. We place emphasis on the need to move forward in the peace and transition process to ensure an optimal use of the funds. My signature comes within the perspective of the resumption of the inter-Congolese dialogue, confirmed for mid-February, by the facilitator Ketumile Masire. The Commission reaffirms its commitment to viable and sustainable Community investments, and the need to guarantee stable conditions for an effective and durable resumption of European co-operation in the DRC. The conditions of stability will be facilitated by the willingness of all parties to co-habit in a single political system and coexist in a single country".
These Community funds complement the significant amounts already allocated in the country since 1991 under humanitarian aid (35 million euro in 2001) and aid to rehabilitation in the health sector and other basic services (projects for a total of 175 million euro are being carried out).