Brussels, 28/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Council of the EU has decided without debate to close the consultation procedure it began with Liberia in July 2001 on Articles 96 and 97 of the Cotonou Agreement (a partnership agreement between the EU and the 77 ACP countries) and to gradually relaunch co-operation as appropriate depending on Liberia's restoration of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good governance.
The Council felt that the measures taken by Liberia since the consultations in Brussels on 9 November with a view to respecting their pledges and dealing with the state of affairs criticised by the EU were laudable but insufficient (judicial enquiry into various members of the security forces allegedly involved in human rights abuses, drafting of a human rights training programme for the security forces, announcement that a national reconciliation forum would be held in July to which all the opposition leaders in Liberia would be invited, public invitation by President Taylor for all the opposition leaders to return to Liberia in safety, reinforcement of electoral committees and plans to improve public management of tax revenue from forestry).
The Council stressed that more substantial measures had to be taken to improve the situation in the long-term, particularly in terms of human rights, the still insufficient guarantees of equal treatment of all candidates in the 2003 elections, the continuing lack of transparency in the management of public finances, particularly for revenue accruing from fuel, wood and rice, and the need to sever all links with the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone, accused of human rights violations in Liberia.
Through regular follow-up of the progress that has been made to date through the political dialogue between the Council Presidency, the European Commission and Liberia, the gradual relaunch of co-operation will cover the continuation of aid projects for displaced person (EUR 25 million), support for regional projects, humanitarian aid, trade cooperation and preferences, aid for institutions in implementing their commitments, the programming of aid from the 8th EDF in two tranches (one will depend on real progress in restoring effective democracy and improving the management of public finance and the second will depend on the holding of free, orthodox elections in 2003 and improving the political situation and good governance), support in preparing the next elections if conditions required for a free and fair election are met, and an announcement that aid will be available from the 9th EDF after free an fair elections.
The decision will apply for two years. It was notified to the Liberian authorities in a letter to the foreign minister Monie Captan.