Brussels, 04/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - In a programme adopted on Thursday, the European Commission defined the priorities of aid to the rebuilding of Iraq in 2004. The 160 million still available of the 200 million EUR envelope committed for 2003-2004, at the donor's conference of Madrid (23-24 October 2003), will be used as follows:
Rebuilding supply of principal public services: (90 million EUR), focusing efforts on teaching, primary and secondary, health- especially child vaccination schemes, improving supply of drinking water and access to sanitation.
Improving subsistence means and the fight against poverty: (60 million EUR): to fight unemployment, a factor of social tension in the country, the Commission will support programmes to create jobs at local level, contribute to efforts to develop reliable revenue sources by developing the private and agricultural sectors, and will help to create a social security system.
Reinforcing management of public affairs, civil society and human rights (10 million EUR): aid will be granted to programmes worked out by the United Nations and the World Bank to help with the organisation of elections, to reform the legal system, to boost civil society and the emergence of free media. The Commission will also organise training actions, and provide technical assistance to central and local administrations in terms of good governance.
These priorities were established in line with the conclusions of the Iraq needs assessment, carried out jointly by the UN and the World Bank, which hold the international funds for the rebuilding of Iraq. The 160 million will be directed mainly via this fund.
In a press release, Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, said: "Our priority for 2004 is to make sure that Iraqi security as a whole benefits from changes at political level. We hope to help the Iraqi authorities to meet the population's expectations and tangibly to improve living conditions. The European Commission is committed to support the rebuilding of Iraq, and I am determined to make sure that we keep our promises once the situation in terms of security will permit it".