Brussels, 22/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, signed a €30 mil aid programme on Friday for regional economic integration in East and Southern Africa. Louis Michel was attending the Indian Ocean Commission Summit in Antananarivo, Madagascar, also attended by French President Jacques Chirac, who's on an official visit to Madagascar, being welcomed on his arrival on Thursday by President Ravalomanana.
The overall objective of the Regional Integration Support Programme (RISP) is to assist the regional organisations COMESA, EAC, IGAD and IOC (Common Market for East and Southern Africa; East African Community; Intergovernmental Authority on Development; Indian Ocean Commission) in the implementation of their respective programs for regional integration. The programme's aim is to develop the capacity of the regional organisations and their member states in policy formulation, implementation and monitoring of regional integration, multilateral and regional trade and trade-related areas. It will also assist the countries in the region in their preparation for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. The four ACP member states of the IOC, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, all members of COMESA, will benefit from this programme.
The programme will be implemented through an innovative 'Contribution Agreement' with COMESA which allows funds to be used according to the organisations' own structures, procedures and systems. This novel approach will speed up and simplify implementation and, at the same time, reinforce the beneficiaries' internal administrative capacities. It is a substantial step led by the EU towards the harmonisation of donors' assistance, comments the European Commission. The Commission and the East and Southern African region have agreed long term cooperation under the Cotonou Agreement. The current five-year strategy for regional cooperation was agreed in November 2002 for €223 mil. Support to regional economic integration is the highest priority. The total budget for the RISP is €38 mil, 30 mil funded by the EU and 8 mil co-financed by COMESA and EAC. The activities to be supported under the programme are: implementation of COMESA and EAC Customs Union roadmaps; consolidation and expansion of the COMESA Free Trade Area; improved trade negotiating capacities (including EPAs) in ESA member states; development of regional standards and capacities of standards bureaus in member states; improved and harmonised statistical data; harmonisation of implementation of the Regional Payments and Settlement System.
Commissioner Michel said: “I strongly believe in ownership by African countries of their development policies, but this implies having the means to realise them and this is our contribution…Regional integration and the removal of barriers which limit the region's trading opportunities are two vital elements for development and eradication of poverty.”