Brussels, 18/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - European Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel has welcomed the decision on Monday (point A) by the Environment Council to earmark EUR 72 mil from the European Development Fund (EDF) for Haiti. The decision, suggested by the European Commission, aims to back the Haiti government's moves towards democracy and good governance and the holding of the upcoming general elections. The funding comes from the A section of the 9th EDF, frozen under Article 96 of the Cotonou Accord following irregularities in Haiti's 2000 elections and repeated attacks on the rule of law by the previous government. Louis Michel said the EUR 72 mil were part of an exceptional intervention by the European Commission to support the transition government in its efforts to restore the rule of law.
On Thursday and Friday (20-21 October), the European Commission is holding an international conference in Brussels on Haiti, involving major institutional stakeholders involved in the transition and stabilisation of Haiti, like representatives of the interim government and the suppliers of funds. The first general elections after the 2004 crisis will be held in December this year.