Brussels, 12/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Resumption of cooperation between the EU and Mauritania, decided on 29 May, took concrete form with the European Commission's decision of 11 July to grant aid of over €66 million to build the Kaedi-M'Bout-Selibaby-Gouraye road with a view to improving the conditions of the population in the south of the country. This aid is in addition to the €13.6 million granted to support the political reforms launched by the new Mauritanian authorities after the peaceful coup of 3 August 2005, says a press release (see EUROPE 9228 on the Parliamentary vote welcoming the democratic progress in Mauritania).
After the coup, the Commission began consultations, provided for under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement linking the ACP countries and the EU, with Mauritania. In the course of these consultations, the new Mauritanian regime undertook to re-establish democratic order before May 2007. The EU decided to resume full cooperation with Mauritania following a positive assessment of the 23 commitments made during the consultation period, but the Commission will continue to assess the implementation of these commitments for a monitoring period of 18 months.
Despite the partial block on cooperation, several projects have been financed to contribute to the on-going transition process in the country: - €6 million to support the 2006-2007 electoral process; €4.5 million to support civil society; - €3.1 million for the transport ministry. In addition, the Commission is preparing projects supporting the reform of the justice system and decentralisation for 2006 and 2007.