Brussels, 04/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is prepared to double European aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to support this country which, after more than 40 years of dictatorship and war, now has, in the person of Joseph Kabila, a President elected by universal direct suffrage, a widely ratified modern constitution and a democratic parliament which is representative of all citizens.
Louis Michel, European Development Commissioner, will be in Kinshasa on 6 December for the investiture of President Kabila, and will bring this message of encouragement for the reconstruction of the Congolese State.
The European Commission has just given its blessing to the first package of governance support measures for DRC, to a total of 33 million EUR. Louis Michel is soon to propose to the Member States of the EU that the financial envelope for DRC be doubled, within the framework of the 10th EDF, which will cover the period 2008-2013. The sum allocated to DRC under the ninth EDF (2002-2007) was 201 million EUR.
The Commission, which has been the largest donor of funds to the electoral process in DRC since 2001, with the contribution of 165 million EUR (out of a total cost of 397 million EUR), hopes to confirm and increase its support to the Congolese people in the next stage due to open after the transition process.
In a press release published on 4 December, Commissioner Michel declares: "there must now be major investment in the reconstruction of the State, its capacities and basic services, so that the Congolese citizens will reap dividends from reconciliation and democracy (...). Security is and will remain an essential factor in the stabilisation and sustainable development of the country. The European Union is mobilised to continue to support the government's efforts in this key sector". (an)