Brussels, 19/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 18 December 2008, the European Commission signed an agreement to contribute €4 million to the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Least Developed Countries (EIF for LDCs), thereby meeting part of the promise made by the EU at the EIF donor conference in Stockholm in September 2007 to provide €10 million in financial support. The €4 million will come from the aid for trade/multilateral initiatives heading of the EU budget, set up in 2007 upon request from the European Parliament.
The EIF is a partnership of international agencies and key donors to ensure the integration of trade needs in national development plans and the implementation of priority trade projects with the aim of attracting and coordinating donations. Trade ministers agreed in Hong Kong in December 2005 to redesign the EIF. The EU's financing will help get the new EIF up and running in 2009. (E.H. trans fl)