EU humanitarian aid package for Burundi

Earlier this week Poul Nielson, Member of the European Commission responsible for Development and Humanitarian Aid, signed a National Indicative Programme (NIP) for Burundi worth €65 million, establishing a new three-year framework for EU-Burundi development cooperation, suspended in 1997. Most of the aid will be allocated to rehabilitation work - political as well as material - to buttress the Arusha Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Burundi signed in August 2000 as a result of mediation by Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa. Mr. Nielson explained that his decision to sign the NIP testified to the progress made in implementing the Agreement. He particularly welcomed evidence of a transition to democracy and called on the parties to continue the process. He was concerned, however, by the level of violence in the country and expressed the Commission's continued willingness to support initiatives to bring about a peaceful settlement of the conflict between parties committed to a lasting peace process. This Programme was countersigned today by the Burundian Ambassador to Belgium.

The NIP allows the Burundian Government and the Commission to re-programme some of the money outstanding for Burundi since cooperation was suspended in 1997 for security reasons. The programme focuses on poverty reduction and includes measures designed, together with projects currently under way, to contribute to repair of the country's economic and social infrastructure, economic recovery, support for the democratic transition process, initiatives to consolidate the peace, and conflict resolution and prevention initiatives. It is hoped the programme will pave the way for long-term development, backing the economic reform process and helping strengthen local and central government bodies.

The Commission has maintained a steady commitment in Burundi despite the suspension of structural co-operation in 1997 on security grounds. Humanitarian aid has continued, however, totaling in excess of €200 million for the period 1993-2000. This included a €2.3 million contribution to help fund the Arusha peace talks between 1998 and 2000. As part of a concerted move by the donor community to step up humanitarian aid to Burundi the Commission also approved a €50 million programme of rehabilitation measures for internally displaced persons plus institutional support for the finance ministry.

At a donor conference held in Paris in December 2000 following the signing of the peace agreement in August that year, Mr. Nielson said the Commission was willing to commit or programme €150 million for Burundi during 2001 to help with the transition to democracy, national reconciliation, the peace process and the return of refugees. While the situation has remained unstable, with continuing violence, negotiations on the implementation of the peace agreement have allowed substantial progress on transition arrangements this year even in the absence of a ceasefire. The Commission has already committed €93 million this year and the signing of the NIP fulfils the pledge made in Paris. The Commission remains willing to discuss with the Burundian authorities, in co-ordination with other partners, the scope for increasing Community aid in the light of the country's actual needs and absorption capacity and providing further backing for measures to advance the peace process, including a demobilization programme which would aim to re-integrate former combatants into civilian life when the conditions are right.

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