Summary: November 17, 2003: Statement by Commissioner Poul Nielson in response to Council's decision to resume aid to Fiji without restrictions (Brussels)
"I welcome the Council's decision today to resume development aid to Fiji without restrictions. We recognise the efforts made by the Fijian government in promoting national reconciliation and ensuring a return to rule of law and constitutional conformity. The Commission is looking forward to discussing our renewed co-operation with the Fijian government in the coming months."
Following the coup in Fiji of May 2000 art. 96 consultations under the Cotonou agreement were held with the Fiji government in October 2000. Consequently a number of restrictions where imposed on development aid to Fiji, including a temporary freezing of the allocation to Fiji from the 9th European Development Fund (EDF).
Elections were held in August/September 2001. These were declared free and fair. However the composition of government was ruled not to be in conformity with Constitutional law. In response to a new ruling by the Fijian Supreme Court in July 2003 the Government has now complied with Fiji's Constitutional Law. This has been the background for the Council's decision today.
As a result of the decision to end restrictions on aid to Fiji the signature of the Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme for the period 2003-2007 will now go ahead. The main objective of the EC's aid will be to promote a sustainable national reconciliation in Fiji through the provision of and equal access to quality primary and vocational education by all ethnic groups in the rural and most deprived areas. €23.1 million has been allocated to Fiji from the 9th EDF.
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