EU grant to combat poverty in ACP

In line with its priority to support the eradication of poverty in developing countries, the European Commission has adopted a package of development programmes s for countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) worth € 1.4 billion. These measures reflect the EU commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and to the Cotonou Agreement priorities.

Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielson said: "Together with our partners we have been through a thorough planning process resulting in the elaboration of country strategy papers for the delivery of our development co-operation. The current decisions are taken within the framework of these country strategies. They are driven by strong ownership and the quality of these programmes represents a solid foundation for a successful implementation over the coming years to the benefit of millions of people across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific."

The European Union is strongly committed to the sustainable development of the ACP countries. Central to this objective is eradication of poverty, consistent with the objectives of sustainable development and a beneficial integration of these regions into the world economy. Investing in people, improving health and education conditions, developing economies, infrastructures, and promoting governance are key elements in the EU's partnership with ACP countries.

The current package of programmes is the last to be adopted in 2003, bringing total engagements for 2003 under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) to € 3.2 billion.

Africa

Priority sectors of co-operation with Africa are infrastructure (mainly transport), budget support in the framework of poverty reduction strategies, education and health, private sector development, governance, democracy, human rights, agriculture, environment and water

The programs approved are:

Angola (€ 91 million)
- Support to the Social Action Fund, € 45 million
- Water Supply and Sanitation for the Suburban areas of Luanda, € 20 million
- Emergency Mine Action for Sustainable Return and Resettlement, € 26 million
Benin (€ 80 million)
- Poverty Reduction, € 55 million
- Support for Routine Maintenance of the Classified Road Network, € 25 million
Burkina Faso (115 million)
- Transport Programme, € 115 million
Burundi (€ 25 million)
- Support to the Peace Process, € 25 million
Cameroon (€ 4.5 million)
- Technical Assistance and Financial Assistance to the Banana Sector, € 4.5 million
Chad (€ 50 million)
- Poverty Reduction and Growth, € 50 million
Congo (RDC) (€ 43.9 million)
- Contribution to the Revival of Agricultural Production, € 12 million
- Post war Rehabilitation and Socio-economic Reintegration in the Eastern Regions, € 26.9 million
- Reinforcement of Protected Areas Management and Rehabilitation, € 5 million
Eritrea (€ 38.9 million)
- Rehabilitation of the Nefasit-Dekemhare-Tera Imni Road, € 37 million
- Rehabilitation Senafe Hospital, II phase, € 1.9 million
Ethiopia (€ 40 million)
- Djibouti-Ethiopian Railway Line - Minimum safety works, € 40 million
Ivory Coast (€ 14.6 million)
- Support to the Banana Industry, € 2.1 million
- Support to the Peace Process, € 12.5 million
Lesotho (€ 17.5 million)
- Capacity Building in Economic Planning, € 17.5 million
Mali (€ 132.92 million)
- Poverty Reduction, € 132.92 million
Mauritius (€ 29.8 million)
- Wastewater Sector Policy Support, € 29.8 million
Mozambique (€ 25 million)
• Health Sector Support , II phase, € 25 million
Rwanda (€ 82 million)
- Poverty Reduction, € 50 million
- Decentralised Programme for Rural Poverty Reduction, € 32 million
Sierra Leone (€ 67 million)
- Road Infrastructure, € 42 million
- Re-opening of Sierra Rutile Mine, € 25 million
Somalia (€ 102.6 million)
- Irrigation Rehabilitation and Agricultural Diversification in the Traditional Banana Growing Areas, € 2.6 million
- 5th Rehabilitation programme, € 100 million
South Africa (€ 107.92)
- Water Services Sector Support, € 27.92 million
- Legislatures Support, € 10 million
- Support to Civil Society Advocacy, € 10 million
- Schools Infrastructure Support, € 60 million
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) (€ 7.9 million)
- Promotion of Regional Integration in the SADC Livestock sector, € 7.9 million
Western Africa (€ 15 million)
- Regional Health Programme, € 15 million
Zambia (€ 117 million)
- Poverty reduction programme, € 117 million

Caribbean

Overall, the intensification of regional integration, through deepening and facilitating economic integration and widening the scope for trade and co-operation, are the priority areas of co-operation with the region.

The programs approved are:

Belize (€ 3.2 million)
- Support to the Banana Industry, € 3.2 million
Dominica (€ 5.9 million)
- Achieving Commercialisation of the Banana Sector and Promoting Rural Employment and Income Generation, € 5.9 million
Grenada (€ 0.5 million)
- Support to Banana Producers, € 0.5 million
Haiti (€ 27.5 million)
- Programme of Rehabilitation and Development of Basic Socio-economic Infrastructures, € 27.5 million
Jamaica (€ 24.4 million)
- Private Sector development programme "Competitive Jamaica", € 20 million
- Support to Banana Industry, € 4.4 million
Saint Lucia (€ 8 million)
- Economic and Agricultural Diversification and Poverty Reduction Through Integrated Natural Resources Management, € 8 million
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (€ 12.28 million)
- Education Support, € 6.68 million
- Support to Banana Industry, € 5.6 million
Suriname (€ 32 million)
- Rehabilitation, Upgrading and Institutional Strengthening of the Nieuwe Haven Terminal, € 29.8 million
- Restructuring of the Banana Sector, € 2.2. million

Pacific

The main objective of the EU co-operation with the region is to support the creation of a regional free-trade area (the PICTA) as a stepping stone to wider global trade integration including the negotiation of an EPA with the EU and to foster regional economic integration and to develop the region's human and fisheries resources.

The programmes approved are:

Pacific ACP Regional Economic Integration, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), € 9.2 million

Reducing vulnerability of Pacific ACP States, € 2.55 million

Regional ACP

ACP (€ 36.21 million)
- Pilot project on Information society and communication technologies, € 2.34 million
- Center for the Development of Enterprise (CDE), 2004 budget, € 18.29 million
- Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, budget 2004, € 15.58 million
ASECNA countries (€ 14.2 million)
- ASECNA's Training Programme, €14.2 million
Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean region (€ 14 million)
- Regional Tuna Tagging Project - Indian Ocean, € 14 million

Background

The European Union is one of the main actors in the field of development co-operation and poverty reduction. The European Development Fund (EDF) is the main financial instrument of the EU's development policy for ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) States. The main purpose of the EDF is to promote economic and social development with a particular focus on reducing and alleviating poverty in the long- term, by providing beneficiary countries with technical and financial assistance. The EDF is not part of the Community budget but it is derived from five- yearly "ad hoc" contributions from the Union Member States. The other EU resources allocated to development come from the Community budget and the European Investment Bank. The combined aid of the EU and its Member States represents nearly 55% of public international development aid and more than two- thirds of grant aid.

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