Summary: April 7, 2004: The Commission approves development operations worth over EUR 140 million for Morocco, Egypt and Jordan (Brussels)
The European Commission has given its approval for EUR 140.79 million of development spending for Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. The EUR 71.79 million for Morocco will be used primarily to fund sustainable and balanced economic development in the north of the country and reduce environmental damage. EUR 64 million is allocated to Egypt, to upgrade the quality of the environment and improve living conditions in South Sinai. The remaining EUR 5 million will finance Jordan's Al Meyah Programme to
support management of the country's water resources. The operations will be carried out under the Meda Programme's 2003 National Financing Plans.
Morocco
Community cooperation with Morocco will focus on two priorities: migration management and environmental protection.
Additional funding of EUR 42 million goes to the "Rocade Méditerranéenne" project for a 550 km highway from Tanger to the border with Algeria, an essential factor in plans to develop the northern province and open up the Rif. The money will be used mainly to pay for extra stabilisation and support work.
Under the heading of environmental improvements the Commission is providing EUR 7 million under a programme for sanitation in Moroccan towns to provide Oujda with waste water disposal facilities, improving the quality of water resources in the area and helping to prevent flooding and urban pollution. EUR 4.7 million goes to another environmental protection project, ONEP IV, to minimise the environmental impact of seven major water treatment plants in the northern and central areas of Morocco.
Two projects designed to balance economic and environmental considerations -one to clean up the Mohammedia power station and one for urban drainage - get EUR 9 million each.
The allocation under the 2003 National Financing Plan is EUR 71.75 million.
Egypt
Cooperation with Egypt focuses on protecting the environment and the lifestyle of traditional Bedouin communities, and on improving the socio-economic balance. In keeping with those aims the Commission will be financing a regional development programme for South Sinai to improve the local environment and living standards. The programme forms part of an integrated regional development programme whose priorities are set out in an action plan incorporating the views and interests of the
stakeholders.
The allocation under the 2003 National Financing Plan is EUR 64 million.
Jordan
The Commission is financing the EUR 5 million Al Meyah project to support water resource management in Jordan. The money will be used to support the Jordanian authorities' efforts towards modern, efficient and profitable management of water resources, and the project also aims to reform the industry by encouraging the long-term participation of the private sector.
The allocation under the 2003 National Financing Plan is EUR 5 million.
Meda
Launched in 1995, the MEDA Programme still constitutes the EU's main financial instrument for implementing cooperation activities under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Bilateral cooperation with partner countries focuses on certain key objectives including the implementation of Association Agreements and major structural reforms supporting economic transition and the private sector with a view to the creation of a future Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area; the strengthening of basic social
services; support for democratic pluralism and respect for human rights and the universal principles underpinning the rule of law; and the promotion of sub-regional cooperation with a view to better South-South integration..
For further information on Meda see:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/med/index_en.htm
For the French, German, Spanish and Italian version of this document please go to:
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/04/472|0|RAPID&lg=FR
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