Commissioner Poul Nielson to visit Namibia and South Africa

Mr. Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, will visit Namibia and South Africa from 5 to 13 July 2004. Namibia is preparing for parliamentary and presidential elections later this year, the European Commission and Namibia are currently in the process of reviewing aid delivered from the European Development Fund (EDF) and before the end of the year the EU-South Africa Agreement (TDCA) will be reviewed. The visit will be shaped by all these events and will not only provide an opportunity to get a first hand appreciation of development activities financed by the EC but will offer a good opportunity to reflect on the future co-operation with South Africa and Namibia. Commissioner Nielson will use the opportunity to recall the EC's firm intention of remaining a reliable and close partner not only of these two countries but of the Southern African region as a whole. On 8 July Commissioner Nielson will join Commissioner Danuta Hübner for the launch of the EU-SADC negotiations on an Economic Partnership Agreement.

During the visit to Namibia (5-9 July) Commissioner Nielson will meet President of Namibia, HE Dr Sam Nujoma, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other members of the cabinet to discuss the countries general political situation and to exchange views on how to consolidate the reconciliation and democratic process of Namibia, particularly ahead of the countries Presidential and Parliamentary elections scheduled for November 2004. Namibia's role in promoting regional integration in Southern Africa will be another key issue during the bilateral visit that takes place in the run up to the launch of the EPA negotiations with SADC on 8 July. The visit will also provide a good opportunity to take stock of EC-Namibia development cooperation matters at a moment where the Mid-Term review of the development programme financed from the European Development Fund (EDF) is well under way. €91 million have been allocated to Namibia under the 9th EDF. Sectors of priority include rural poverty reduction and education.

Commissioner Nielson's visit to South Africa (9-13 July) - the first since the EU-SA Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) was ratified and came fully into operation on 1 May 2004 - will provide an opportunity to review progress and achievements of the European Programme for Reconstruction and Development (EPRD) in South Africa. Meetings with Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, South Africa's Minister for Water Affairs and Forestry, will provide the opportunity to review ten years of cooperation in the water services sector which has contributed to the provision of potable water to over nine million South Africans. A number of meetings with local government representatives, traditional and community leaders, managers of EU funded development programmes, and civil society will provide Commissioner Nielson with a "grassroots" perspective of local needs and how the EPRD in South Africa is addressing these.

€885.5 million have been allocated to South Africa from 2000-2006 within the framework of the TDCA.

Sectors of priority are access to basic social services, including delivery of clean water, sanitation, housing and health with particular focus on HIV/AIDS; private sector development; consolidation of rule of law and human rights; and regional co-operation.

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