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Commission supports peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Summary: December 15, 2004: Commission supports peace process in Democratic Republic of Congo (Brussels)

The European Commission is supporting, through its Rapid Reaction Mechanism, the launching of the Integrated Police Unit (Unité de Police Intégrée - UPI) in Kinshasa. With this decision, which is part of a comprehensive €14 million EU support programme towards the establishment and functioning of the UPI, the Commission will provide €1,072,000 to rehabilitate the operational centre of the UPI in Kinshasa. Works will be overseen by an independent EU and World Bank supported unit attached to the DRC Ministry of Works, and are planned to start within a few days, with a view to the newly trained officers to occupying the centre during the next months.

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said: "The need for an operational base for the UPI is urgent. I am delighted that through the Rapid Reaction Mechanism, we are able to free up the necessary funds quickly to support this important initiative."

Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, said: "There are two main prerequisites if the country is to be stabilised: the integration of the army and the consolidation and training of a truly integrated police force. The European Union is more than ready to be part of this process and to help."

The Congolese Government has committed itself to ensuring that an operational base for the UPI would be available when needed but, in order to meet the time restraints, a recent agreement was reached between the Congolese Ministry of Interior and the European Commission. Through its Rapid Reaction Mechanism, the Commission would assist with rehabilitating the operational centre of the UPI if the DRC Government assured there would be sufficient funds to keep it functioning thereafter.

In May 2004, the EU defined a three-stage support programme for the establishment of the UPI, covering:

Background

For a decade, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been caught in a downward spiral of political and ethnic fighting involving neighbouring countries and leading to a degradation of the country's economic and social structures. However, during the last 2 years DRC has shown signs of more positive development, with the withdrawal of foreign troops, the signature of a Peace Agreement and the establishment of the National Transitional Government in June 2003.

To address security issues related to the transition process and its institutions, a Memorandum on Security was signed in June 2003 providing for the establishment of an Integrated Police Unit (l'Unité de Police Intégrée - UPI) in Kinshasa. Congolese institutions, and the whole international community consider UPI essential to provide stability to the transition process. The UN asked the European Union to support the establishment and functioning of the UPI.

For further information on the EU-Congo relations
http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/country/country_home_en.cfm?cid=cd&lng=en&status=old


  • Ref: EC04-299EN
  • EU source: European Commission
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 15/12/2004


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See also
 

European Union Member States