European Commission statement on Darfur

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel DurãoBarroso, is increasingly concerned at the growing instability in Darfur and risk of another humanitarian tragedy.

He has, therefore, decided today that he and the Commissioner for Development, Louis Michel, should visit Sudan soon. He said today: "the EU is already heavily engaged both in providing humanitarian relief in Darfur and support for the Africa Union troops there. But we must step up our political engagement, to do what we can to avert a humanitarian crisis and to support the Africa Union's work. That is why I intend to visit Sudan shortly."

As part of the same trip President Barroso will lead, for the first time ever, a visit by the Commission to its sister organisation, the Africa Union Commission, in Addis Ababa, to take forward the deepening of relations between these two organisations. Darfur and immigration will be two of the subjects at the top of the agenda.

The European Community has provided €340 million of humanitarian and food aid in Darfur, as well as €242 million of support for the African Union troops there.

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• Darfur conflict: EU Commission provides further €17m in humanitarian aid (19/12/2006)
• EUHR Solana welcomes decision to send UN high-level mission to Darfur (13/12/2006)
• Sudan/Darfur: EU Council extends EU civilian-military supporting action (17/10/2006)
• Darfur: EC President Barroso announces extra €40m in humanitarian aid (2/10/2006)
• EU Parliament urges Sudanese to accept UN peacekeeping force (28/9/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Sudan/Darfur (15/9/2006)
• EUHR Solana expresses serious concern about the deteriorating security situation in Darfur (19/8/2006)
• EUHR Solana at Darfur Conference (18/7/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Sudan/Darfur (17/7/2006)
• Darfur: European Commission announces €100M for the humanitarian and initial recovery package  (4/5/2006)