Côte d'Ivoire: EU Commission grants €103m for post crisis programme

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On 15 December the European Commission granted €103 million in funding for a fourth post crisis emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction programme (PUR IV) in Côte d'Ivoire. The programme will continue the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the provision of basic social services to communities affected by the crisis and fund the political change needed to steer the country out of the crisis.

"This is the largest grant the Commission has ever made for a programme in Côte d'Ivoire," said Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid. "This programme represents a special contribution by the European Union to the country's peace process." In recent meetings with the prime minister of Côte d'Ivoire, Mr Michel personally pledged to increase support for the country and communities hit hardest by the crisis by making an exceptional contribution to the peace and post crisis process.

The PUR IV involves emergency rehabilitation schemesaccess to drinking water, sewage treatment, electricity, primary health care and the supply of medicines. There will also be schemes to relaunch the education system and improve its quality, and to rehabilitate tracks and bridges in rural areas. Funding will also continue for the redeployment of the administration, including the rehabilitation, equipment and training of local services, with a view to improving its working.

Support for the post crisis process will, moreover, permit continued funding for the organisation of the elections, for the process of identifying the population and for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR). There are also plans to rehabilitate grassroots communities and reinforce civil society by financing microprojects.

Last but not least, the programme will support measures in support of good economic governance, including measures to improve the management of public finances and the business environment.

For Mr Michel, "this grant is further proof of the European Commission's support for the transition process headed by Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny, its faith in the people of Côte d'Ivoire and its desire to help them on the way to national reconciliation, good governance and a return to development."

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• Côte d'Ivoire: EU Presidency Declaration concerning signing of the political agreement  (15/3/2007)
• Côte d'Ivoire: Conclusion d'un dialogue direct entre les principaux acteurs (7/3/2007)
• Solana salue l'accord sur la Côte d'Ivoire (6/3/2007)
• Brussels European Council - EU Presidency Conclusions (15/12/2006)
• Discours de Commissaire Michel : "Renforcer la concertation, la coopération et la coordination entre la Commission européenne et l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie"  (28/8/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Ivory Coast  (15/5/2006)
• HR de l'UE Javier SOLANA condamne les récents troubles en Côte d'Ivoire (20/1/2006)