European Commission to finance staff for UN Special Envoy for Burma with more than € 570.000

The European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "We see the good offices of the UN Special Envoy as a positive means to further a peaceful transition towards a legitimate, civilian government in Burma/Myanmar. Therefore we have decided to expand our support to the UN Special Envoy for Burma/Myanmar, Professor Ibrahim Gambari with the financing of professional staff for his office as of 2008. We will allocate a sum of € 574.000."

The European Union maintains a balanced policy vis-à-vis Burma/Myanmar. While a set of restrictive measures are expressing the Union's disappointment about the lack of visible progress, the EU also wishes to engage the government in a dialogue on socio-economic development, with a view of helping over its responsibilities to attain the Millennium Development Goals, and to help the people of Burma/Myanmar. EU Assistance focuses on health and education.

To finance the office of the UN Special Envoy, the Commission will be using the new "Stability Instrument" over the next 12 months. These efforts complement those of the EU's Special Envoy on Burma/Myanmar, Piero Fassino, who is also working in support of Professor Gambari.

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• European Council Conclusions on External Relations  (14/12/2007)
• International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2007 - Message from EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner (7/12/2007)
• EU Council adopts additional restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar (19/11/2007)
• "From Early Warning to Early Action: developing the EU's response to crisis and longer-term threats" - Speech by EU Commissioner Ferrero Waldner (12/11/2007)