200 million euros for South Sudan (updated)

(BRUSSELS2) The 27 must decide to allocate 200 million euros to South Sudan. They will be taken from the unused sums of the 9th EDF (European Development Fund) or previous EDFs. This decision comes against the background of the declaration of independence of South Sudan which is to be officially proclaimed on July 9th. The new country should "quickly ask to join the Cotonou Agreement", says a European expert on the matter. "But it will take time after accession for 10th EDF funds to actually become available". The EU had already allocated, last July, 85 million euros to South Sudan to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations (out of an overall allocation of 150 million allocated to Sudan) but this sum is "not considered sufficient to meet the needs". The funds will have to, in particular for the "state building or capacity building" - what is more commonly called the "state building" - just as to respond to "many humanitarian and socio-economic challenges"which will persist after independence.

(Maj, May 23) This decision was actually approved by the Council of Foreign Ministers on May 23. To download : the text of the conclusions here and decision text there