European development aid released for Mali

(BRUSSELS2 to Dublin) Closing the informal meeting of Development Ministers in Dublin today, European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, announced the resumption of full development aid to Mali.

250 million euros released

For Andris Piebalgs, “The rapid adoption by the Malian authorities of a transition roadmap to restore democracy and stability has opened the door to lifting the precautionary measures taken after the March 2012 coup and to gradually relaunch the development aid to meet the urgent needs of the Malian people. This was a commitment of the Europeans made during the visit to Brussels of the Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs, T. Coulibaly, and after the donors' follow-up conference last week (February 5).

Conflict prevention, food security and economy

It is thus 250 million € that can be released for “ help the country restore democracy and peace Three priorities are displayed by the Europeans: reconciliation, conflict prevention, and support for the electoral process; food security, water and sanitation and new proposals to help revive the economy.

spring conference

In addition to the resumption of European aid to Mali, the European Union and France should organize a conference for the development of Mali, " in spring in Brussels, said Pascal Canfin, the French Minister for Development. The date is not yet specified

NB: The European Union has already allocated €116 million in humanitarian aid, since the beginning of 2012, to meet the most urgent needs of the population of Mali.