EU steps up support for resolution of the crisis in Mali

Brussels, 21-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — At the meeting today of the Foreign Affairs Council called by the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, the European Union decided to allocate €50 million from the Peace Facility for Africa to support the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA).

In view of the difficulties endured by the civilian population and in an effort to support the Malian government’s efforts to bring about the transition to democracy, a number of development programmes in Mali may also be resumed as soon as possible. Some €250 million may be mobilised for this purpose. Pursuing existing programmes will, among other things, help to build civil society, strengthen food security and improve Bamako’s supply of drinking water taken from Kabala.

The Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, stated: ‘Since November 2012 we have been helping our African partners to prepare the deployment of AFISMA in order to help restore [Mali’s] territorial integrity. By mobilising the Peace Facility for Africa the EU will be able to cover the Mission’s non‑military expenditure, such as daily allowances, transport costs and medical expenses.’

He added: ‘Political stability is one of the conditions for social and economic development and this entails a speeding up of the transition to democracy and a return to constitutional order. Our development aid package to support Mali serves this objective but is also designed to help the Malian population, which has been hard hit by this multifaceted crisis.’

Background

UN Security Council Resolution 2085 (2012) authorised the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali for an initial period of one year.

The EU’s financial support for AFISMA will come from the Peace Facility for Africa, ​​which is used to support peace operations conducted by the African Union and African regional organisations, such as AMISOM in Somalia and MICOPAX in Central African Republic.

EU development cooperation in Mali

Following the coup d’état of 22 March 2012 the European Commission adopted precautionary measures. Currently, the EU’s development cooperation is focused on direct support to the local population, the transition to democracy and humanitarian aid.

Accordingly, since the coup and throughout the current events, the EU has shown its commitment to the Malian people in this period of crisis by providing development aid.

The 10th European Development Fund (EDF) indicative programme (2008-2013) has an allocation of €583 million.

The 10th EDF focal sectors are:

• governance: support for public sector reform, decentralisation and migration policy;
• support for the economic development of the North and Delta du Niger regions;
• support for growth measures and the poverty reduction strategy;

Non-focal areas include: culture, civil society, food security and access to water.

Under the ‘Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel’ Mali was allocated an additional €50 million.

For more information

Website of EuropeAid Development and Cooperation DG

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

Website of the European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/piebalgs/index_en.htm