10/3/2006
10th European Development Fund programme for West Africa launched

The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, met_ on the 6th and 7th of March in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the authorities of the West African region in order to launch the programming of the next European Development Fund (10th EDF, 2008-2013). This third regional seminar, (after Central and Southern Africa) was attended by the Ministers of 16 West African countries and leaders of the regional organisations.

These regional seminars are a concrete translation of the « principle of ownership », which is one of the pillars of the new Development policy supported by the European Commission: it is up to the partner countries to identify the two sectors where they wish European aid to be focused. In this framework, all countries must submit a “governance plan” which becomes a common priority for the programming of the next EDF.

During this seminar, Commissioner Michel presented the Africa Strategy approved by the EU in December 2005, as well as the Development Policy Statement or “European consensus”, aiming at better coherence and coordination of European aid. In his bilateral meetings, he stressed the importance of good governance as a central element of the Development policy. Good performance in this field will have a direct impact on EDF allocations.

In December 2005, the European Council adopted a financial envelope for the 10th EDF of €22.7 Billion for the period 2008-2013. The 9th EDF, which covers the period 2002-2007, is worth €13.5 Billion.

Commissioner Michel said: « European cooperation is breaking with the past. From this point forward, it will be an adult cooperation based on mutual respect and confidence. Commitments made by countries and regions of the ACP will be rewarded as never before.

In addition to bilateral discussions with the authorities of the 16 countries in the region, Commissioner Michel  also met with representatives from regional organisations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). They discussed the challenges of economic integration of West African countries and the state of negotiations with Economic Partnership Agreements.