Commissioner Piebalgs to discuss future development cooperation with the Pacific countries
Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs will participate this week (4-5 April) in a high level meeting to discuss priorities of the EU-Pacific cooperation for the coming years. The event will bring together high level representatives from 14 Pacific countries in Apia, Samoa.
As part of the meeting, a new financing agreement will be signed to boost access to water and sanitation in the region and step up the EU’s efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Commissioner Piebalgs will take the opportunity to visit some on-going EU-funded projects in the area. In particular, he will focus on seeing the effects of the December 2012 Cyclone Evan and reviewing some of the recovery efforts achieved, partially thanks to EU support.
The bilateral programmes under the current European Development Fund complement the regional envelope by supporting national initiatives in energy, water and sanitation and rural development. Altogether, the 15 PACP countries (including Timor Leste) benefited from an EDF bilateral assistance of €400 million, in addition to the other streams of funds (more than €350 million).
For more information: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/fiji/press_corner/all_news/index_en.htm
