EU Relations with Niger

Niger is one of the world’s least developed countries, ranking very low in the development index. It suffers a great deal from geographical handicaps: landlocked and very vulnerable to climatic variations, it covers a vast area (1.267 million km²), much of it desert. It is also experiencing major demographic growth – a population of around 13 million belonging to several ethnic groups and growing faster than GDP – and has inadequate infrastructure. Its agricultural productivity is insufficient. Despite these constraints, over recent years it is one of the countries in the sub-region to have set a good example in terms of political stability. Its mining industry seems to offer good economic prospects.

Key issues in EU-Niger relations

 The fight against poverty forms the basis of the EU’s cooperation with Niger, in coordination with other partners. As for other themes, governance (including decentralisation and the role of women), demography, migration (Niger is an important transit country) and security are also key issues in the dialogue with the authorities.
The priority areas for cooperation under the 10^th EDF (European Development Fund) are, in addition to major macroeconomic budgetary support, governance and economic reforms as well as support for growth in rural areas and regional integration (including infrastructure and food safety).
The security situation in the North, which had improved following the agreements of the 1990s, again became critical in the spring of 2007 with armed attacks by an apparently minority group claiming to represent Touareg ethnic groups.

Latest update: 16-04-2008
Responsible Desk Officers