EU in brief " "
A new boost has been given to future Eu policy of external cooperation. During a first regional seminar held at Brazzaville with the countries of Central Africa, the Eu Commissioner for development Louis Michel officially launched the “programme of aid to development 2008-2013”, i.e. the definition of the bilateral and regional commitments that the Union will assume with the developing countries in the framework of the forthcoming European Development Fund (Edf), given that the current Fund is due to expire in 2007. In comparison with the period 2003-2007 whose Edf budget was 13.5 billion Euros the European Council has already decided to increase the resources to a total 22.7 billion. During the first seminar (a further five with other areas of the world that benefit from Eu development aid will be held in April), it was emphasized that the absolute priority for the reinforcement of partnerships consists in a “concrete commitment to the good governance of public funds and efficiency in their administration”. Info – http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/development/index_en.htm#
