” ““This partnership will enable Africa to equip itself with the basic infrastructure it needs to really boost its economy. The establishment of infrastructure is a prerequisite for economic growth, trade, regional integration and the fight against poverty”. The Commissioner for development and humanitarian aids, Louis Michel, explains the scope of the measure taken yesterday by the EU Commission, which passed a proposal for creating a partnership between the European Union and Africa in the area of infrastructure. An initial amount of 5.6 billion euros drawn from the European Development Fund for 2008-2013 will be allocated “to land transport, energy, water, information and telecommunication technology”. According to the Commission’s analysis, “the lack of infrastructure and services in the African continent heavily hinders its productive and commercial growth” and “human and social development”. The road network is scanty and in poor conditions, “the coverage of the railway network is inadequate and the level of interconnectivity is low”. (to be continued)
