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EU announces support for poverty eradication in Eritrea

Xinhua, December 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Union on Friday has announced 200 million euros (219.83 million U.S. dollars) of long-term support to promote poverty reduction and socio-economic development in Eritrea.

The financial aid was delivered through the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) and will go to two main areas - energy and governance until 2020.

European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica said the EU countries have agreed to promote activities with concrete results for the population in Eritrea, such as the creation of job opportunities and the improvement of living conditions.

"As in other countries, the EU engages with governments around the world to promote human rights, democracy, and people-centered development everywhere," he added.

The support of the energy sector for Eritrea, a country with one of the lowest access rates to electricity, will help Eritrea set up a more efficient energy network, benefiting schools, hospitals and health centers.

In 2013, EU member states agreed on the overall amount for development cooperation that will be channeled to 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries through the 11th EDF during the financing period 2014-2020. The total amount is 30.5 billion euros. Endit