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Zimbabwe axed from EU support
The Standard (Zimbabwe)
December 24, 2005

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/read.php?path=./news/2005/December/Saturday24/&st_id=766

BRUSSELS - Zimbabwe's poor human rights record and the deteriorating political situation have rendered the country ineligible for developmental aid from the European Union (EU), a top official has said.

Amadeu Altafaj, the spokesperson for Louis Michel, the commissioner in charge of development and humanitarian aid, said until the economic and political situation in Zimbabwe improves the 25-member bloc would not fund any development projects.

Addressing journalists from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries who attended an EU conference on Combating Extreme Poverty and HIV/Aids, Alfataj said they would however continue funding humanitarian aid projects, administered through non-governmental organisations.

Altafaj said: "We discuss developmental projects with governments. With the current political situation in Zimbabwe, we can't fund any of these projects."

He said there were differences among EU member states on policies relating to the Zimbabwean situation. "Africa is lagging behind in the race to meet the Millennium Developmental Goals, hence the need to accelerate development in the health and education sector," Alfataj said.

Plans were also underway, Alfataj said, to improve road networks and telecommunications systems in order to build efficient regional markets.

Recently, the General Affairs and External Relations Council endorsed the EU Strategy for Africa hailed as a milestone in EU-Africa relations expected to boost Africa's sustainable development.

Discussions have started on turning this strategy into concrete projects, to increase stability, boost economic growth and reduce poverty.

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