EC offers €72.6m aid to Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The European Commission (EC) welcomed provincial elections and announced new €72.6 million assistance package to Iraq, according to a press release published on the EC web site on Friday. “The European Commission welcomes the holding tomorrow (Jan. 31) of provincial elections in Iraq, which start an important elections cycle culminating in national legislative elections expected to be held end of 2009,” read the release as received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Following a request from Iraq and building on the European Commission’s significant support during the 2005 elections, the Commission has mobilized a wide range of instruments to assist Iraq in preparing the provincial elections. €20 million have been provided through the UN to assist the Independent High Electoral Commission for Iraq to strengthen its overall capacity including assistance from external electoral experts, assistance to enhance the role of civil society and support to election observation groups and media monitoring.” “In addition, the Commission has deployed two electoral experts at the Electoral Commission in Baghdad to advice on confidence-enhancing steps during and after the elections.” “Furthermore, the Commission is providing a new assistance package to Iraq of €72.6 million in support of the most vulnerable people and to help build the capacity of the Iraqi administration to provide basic services to the Iraqi citizens.” Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy, said: “Tomorrow (Jan. 31) is an important day in Iraq’s democratic history. I am proud that the European Commission will play a small but important role in this event. However, it will be for the Iraqi citizens, by casting their votes in tomorrow’s provincial elections, to help consolidate the democratic structures of their country. I urge all voters to make use of their democratic right and go to the ballot boxes tomorrow.” “Continuing the democratic process and strengthening democratic institutions is another step in achieving more security and stability in Iraq. Against all odds the people of Iraq are showing their commitment to building a better place for their sons and daughters. But there are still challenging times ahead and we continue to be ready to support Iraqis in their path towards a prosperous and secure country,” she added. The new assistance package takes into account Iraqi priorities and resources as well as complements activities of other international donors. €42 million will be dedicated to displaced Iraqis inside the country or in the neighboring Jordan and Syria; €30.6 million are divided across three sectors: technical assistance to Iraqi ministries, upgrading of medical emergency services and blood banks and improved management of the water and sanitations sectors. Beyond the support to the political process the Commission is also active on several fronts to strengthen its relations with Iraq including providing financial and technical assistance. Since 2003, more than €900 million have been provided to Iraq for humanitarian aid and assistance. In parallel the Commission is advancing the negotiations of a general framework agreement with Iraq which will lead to the first ever contractual relations. The agreement will establish trade and cooperation in a wide range of areas as well as provide the parties with an institutional framework to discuss political and security matters of common interest. The preparations for the 7th round of negotiations, to be held in February 2009, are ongoing with a view to complete negotiations in the spring. AmR (I) 1