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The European Union on Thursday agreed to grant Rwanda 110 million euros (roughly $110 million) under the eighth European Development Fund (EDF), in a deal that reestablished the regular cooperation relationship broken by the 1994 genocide. Since 1994, the EU had supported emergency and rehabilitation programmes in Rwanda, but the country was ineligible for regular development assistance until a new round (2000-2005) of EDF financing became available, EC official Francesca Walter told IRIN on Friday.
The 110 million euros to be released immediately would support the government’s efforts to “reduce poverty and to consolidate the reform programme, both on macroeconomic (matters) and on good governance,” Rwanda News Agency (RNA) quoted EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Affairs Paul Nielsen as saying. Poverty alleviation programmes, road and market infrastructures, public affairs management, and the promotion of national reconciliation and human rights would be among the areas to benefit, said Rwandan Finance Minister Donald Kaberuka.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions