EU grants €172 million for development

Burundi will get a €172-million (US $191.25 million) European Union grant over the next four years in a deal signed Wednesday to support development efforts in the war-torn country, EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation Georges-Marc Andre told IRIN. Speaking from Bujumbura on Thursday, he said €115 million ($127.86 million) of the money would go to development, especially in improving rural infrastructure, health centres, potable water delivery, education, and for resurrecting rural associations. Some of this money would support non-state actors such as civil society. He said that €57 million ($63.38 million) of the total grant was earmarked to make debt repayments and meet the needs of other sectors such as the African peace force for the country. In 2002, the EU gave Burundi €47.8 million, accounting for over half of all donor aid to the country. However, the Burundi government has complained of international donor apathy in honouring aid pledges made at the Paris funding conference in December 2000 and in Geneva the following year. However, the EU says it has been implementing its undertaking. "We have stuck to our commitment," Andre said.