Commissioner Piebalgs to sign development programmes for Belize, Lesotho, Togo and Zambia

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, will sign today the National Indicative Programmes (NIP) for development cooperation with Belize, Lesotho, Togo and Zambia in the 2014-2020 period, which amount to €869 million. The signing ceremony with representatives of those countries will take place in the margins of the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

Commissioner Piebalgs said: "The programmes that we will sign are the fruit of close cooperation with the four partner countries and reflect their own policies, strategies, and needs as they have defined them. I am particularly pleased to see that energy and governance are key priorities for these countries, as clear drivers for sustainable development and growth. Our support will target EU resources where they are most needed and most effective and once we have signed, preparations of concrete projects and programmes for the next seven years can start."

What is a National Indicative Programme?
The National Indicative Programmes represent an important step in the programming of EU aid. EU Member States agreed in 2013 the overall amount for development cooperation that will be channelled to 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries through the 11th European Development Fund EDF during the financing period 2014-2020 (total amount €30.5 billion).

In parallel, the preparations of a NIP for each of these countries started, defining the strategy and priorities for EU aid in each particular country. These preparations are done in close cooperation with the partner countries so as to ensure that NIPs support national priorities and reflect the local context.

This is in line with the EU's vision for future development cooperation, the "Agenda for Change", which calls for resources to be targeted where they are most needed and can be the most effective. EU funding will focus on a maximum of three sectors per country (possibly four in the case of fragile countries) to achieve maximum impact and value for money of EU cooperation.

What are the next steps?
It is foreseen that by early 2015, the remaining NIPs will be finalised and signed. In parallel, work on preparing concrete projects and programmes has also started in all countries.

Table: National Indicative Programmes to be signed on 10 October

Background

Commissioner Piebalgs will be in Washington D.C. to take part (10-12 October) in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual meetings. During his visit, he will address the Development Committee (a ministerial-level Steering Committee of the World Bank Group). Furthermore, the Commissioner will hold a series of meetings with key interlocutors at the World Bank and the IMF, as well as with other development partners.

For more information

Website of the European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/piebalgs/index_en.htm

Website of DG Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid:
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/node/22

SOURCE Delegation of the European Union to the United States