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Emergency Trust Fund for Africa
News article16 August 2017

EU Ambassador meets with Prime Minister of Somalia to support reform processes

EU Ambassador to Somalia Veronique Lorenzo met Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire and discussed ongoing reforms
EU

Today, EU Head of Delegation Ambassador Veronique Lorenzo met with the Prime Minister of Somalia Hassan Ali Khaire, offering encouragement for the Somali government's renewed determination to continue and accelerate recent steps of reform.

The EU fully supports this process, standing behind efforts to bring together the Somali capital of Mogadishu and the country's federal states, to build up the national security architecture, advance economic recovery and governance, and to fight corruption.

The EU Ambassador and the Somali Prime Minister discussed the significant reform steps recently taken. The approval in August of the National Communications Act to regulate the country's telecommunication sector was a key milestone to raise domestic revenues and to roll out the government's vision of a more accountable and transparent society. A recently launched $6 million Surge Programme will provide additional fresh financing against further reforms to kick-start public works and employment generation activities across Somalia.

From Brussels, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica declared: "I am delighted to see these major steps being taken. The EU will continue to stand with Somalia as a trusted partner, to overcome remaining challenges and pursue the government's vision of a stable and prosperous country. The launch of the Surge Programme represents a new opportunity in a shifting environment. Today, we have made our first disbursement under this new programme, for which the EU is contributing 50% of the total budget."

This programme builds upon the EU's wider support to Somalia of €486 million in development aid for the period 2014-2020 to build security institutions, governance and economic recovery. This includes support for the drought and famine response, which together with EU humanitarian funding amounts to €185 million. This adds to contributions of, the EU as the largest donor to AMISOM through the African Peace Facility (a monthly contribution of €20 million since 2007).

More information: EU Delegation to Somalia

Details

Publication date
16 August 2017

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