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afrol News, 14 August - The European Commission has approved a so-called "Country Strategy Paper" for Comoros, outlining its cooperation with the country for the next five years (2002-2007). The main aim of this programme was to "support the efforts by Comoros to reduce poverty and support economic and social development." The EU programme will provide euro 20 million to support projects on education and decentralised co-operation in Comoros, according to a statement by the European Commission. Within the programme, an additional sum of euro 7.3 million may be drawn on for unforeseen needs such as emergency assistance, debt relief and compensation for loss of export earnings. The lion's share of the money (euro 16 million) was destined to fund a wide spectrum of projects in the education sector, throughout the archipelago's main islands. The decision to focus on this sector emerged "as a result of active dialogue with the country's authorities, with civil society and the private sector, as well as with the country's grassroots communities," the EU informs. The emphasis on education was aiming at "enhancing the country's human capital, and at contributing to the government's efforts in the fight against poverty." Education - together with other social sectors - had been particularly hard hit by the prolonged periods of political instability in recent years, as well as by Comoros' recent inability to maintain public expenditure levels. The EU says that the priorities of the recovery plan are: the rehabilitation of elementary education infrastructure, the development of technical and vocational training, institutional capacity building, the improvement of the quality of secondary education and the rationalisation of higher education. In addition, a decentralised co-operation programme was envisaged (euro 4 million) to support the emergence and consolidation of legitimate and effective governance systems, and lending support to local development initiatives and trends. The objective was "to support the autonomy of the islands and the rule of law while strengthening inter-island links by a policy of continuity and territorial integrity." The Comoro people approved a complicated new administrative system earlier this year, which establishes autonomy in the three islands of Gran Comore, Anjouan and Moheli. The new structures were an answer to years of conflict and secessionism.
Sources: Based on EU sources and
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