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afrol News, 14 August - The European Commission today announced it had adopted a five-year strategy paper (2002-2007) for its cooperation with Guinea. The strategy will be financed by euro 221 million, which mainly will be directed towards poverty reduction efforts and the improvement of infrastructure. According to the EU, its Guinea "Country Strategy Paper" serves as a framework for relations with Guinea, covering all aspects of assistance to that country. "The chief objective is to support the government's efforts to reduce poverty and priority will be given to road infrastructure and rural development." Infrastructure was given weight in the five-year programme. The Guinean government and the EU had identified the isolation of some areas and the high cost of transport as "major factors contributing to poverty." Owing to the impact of the road infrastructure sector on economic development and living conditions, support for that sector was considered a priority and euro 90 million had been set aside to finance it. The funds would be used mainly for periodic maintenance and upgrading of the national road network. Also the difference between rural and urban poverty was highlighted in the programme. Rural development programmes were to "support growth and help create new economic opportunities." Aid of euro 25 million was earmarked for this sector and would be channelled towards the development of rural infrastructures, e.g. water troughs and water supplies, and the improvement of production factors. The EU was also to continue to give a direct budget support of euro 33 million to the Guinean government, as "macro-economic stability must be maintained if growth is to be sustainable." The budget support - funds that will not have to be accounted for - were to "contribute to financing part of the budgetary deficit." Finally, an envelope of euro 63 million would be mobilised "to provide any additional support that might prove necessary in the wake of external shocks, such as short-term fluctuations of export earnings as a result of falling prices for agricultural commodities on the world market," the EU informed. The Commission was to continue to "ensure good governance and the rule of law together with the sound management and control of public finances." Activities to strengthen institutional capacity in these fields were also envisaged. Country Strategy Papers were introduced in the EU in 2001 as part of wider reforms in the field of external assistance. Their purpose was "to improve the coherence of the policy toward non-member countries, and above all ensure a match between political priorities and spending on development assistance." These papers are drawn up in liaison with national governments, the EU member states, other donors and, where possible, with representatives of civil society. Sources: Based on EU sources and afrol archives
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