The European Commission is currently funding projects worth Pounds 296 million in the fields of environment, human development, education, livestock services, child labour, health, human rights, & humanitarian assistance.
This was stated by Emmanuel Mersch, Acting Ambassador of the EU to Pakistan at the launching ceremony of the Integrated Development Programme for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Balochistan here on Wednesday.
He said that EU-Pakistan relations have intensified over the past few years following the role played by Pakistan in the global fight against terrorism.
" In this regard the General Affairs Council of the European Union concluded that dialogue with Pakistan will be further developed and as a result in November 2001 a co-operation agreement (3rd Generation) was signed by President Musharraf and the EU represented by the Belgian Prime Minister Verhofstandt and the European Commission President Prodi´he added.
He said that the building of the EU-Pakistan relationship is dynamic, continuous and mutually beneficial process, in which the European Commission plays an important role.
He said that in the Commission's co-operation programme with Pakistan, priority is given to poverty alleviation and social sector development such as education, healthcare, livelihoods and sustainable economic prosperity.
He said that in order to support post-earthquake medium and long-term recovery in NWFP and AJK the Commission adopted in December 2005 a Financing Proposal "EC Earthquake Early Recovery and Reconstruction Support" of Ponds 50 million, bringing the total assistance for the earthquake to Ponds 98.6 million.
Ambassador Mersch said that the Commission's 2007/2013 Country Strategy and the 2007/2010 National Indicative Programme are fully compatible with the Pakistan Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Commission particularly focuses on the rural economy in border provinces and human capital.
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