The amount of the envelope for the 11th European Development Fund - EDF (corresponding to the period 2014-2020) to the ACP countries will be 30,5 billion euros, the European Commissioner for Development of the European Commission, Andris Piebalgs confirmed during the 10th meeting of Ministers of national and regional officers for the European Union (EU) – African, Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP) cooperation, held in Brussels between 17th and 18th April.
The General Secretary of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), Jean Claude de l’Estrac said that EU contribution represent about two thirds of the funds IOC invests in projects to improve maritime, air connectivity, as well as food security, agricultural productivity, renewable energy and biodiversity.
On the occasion of the meeting a letter to the members of the EP was drafted, which asks for the withdrawal of the amendment that advances the deadline for the signature of the comprehensive EPAs to October 2014, according to the IOC.
However, earlier this year, the EU ministers had announced that – after the negotiations of the EU budget for 2014-2020- the European Development Fund (EDF), the main instrument for providing Community development aid in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the overseas countries and territories (OCTs), will received € 26,9 bn (€3 bn less than in the initial proposal of the European Commission).