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EU approves package of EUR 429 million to help Haiti
EU institutions join forces to address the consequences of the earthquake
European Cooperation Ministers met to discuss the disaster in Haiti for the first time since the earthquake took place on the island. The event was organised at the request of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, who called on the Government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union to seek coordinated action to cooperate with Haiti.
Of the 429 million euros envisaged in EU contribution, 122 million Euro was allocated to humanitarian aid and 107 to reconstruction. In addition, another 200 million from the budget of the European Commission (EC) will serve to contribute to the rebuilding of Haiti over the medium and long term. The Council of Development Ministers also agreed to convene an international donor conference considered sending a European Gendarmerie to help maintain order on the island.
Financial support
The same day that the Haiti disaster happened, the EC provided an initial aid of three million of euros. This amount comes from the Development Fund distributed through the European agency for international cooperation ECHO.
Besides these measures, the Council approved the convening of an international conference to agree on long-term reconstruction of one of America's poorest countries. However, this meeting will not take place until EU clearly assesses the needs of Haiti. To this end, the European Commissioner for Development, Karel De Gucht will attend the island accompanied by a team of EU experts.
The dispatch
On Sunday night, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, contacted the Spanish First Deputy Prime Minister, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, to ask for logistical support such as EU to send ships, helicopters, police and military engineers. This effort is aimed at distributing the aid, ensuring security in the country and indentifying a competent team for the future reconstruction of roads and buildings.
France has proposed to organise and send a “Gendarmerie européenne” composed of national police units. Thus, the EU could send a team of 140 to 150 militarized police to coordinate activities. The final decision on this issue will be taken by Catherine Ashton.
The role of the European Council of Agriculture
European Agriculture Ministers discussed how the EU could send surplus agricultural commodities. The Spanish Minister of Environment and Rural Affairs, Elena Espinosa, committed the Spanish presidency of the EU Council to coordinate this task.
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