Harare 28 May 2014 - Ministers of the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Senior Officials joined by the European Union’s and its Member States representatives, today met with a wide spectrum of local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Members of Parliament in Harare for joint and inclusive consultations on the formulation of National Indicative Programme (NIP) of the EU development assistance to Zimbabwe for the period 2014-2020. The NIP forms the second and final phase of the establishment of a joint cooperation strategy between government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) and the European Union (EU) to develop a framework for the 11TH European Development Fund (11th EDF).
In his remarks, Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia, Head of the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe stated that:
“The EU remains committed to re-engaging with Zimbabwe and today we have the evidence of that reengagement in action. The draft NIP has been jointly prepared by the Government of Zimbabwe and the European Union. Today’s consultations with CSOs and Member of Parliament represent a key step in the process of finalising the National Indicative Programme that will help to improve the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans”
In his keynote address the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. P.A. Chinamasa. MP had this to say:
“As Government of Zimbabwe, we remain committed to full re-engagement with the EU and, in particular, to the successful conclusion of the 11th EDF programming exercise, which will serve as a milestone towards normalisation of our relations.
On behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the EU for its continued support to the people of Zimbabwe”, said Hon. Patrick A. Chinamasa, Minister of Finance and Economic Development.”
Today’s consultations, which were prescribed in the framework of the African, Pacific, Caribbean and European Union “ACP- EU Contour Agreement” to which Zimbabwe is a signatory, mark the latest milestone in the development of the National Indicative Programme. The technical framework of the draft NIP was developed in sector working groups comprising health, agriculture-based economic development and governance & institution building, led by the Ministries of Health &Child Care, Agriculture, Mechanisation &Irrigation Development and Justice, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs.
This process of joint programming between the Government and the EU for purposes of developing new assistance programmes was rendered possible by the decision of the European Union Council on 23 July 2012 to suspend sanctions/ appropriate measures applied on Zimbabwe under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, which does not permit to have direct cooperation with government. This development rendered this form of programming possible again, while waiting for the total lifting of Article 96 on the 1st November, 2014.
The EU Delegation to Zimbabwe has announced that the 11th EDF national allocation to Zimbabwe is EUR 234million (approx. USD 304 million). The European Development Fund is the main instrument for EU aid for development cooperation with the ACP Group (Africa, the Caribbean, and Pacific). Funding is provided by voluntary donations by EU member states.