Summary: May 17, 2002: Cambodia: Commission earmarks funds for assistance under the agreed strategic framework for assistance (Brussels)
The European Commission has announced that over the next three years, 2002-2004, € 68,7 million has been earmarked for Cambodia to finance activities in sectors identified in the EC-Cambodia Strategy Paper 2000-2003. The strategy, agreed in 2000, was prepared in consultation with the Government of the Cambodia and EU Member States. The priority sectors agreed for the years 2002-2004 are rural development, the social sector and trade sector development.
Rural development: A main objective for EC support remains to improve the conditions for self-sustainable development in rural communities. The continuation of multi-annual activities in the sector of rural development will be based on the Commission's previous record of successful activities. EC support will include food security, livestock rearing, fisheries development, rural finance, water management, crop diversification, micro-enterprises and vocational training and mine
clearance.
Social Sector: Educational and health indicators in Cambodia are dramatically low and represent major bottlenecks in sustainable development and poverty reduction. EC priorities include support to the on-going sector-wide process within the education sector, as well as further support to the health sector.
Trade Sector Development. Assistance to trade and investment, with the aim of facilitating the integration of Cambodia in the world trade flows, is of growing importance. Meeting commitments under AFTA and preparing for the accession to the WTO are great challenges, which will require technical assistance to the Cambodian administration both for institution and capacity building.
Specific co-operation in governance and democratization, crosscutting themes, including support to the on-going decentralization process in Cambodia, is also proposed.
The strategy developed has taken into account lessons learnt from past EC-Cambodia co-operation, resources available and the need to reinforce co-ordination with other donors, in particular EU Member States. The strategy will also promote synergy between the whole range of programmes available to Cambodia, including Human Rights, HIV Aids and NGO co-financing.
Background Information:
Country Strategy Papers were introduced in 2001 as part of a wider programme of Commission reforms in the field of External Assistance. Their purpose is to improve the coherence of the policy toward third countries, particularly, to ensure a match between political priorities and spending on development assistance. CSPs are developed in collaboration with national governments, Member States, other donors, and where possible, with representatives of civil society.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/cambodia/intro/index.htm
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