EU grants $762 mln for West African regional growth

LAGOS, Dec.6 (Chinese media) -- The European Union (EU) has granted nearly 600

million euros (762 million U.S. dollars) to Nigeria and other member states of

the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to facilitate regional

growth and economic stability.

Giving a rundown on the EU activities in the country for 2008 in Nigeria's

capital Abuja on Friday, Charge d' Affairs in Nigeria Denis Thieulin also

disclosed that the EU wished to continue its political dialogues with Nigeria,

the Guardian reported on Saturday.

He said the EU had started a new wave of Micro-Projects Program9 (MPP9) in

nine states of the country, following the successes recorded in the previous

MPP3 and MPP6 program in the Niger Delta States.

No less than 70 percent of the amount is meant for deepening regional

integration, as well as improving the competitiveness of the Economic

Partnership Agreement (EPA), while 20 percent is for the consolidation of good

governance and regional stability. The remaining 10 percent has been earmarked

for "other programs."

He said 2,500 projects had been completed in Nigeria by the EU within the

past five years.

"With the MPP3 and MPP6 we worked with the communities, the plan with the

MPP9 is to involve the local government councils andthe state governments," he

said. "Corruption is a major concern for us and so we support all the efforts

against it. Our next plan is to see to which extent we can still be supporting

the drive."

On the difference between the MPP3 and 6 and the new project, the MPP9, he

said, "We are continuing what we started. We are continuing our activities. But

we plan to change the implementation phase of it."

He also said that the EU delegation in Nigeria was studying the Jos

disturbances.