[06/July/2010]

SANA'A, July 06 (Saba) - The European Union (EU) intends to promote its cooperation relations with Yemen in all areas, an EU diplomat said on Tuesday.

In a press conference held in Sana'a, Head of Delegation and Ambassador of the European Union to Yemen Michele Cervone d'Urso said that the EU would adopt a comprehensive approach to deal with all challenges Yemen faces.

He also made clear that the EU is going to promote the cooperation with Yemen in several issues such as the development plans, the encouragement of a national dialogue and economic reforms as well as working with all international partners in that areas.

"In coordination with the United States and all international partners via the Yemen Friends Group, the EU is working to prop up the development efforts in Yemen for outdoing its challenges", D'urso said.

"The EU will not be a mediator among the Yemeni parties, but it encourages all sides to adopt the dialogue", he added.

"The EU is considered one of the development supporters in Yemen. The EU increased development cooperation to Yemen which reached EUR 55 million (USD 82 million) in 2009 alone".

The EU has now upgraded the level of representation to a full diplomatic mission with the nomination of ambassador D'urso based in Sana’a.

D'urso had underscored the commitment of the EU to strengthen its relations with Yemen in all fields and follow a comprehensive approach to address Yemen’s challenges and support its government.

He emphasized the EU remains strongly committed to the democratic process in Yemen and to a unified, stable and prosperous country.

The EU has also been among the first WTO members to conclude in 2009 bilateral negotiations with Yemen for accession to the WTO.

Furthermore, the EU is deepening its cooperation in the areas of refugee and migration assistance, regional maritime security and counter terrorism. It also is Yemen’s most important partner for humanitarian assistance and support to civil society.

"I will do my very best to further strengthen the partnership between the EU and Yemen. The stability of Yemen is crucial for the people of Yemen and the entire region", D'Urso said.

The EU also holds annual Joint Consultative Committees (JCC) with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and relevant Ministries to engage in policy dialogue, review progress in the reform agenda and the overall EC aid portfolio to Yemen.

This brings the overall total of financial assistance to nearly € 165 million from 2007 to 2010.

The EC plans to increase annual allocations for the three year period 2011-2013. The EU is strongly committed to poverty reduction and greater aid effectiveness in Yemen and has a taken a lead in supporting the Yemeni Government's own strategic planning processes in its mains areas of cooperation including State building, Public Health reform, Food Security and Fisheries.

Yemen is a key strategic priority for the EU and the EU Ministers' of Foreign Affairs have agreed Councils conclusions on Yemen on 28 October 2009 and 25 February 2010.

These conclusions underscore the EU commitment to a comprehensive approach to Yemen that highlights that the linkages between economic, political, social and security challenges aiming at addressing both short-term challenges and long-term state-building efforts.

FJ/YA
Saba