Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-06-14-Speech-4-375-000"
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"en.20120614.27.4-375-000"2
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"Mr President, the Sahel region is facing a multilayered crisis.
That is also why the High Representative and the Commission proposed already last year a new strategy for security and development in the Sahel, which was welcomed by the Council. The Sahel Strategy combines political and diplomatic action, development aid, security actions and projects aimed at preventing violent extremism.
We are now more than one year into the implementation of the strategy in the region. Many concrete actions have been taken. We are helping promote home-grown solutions to social, political and ethnic tensions, notably through employment creation for the marginalised groups. We work to assist the local communities, in particular those living in remote and isolated areas, by improving infrastructure and creating educational, economic and employment opportunities.
In parallel, we are seeking to improve the capacities of Sahel states to provide social services and development to the local populations.
Enhancing transparent and locally accountable governance is also an important part of the Sahel Strategy, which seeks to address the underlying political, economic, social and development challenges in the region.
EU development cooperation with Mali is still suspended, following the coup d’état in March this year. It will be resumed in line with progress towards the full restoration of constitutional order.
However, we continue to provide humanitarian aid to those in need, wherever it is safe to do so. ECHO has recently mobilised EUR 9 million to help internally displaced people and refugees. A total of EUR 288 million has been allocated to tackle the consequences of the food crisis in the Sahel.
Commissioner Georgieva has demanded rapid progress to open the humanitarian space and allow supplies of food and medicines to reach those in need.
The EU will continue to work in close cooperation with the countries of the Sahel region, with civil society, and with regional and international bodies to promote human rights, security and development in an integrated and comprehensive approach. As soon as security conditions allow, we will resume the projects which have been suspended in the north of Mali.
The takeover by rebel Tuareg and Islamist groups of the entire north of Mali has resulted in about 150 000 internally displaced persons and a further 160 000 refugees in neighbouring countries. A humanitarian emergency has been added to an already complex situation.
The Sahel region already suffers from drought and chronic malnutrition. Over 17 million people are now affected, with 8 million people in need of emergency assistance.
The region’s refugees and displaced persons are among the most vulnerable. Severe food and medical shortages could lead to many deaths, especially of women and children. The current lack of humanitarian access to the victims of the violence in northern Mali, because of insecurity and attacks on humanitarian workers, is of great concern.
The risk of violence spilling over into neighbouring countries, some of which are fragile, is alarmingly high. Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu have recently experienced days of looting and chaos. There are reports of abductions and sexual violence by various armed groups. One of the groups, Ansar Dine, is allegedly arresting people suspected of robbery and looting, and imposing Sharia-based punishments.
These human rights violations must end. Finding a political solution to the conflict in Mali and preventing the contagion of the entire Sahel region are high on our agenda. We are working closely with the United Nations and our other partners in the international community. At last week’s meeting in Abidjan of the support and follow-up group led by the African Union, the EU pressed hard for a speedy institutional transition in the south. We also discussed how best to restore the authority of the Malian state over the north.
Human rights, security and development cannot be separated. Improving the security situation is integral to economic growth and the reduction of poverty in the Sahel region.
In recognition of the security challenges faced by the state in the region, the EU is preparing to launch a civilian mission in the framework of the CSDP, to be deployed in Niger by the end of summer 2012, to strengthen the planning and coordination of local security forces’ capacities.
Extension of the CSDP activities to other countries in the region, in particular Mauritania and Mali, is under consideration."@en1
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