3 Feb 2004

EU Aid Commissioner confident the aid just released to the Solomons will be used wisely

8:39 am on 3 February 2004

The European Union Aid Commissioner says he is confident millions of dollars of aid money for the Solomon Islands over the next five years, will not be misused.

The aid money had been held back until the restoration of law and order.

But Poul Nielson says they are now giving 27 million US dollars for education aid, out of a five year 100 million dollar aid package.

"We will in any case be supporting the capacity of the government to administer the money correctly. Its not just about being skepitcal when we talk about corruption or reacting in say reducing our spending - We think there is good potential for them to improve their situation."

The European Union will sign an agreement in Honiara tomorrow with the New Zealand Government's aid agency, NZAID, and the Solomon Islands government.