2 Jun 2006

EU announced aid boost at ACP summit

11:29 am on 2 June 2006

The European Union has announced a 35 percent rise in development aid to poor countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific as part of efforts to stem migration into the wealthy bloc.

The aid package to be shared among the 77 ACP countries over the 2008-13 period will total 28.1 billion US dollars.

The announcement was made as EU and ACP ministers met in Papua New Guinea to discuss migration together for the first time.

The new development cash will be released just as the EU and ACP countries enter final talks on economic partnership accords designed to promote trade and development.