The European Union (EU) adopted an action program that will provide up to 750 million euros (around 1 billion U.S. dollars) to support peace and security in Africa, the EU delegation in Ghana said on Tuesday.
The funding will be channeled through the African Peace Facility (APF) during the period of 2014-2016 to support the African Union and African sub-regional organizations in their peace and security efforts, the EU delegation in Ghana said in a statement.
An initial amount of 325 million euros will be committed to supporting ongoing peace operations in 2014.
EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs said the latest financial contribution “demonstrates EU’s continued commitment to supporting Africa in its work for peace and security.”
“The funding will allow us to extend the EU’s support that is essential for the success of ongoing African-led peace operations such as the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA),” he said.
The new funding program was originally announced by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Since 2004, EU has provided over 1.2 billion euros in funds through the APF, which was established in 2004 and has become a central instrument in cooperation between Africa and the EU on peace and security.
EU also helped arrange an eight-week course to train operators of African countries on maritime safety and security, which gathered 26 mid-managers and operators from seven coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea, including Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, and Togo.
The first English-speaking session of the course has ended in Ghana, according to the EU delegation in Ghana.
