The EU and Member States together with Switzerland agree joint cooperation framework with Bolivia worth €530 million | WPN World People News

Under this Strategy, the EU, its Member States present in Bolivia (France, Spain, United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden and Germany) and Switzerland have agreed to align and coordinate their development cooperation interventions in order to strengthen their impact, reduce fragmentation and increase the effectiveness of the EU's contribution to development in Bolivia. This Strategy is a good example of EU Joint Programming in third countries in line with the new European Consensus on Development adopted last year.

Ahead of the visit Commissioner Mimica said: "The EU's partnership with Bolivia is stronger than ever with the launch of Bolivia's first Joint European Strategy of €530 million that we have elaborated in close cooperation with the Bolivian government. This Strategy aims at creating a common framework for the EU's development cooperation in Bolivia in line with the Aid Effectiveness principle and the European Consensus on Development. This Joint Strategy will help to deliver a truly European development policy".

The Joint European Strategy is dedicated to improving the lives for the Bolivian people in eight priority sectors, including culture and tourism, rural development and food security, integral development with coca and the fight against drug trafficking, education, governance, environment and climate change, health, economic development and employment.

During his stay, Commissioner Mimica will also visit projects with Bolivian President Morales in the Chapare region with a focus on integral development (banana packing cooperative and aquiculture) and on the fight against illicit drugs. The EU has provided €52 million for integral development and food security in Bolivia during the last 5 years.

Source: European Commission