By Haddy Touray
Mr. Corrado Pampaloni, Ambassador of the European Union to The Gambia, has stated that The Gambia and The EU are long-lasting, historical partners but it was the democratic transition in 2017.
He made the remarks at the occasion of Europe Day, Thursday, which he said opened a new, hopeful, and promising chapter in the country’s path and our cooperation.
He disclosed that between 2017 and the end of this year, the EU will have committed around 500 million Euros to support sustainable socio-economic development, transitional justice, the security sector reform, and democratic governance.
“This scale of support of our EU citizens and taxpayers is simply unprecedented but also proportionate to the significance of welcoming The Gambia back into the democratic family.
Let me take this opportunity to flag that when we talk about the EU and its support, we mean the budget to which all 27 Member States contribute hence this is the support fully provided by the governments and the people of France, Germany, and Spain represented in this country as well as the other 24 Member States,” Ambassador Pampaloni explained.
He added that the EU and its MS do implement specific projects jointly in The Gambia namely; the security sector with Germany or to fight the smuggling of migrants with Spain and Germany.
Ambassador Pampaloni, further revealed that over the years the EU cooperation has addressed key priorities for the country noting that for the period 2021-2027, in agreement with the government, our main actions cover Good Governance, Migration, the Green Economy for sustainable growth and Jobs and Human Development.
Speaking on the ‘Schuman declaration’, he recalled that it was in 1950 that the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Schuman set out the vision of pooling the coal and steel production of France and Germany.
It was joined by Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, this idea led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community.
“The prevailing view was to start with an economic cooperation first, before engaging in a broader political cooperation, by making war between historic rivals France and Germany “not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.
This first community laid the foundation of today’s European Union: a community based on economic and political freedoms and cooperation, upholding high standards of democratic values and principles,” he pointed out