EU, Malawi discuss 600m Euro aid package

Malawi President Peter Mutharika and European Union Commissioner for Development, Adris Piebalgs, have discussed the need to finalise a non-budgetary aid package amounting to 600 million Euro over a period of seven years.

The meeting was held on Tuesday in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall in New York on the sidelines of the Climate Summit to which UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon invited world leaders to find solutions to the devastating effects of Climate Change.

“We have discussed many things including to finalise the EU assistance of 600 million Euro over a period of 7 years. The discussions were fruitful. Details should be finalized soon,” said Piebalgs after the 40 minute meeting.

“We have very good cooperation with Malawi and we are willing to provide assistance to enable the country deal with its challenges,” he added.

The EU commissioner also said he discussed with the Malawi leader on the need for assistance in the energy sector.

President Mutharika said he explained to EU boss  measures the Malawi government has undertaken to meet demands given by the donor community.

“I think he is impressed with the measures we are taking- we explained to him that we have cut down on spending by among others reducing the ministries, and we have undertaken civil service reforms including public management reforms.  We have made some changes in terms of personnel and so forth.

“In terms of prosecuting those involved in cash gate I think we have done our best within the rule of law and human rights but within those rights and laws we are pursuing the cash gate,” explained Mutharika.

Mutharika has since assured Malawians that he will continue to engage the EU to ensure that they reach a consensus in as far as resumption of aid is concerned.

“There will be more discussions as we go along and I am sure with more consultations in the next few weeks, we will see how we move forward. We are making our case and I think it’s a strong case in terms of the things they asked us to do,” Mutharika said.

President Mutharika and his team have been busy in the USA courting business captains, investors and donors to assist Malawi in its development agenda.— Brian Kalanda is reporting for Nyasa Times from the UN, in New York, United States

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :