EU sets peace pact incentive

From the Manila Standard Today (Nov 2): EU sets peace pact incentive

The European Union will increase its development aid to Mindanao as a result of the expected signing of a final peace agreement  between the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

An EU Commission official who asked not to be named said the announcement of the EU contribution to the Mindanao Trust Fund will be made during the visit of EU Commissioner for development Andris Piebalgs to Manila on Nov. 10-12.

“We are all hopeful that a peace agreement will be signed soon, and the EU will be there to support not only the peace process but development projects which are peace dividends,” the source said.

Alexandre Polack, spokesman of the EU Commission for development, confirmed Piebalgs’ visit but declined to give details on the possible announcements concerning Mindanao.

“Regarding concrete EU contributions to the Mindanao Trust Fund in the future, we cannot advance much at the moment,” Polack said in a separate interview.

“But we can confirm that the EU will continue to support the peace process in the future, both at the political level as well as by supporting economic development programs. Mindanao will remain a priority area of attention.”

Polack also confirmed that Piebalgs, who is the first-ever EU Commissioner for development to visit the Philippines, is scheduled to engage in high-level meetings with presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles, Energy Secretary Carlos Petilla, and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario.

The EU was the first donor to provide financial assistance amounting to P312 million to Mindanao after the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in October last year, which was sent through the World Food Programme.

The 28-member bloc is also the largest donor to the Mindanao Trust Fund with a contribution of P324 million. It also launched a P29-million de-mining project in collaboration with the Aquino administration and the MILF to reduce the threat from land mines and unexploded ordnances.

The government and the MILF are now completing the last two annexes on power-sharing and normalization that would complete the comprehensive peace agreement.

During their last talks in Kuala Lumpur, both sides had agreed to a gradual and phased disposition of weapons and decommissioning of the MILF combatants that would start after the signing of the peace pact.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/11/02/eu-sets-peace-pact-incentive/