European Union Head of Delegation Hans Allden has told journalists in the EU’S new office at Leicester Peak yesterday that due to the positive results in the country they would be able to secure more donor funds next month 18th and 19th in England.
“On the first day Sierra Leone will present the country to possible potential foreign investors and on the second day it will be more traditional donor meetings when we will look at the different plans of the government, the ambitions, the possible financial gaps that the government hopes to carry with additional assistance”, Allden said.
He said the European Commission will participate very actively in this, but the event itself will be hosted by the UK government and DFID together with the Sierra Leonean government, but the other donors will participate very actively.
The EU Boss said the basic document for this is the ‘Agenda for Change’ that was launched recently. “From our point of view, we are aware of the fact that the poorest countries are severely affected by the global economic crisis so we have to first of all be very careful that we follow our time table when it comes to budget support” Allden said. On the disbursement, the EU Boss said they are on track with budget support and a long programme inside the Development Fund to Sierra Leone. There have been a number of delays on previous years due to the public financial management but the new system positively makes it more easier for the EU to follow their timetable for budget support disbursement.
European Union believes that the country is back on track on budget support and they believe the annual volume of budget support should be 12 million Euros as their annual target.
“We have topped the support this year because of the global economic recession and also the volatility of the food price and we cannot say the final sum could be most likely higher than the normal 12 million Euros,” he said. Hans Allden commended the European taxpayers, the European Institutions for their continued support to Sierra Leone even though the global recession is affecting the country especially minerals and lower remittances from Sierra Leoneans abroad.
“It has been a good decision from our own side to try to top up this budget and to promote budget stability. We feel there is macro-economic stability now that the IMF mission basically has justified that we are in a stable position”. In spite of the fact that the Leone is depreciating, he said people should not panic because the financial institutions of the government and international financial institutions, will stabilize the situation in the country.
The EU boss said the climate is good and encouraging for the consultative group meeting in November.
Another positive message Hans Allden said is that the Anti Corruption Commission is doing a good job as they have a more legal teeth to bite anybody or persons and institutions and will prosecute them.
Hans Allden said ACC is not about chasing individuals but also looking at systems, and it is exactly the way the corresponding countries in Europe work as they are not only trying to find fraud among individuals but they are also trying to address problems in longer term.
By Betty Milton
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