Under the Cooperation programme between Portuguese-speaking African countries and Timor-Leste (PALOP-TL) with European Union (EU), financed by the European Development Fund (EDF), the XII National Authorising Officers Meeting took place in the city of Praia, on 9 December. It was preceded by preparatory meetings on 7 and 8 December.
The Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the Kingdom of Belgium, Permanent Mission to the European Union, Francisco T. Cepeda, represented Timor-Leste due to the impossibility of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Authorising Officer, to take part. Besides the Ambassador, the delegation consisted of Madalena Hanjan Costa Soares, Deputy National Authorising Officer and Madalena Filipe, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Belgium.
The meeting took stock of cooperation between the group of Portuguese-speaking African countries and Timor-Leste with the European bloc, a unique form of South-South co-operation and North-South cooperation that the European Union has been supporting since 1992.
The “Statement of Praia” was delivered and the government officials from the six countries reiterated their interest and commitment in continuing their joint-cooperation with the European Union.
On the “Joint Conclusions” adopted by the six countries and the European Union, the signatories noted with appreciation the positive developments of this cooperation and encouraged all actors involved to continue all necessary actions for the sustainable implementation of projects, development of synergies and the participative involvement of all beneficiaries, in a regional framework of integration. They stressed the need of a roadmap to set goals, targets and activities to be carried out and the issue of the follow-up on its implementation. The envelope of the XI EDF 2014-2020 is around EUR 30 million. The PALOP-TL and EU will sign-up for projects in areas such as employment, culture and good governance, likely to generate sustainable development in those countries. The First identification round for the Priority Area I – good governance – was held on the XI National Authorising Officers Meeting in Sao Tomé.
For now, culture is one area that should receive a great deal of attention according to the recommendation arising out of the meeting of Praia. The meeting of Praia also recommended enhancing communication both internally and externally, using all current existing facilities regarding new information and communication technologies.
The XII National Authorising Officers Meeting ended with the expression of the renewal of a political will at the highest level to strengthen cooperation between parties and aimed also at strengthening that cooperation in areas of common interest, particularly through a new after Cotonou partnership, new challenges and opportunities are expected in the global context.
Para mais informação:
http://noticias.sapo.tl/portugues/info/artigo/1491929.html