International Conference on Central African Republic and Visit of President Catherine Samba-Panza
The conference held in Brussels, focused on CAR's
- humanitarian needs,
- recovery, and
- resilience-building.
The event, attended by 300 participants, also showcased and promoted the innovative EU Trust Fund 'Fonds Bêkou'.
HR/VP Mogherini hosted the event together with Commissioners Mimica and Stylianides. The CAR delegation was led by President Catherine Samba-Panza.
Participants also included development ministers from France, Germany and the Netherlands, the Rwanda Foreign Affairs Minister and senior representatives of international organisations (including ICRC president Maurer).
During her visit, President Samba-Panza had bilateral meetings with HR/VP Mogherini and with Commissioner Mimica.
At a short press conference held with Commissioner Mimica, President Samba Panza thanked the EU for its long term commitment to the CAR. She also made a plea for support to close the financing gap to carry out elections and for the DDR process, following the signature of a disarmament agreement. She was also clear about ineligibility, emphasising that she was not going to run at the next elections.
The president also met the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC), hinting at the need of a follow up to the current CFSP mission, and addressed the European Parliament, where members of the several committees were able to raise a variety of questions. President Samba Panza's interventions were skilfully presented and reaffirmed her leadership stating "I am the locomotive of the transition".
The Conference took place one day after an ECCAS Summit which authorised a 'technical extension' of the CAR transition till the end of 2015, in order to organise elections within that time.
Its agenda put forward the leading role of the EU in the efforts to bring about humanitarian aid, recovery and resilience-building in CAR, especially through the Trust Fund Bêkou and its projects, while presenting a plurality of other actors.
Various speakers pleaded for continuous financial support to the country in response to the many dire needs. Figures provided by donors were defined in terms of 2015 new commitments and came to a total of €378m.
EU support committed in 2015 is going to be €107m (€180m with EU MSs). This excludes non-DAC support such as the CFSP mission EUMAM RCA, also launched in 2015.