Dominican Government and European Union Sign 15.33 Million Euro Accord to Support Education along the Border

Dominican Government and European Union Sign 15.33 Million Euro Accord to Support Education along the Border

The Dominican government signed an accord with the European Union delegation that included a new contribution of 15.33 million Euros (equivalent to 800 million pesos) to be used, within the national budget, to reinforce existing educational programs in the border areas.

“Today, as a result of the advanced revision of these agreements due to the global economic and financial crisis, we will proceed to sign”

Domingo Jiménez, National Organizer for European Development Funds, and the Chief of Delegation of the European Union, Irene Horejs, signed the document at a ceremony held in the Mirabal Sisters Hall on the first floor of the National Palace.

Mr. Jiménez explained that the Dominican Republic will receive more than 30 million Euros in the form of donations to help protect the various entities working with the education system and government-sponsored social plans. He said the money will also be used to confront some of the unforeseen budget issues that may arise as a result of the serious financial crisis affecting the world for the past year.

He noted that on November 21, 2008 the European Commission and the Dominican government signed a Country Strategy Document and the National Indicative Program (PIN in Spanish) for more than 170 million Euros.

“Today, as a result of the advanced revision of these agreements due to the global economic and financial crisis, we will proceed to sign” the first addendum of this document with the idea of increasing the amount of aid and to adapt the European Union Strategy to the current context of the Dominican Republic, thus improving the impact response instruments to better handle the global crisis, noted Mr. Jiménez.

He went on to explain that through this initiative, the DR will receive around 30 million Euros in aid and budget support for education and training of technical professionals and some 23 million Euros in the form of budget support for the competitive sector.

“In any case, we will stress the financing of a program directed at supporting non-government organizations and local authorities for some 15.600 million Euros,” explained Jiménez

Irene Horejs, head of the European Union Delegation in the DR, said that this year they will double their cooperation effort in the Dominican Republic due to the global crisis and the earthquake that devastated Haiti.

She lauded the Dominican government’s solidarity as well as the grassroots support from the Dominican people in the face of Haiti’s tragedy.

“I want to point out that there are some 36 million Euros more than planned that are available right now during these difficult moments for the Dominican Republic. This has nothing to do with the 611 million Euros already promised by the European Union for the tragedy in Haiti and the rebuilding effort of that country,” said Ms. Horejs.

Others present at the signing ceremony included Achin Umbtáttez, Business attaché from the German Embassy in the DR; Jean Claude Buyck and América Bastides, Economic officers from the French Embassy; Antonio Fernández, deputy minister from the Spanish Embassy and Rita Dulei Rahman, Ambassador from the Netherlands.