Press Release: EU releases extra €20 million crisis response and stabilisation support package for Mali

A first 20m Euro stabilisation support package was approved 15 February 2013 under the Instrument for Stability (IfS) to provide immediate support to Mali's law enforcement and justice services, the Malian local authorities, dialogue and reconciliation initiatives at local level, and the first phases of the upcoming electoral process. This decision puts into practice commitments agreed by the extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council of 17 January.

This much needed package is an early instalment of the EU's comprehensive response to the crisis in Mali, and complements the efforts of the Union through other instruments, in particular the financial and logistical support to the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), the EUTM and EUCAP Sahel CSDP missions, the current IfS long-term Counter-Terrorism project for the Sahel, the EU-INTERPOL Western Africa Police Information System, ongoing EU humanitarian aid, and development cooperation. Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs announced on 12 February 2013 the fully fledged resumption of development aid to Mali for an amount of some €250 million.

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