Press Release: EU Commission President Barroso on Tsunami disaster: European aid will be around 1.5 billion euros

Speaking on 6 January 2005 at the 'Special ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on the Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami' in Jakarta, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, announced an additional package of up to €450 million in humanitarian and reconstruction aid to help in the relief efforts following the Asian Tsunami disaster. This will bring the total support from the European Union (25 EU Member States + European Commission) around €1,5 billion, or US$ 2 billion. In addition, the President announced a proposal for a €1 billion (US$ 1.3 billion) 'Indian Ocean Tsunami Lending Facility', to be managed by the European Investment Bank. President Barroso stated: 'The people of Europe stand with the people of Asia in this great tragedy. We mourn for the dead. I would also like to state our firm commitment to support you in this hour of need. We will do everything in our power to help you in your efforts to put this tragedy behind us'.

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