IP/96/1213
Brussels, 19 December 1996
MEDA: ECU 55 million funding for Morocco and Lebanon
The Commission has recently approved funding for two projects under the MEDA programme. These are a rural tracks and roads project in Morocco (ECU 30 million) and an investment plan project in Lebanon (ECU 25 million).
The MEDA Regulation is the European Union's financial instrument under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The ECU 3.425 million allocated for 1996-1999 will be used to fund projects in the following countries and territories: Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, and the Occupied Territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Morocco - rural road and track in the north:
The project is intended to cover the repair of rural roads and tracks in ten provinces of northern Morocco with a total population of about six million. The road network concerned covers almost 11 000 km and is in general in a very poor condition.
The programme is targeted at rural communities which will be the direct beneficiaries, but will bring other benefits to the rural municipalities through which the tracks and roads pass, and to the provincial services through the training of staff.
Lebanon - investment plan :
The general objective of the investment plan project is to underpin economic and social revival and development in Lebanon through the repair, extension and modernization of public infrastructure in selected sectors: energy, public works, public transport, water management and environmental protection.
The funds granted by the European Union will serve to cover the costs of technical assistance staff, training and purchase of equipment.
The European Union's contribution is compatible with Lebanon's reconstruction plan, which is being coordinated at international level: the most recent ministerial meeting on the question was held in Washington on 16 December which was attended by Mr Marín.
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