EU Donates us$50 Million
to Costa Rica
The first round of
negotiations between the
European Union and Costa
Rica has come to a good
end this week with the
EU giving Costa Rica a
little under us$50
million to promote
social development and
regional integration
over the next 6 years.
us$37 million will go
towards reducing
inequalities and poverty
throughout the country
in sector such as
healthcare, employment,
environment and
education. The rest of
the grant will be used
to help integrate the
Central American Customs
Union while still
remaining competitive.
The donated money is
part of ongoing
negotiations between the
EU and the Central
Americas that will
continue into 2008 and
include other topics
such as discussing a
possible free trade pact
and greater political
dialogue.
Other Central American
nations however will be
receiving larger
donations such as Panama
will be receiving us$54
million, and Nicaragua a
massive us$305 million.
This is in reflection to
the varying economic and
aids needs for these
countries.
The acting Costa Rican
Foreign Minister, Joao
Aguiar, stated that this
was definitely not a bad
thing proving that Costa
Rica is one of the most
economically stable
countries in the Central
Americas. |
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