Unique in the world: 50 years of north-south cooperation

It was when the Founding Fathers of the European Union, Germany, France, Italy and the three Benelux countries, were on the verge of completing the Treaty of Rome negotiations that France proposed that a place be reserved for an ‘Association Agreement’ with Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) – essentially those countries associated with France.

Peace agreement prompts EU aid pledge

The ceasefire between the Central African Republic and the rebel ‘Armée Populaire pour la Restauration de la Démocratie (ARPD)’, signed in Libreville, Gabon on 9 May has triggered European Commission development aid pledges.

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European bank lending backs South Africa’s steel industry

A €12.5M loan from the Luxembourg European Investment Bank (EIB) to South Africa’s Safal Steel will boost the manufacture and distributor of residential roofing in South Africa. It will help set up a Greenfield metal coating...