Note:Your browser doesn't correctly display this page because of a bad stylesheets interpretation. This is probably due to an old browser version.

 
[Luxembourg 2005 Presidency of the Council of the European Union]
 Version française        
 

You are here : Home > News > Press Releases > January 2005 > Jean-Claude Juncker on coordinating aid to south-east Asia: Key role for UN
Print this page Send this page

Press Release
Jean-Claude Juncker on coordinating aid to south-east Asia: Key role for UN

Date of release : 03-01-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations


On 2 January, the President of the European Council and Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker spoke to the press about EU aid to the populations affected by the tidal wave that hit south-east Asia on 26 December:

“I have held talks with the Minister for Cooperation, Jean-Louis Schiltz, who is at the scene of the disaster together with European Commissioner Louis Michel. The European delegation has been in contact with the Sri Lankan authorities and aid organisations working in the area. They realise that aid is being well coordinated, but that aid on the ground needs to be further stepped up.

"The outgoing Dutch Presidency and the new Luxembourg Presidency have taken the initiative of convening a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council with the EU ministers for development cooperation and health, to be held in Brussels on 7 January. A meeting of experts in preparation of this encounter will be held on 5 January.

"The Luxembourg Minister for Health, Mars Di Bartolomeo, has been in contact with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva on 1 January. The meeting resulted in a close cooperation. The Luxembourg Presidency has comprehensive and up-to-date information on the situation.

"I have regular contacts with my European and international counterparts, in order to stay informed.

"We must ensure that the overall coordination of aid to south-east Asia is being carried out under the aegis of the United Nations Organisation.

"Support for the tsunami-stricken region should not be viewed solely over the short term. Our solidarity and aid must be maintained over a period of several years."



This page was last modified on : 03-01-2005

Top Top