Anti-Piracy: The IOC and the EU Signed a Financing Agreement of EUR 2 million

The Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Mauritius, Alessandro Mariani, and the secretary general of the IOC, Callixte d'Offay, proceeded to the signing of a financing agreement of € 2 million in The project program support maritime security in the region Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean.

A regional program that is part of the Interregional Coordination Committee (CIRC), which includes four regional organizations, including IOC, COMESA Community of East Africa (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority Development (IGAD). IARC is in Mauritius for its mid-term review of the 10th EDF.

The signing ceremony of the convention was held at the La Plantation Hotel, Balaclava. Present at the ceremony, representatives of the CIRC, the European Commission and a delegation of the European Union.

From the outset, in his speech, Alessandro Mariani said that maritime security is a very important strategy for regional development. "From this signature, we hope to conduct an exercise in exchanging ideas on the margins of a larger project, " he said.

Indeed, a regional maritime security of 25 million will be led by IGAD in 2013. It will focus on capacity building and coordination of criminal justice systems.

For its part, Callixte of Offray's view that piracy is a major problem in the region of the Indian Ocean. "The issue of safety is a priority in light of regional developments," he added.