(LINA) - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has welcomed the adoption of a regional Action Plan 2015-2020 on March 18 of the European Union (EU) strategy on the Gulf of Guinea.

President Sirleaf believes the Plan would strengthen cooperation among the countries of the region to ensure coordinated actions across borders - at sea and on land.

She noted that the Plan will enhance the region’s capability to handle challenges of maritime insecurity and organized crime, including piracy and armed robbery, terrorism and human trafficking, drugs and arms smuggling, which constitute emerging threat to global peace and security.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader made the remarks at a reception in observance of EU Day at the residence of its Ambassador to Liberia, Ms. Tina Intelmannon, on Friday, May 8.

“It is a most pleasing coincidence that we join in celebrating European Union Day this year on the very day the World Health Organization (WHO) declares Liberia Ebola-free,” she said.

She observed that “this convergence of celebrations provides the opportunity, perhaps the work of Providence, to pay deserving tribute to the European Union for its enormous contribution to our efforts to eradicate the deadly the Ebola Virus from Liberia.”

President Sirleaf expressed her pleasure that Liberia-EU relations have been taken to a higher level with the elevation of the EU Mission in Liberia to the status of a full EU Delegation.

Going further, the Liberian leader highlighted that the EU has provided essential budget support to the country to help offset the negative impact of the Ebola virus disease on the economy and the attendant revenue shortfall.

“The EU and its member states continue to provide the needed support to Liberia in priority areas of infrastructure, security, human rights, agriculture, energy, and education,” she said.

Just recently, Liberia and the EU signed the Forest Governance and Trade Agreement. They also signed a €279 million development package under the European Union National Indicative Program (NIP) for the 11th European Development Funding (EDF) during the High-level International Conference on Ebola in March.

“To date the EU remains our biggest provider of direct budget support. It is also funding several important development projects of which the most visible is the Redlight to Gbarnga and Gbarnga to Ganta Road Project funded through the Liberia Reconstruction Trust Fund (LRTF). The EU and its Member States are major donors to the Trust Fund,” she indicated.
LINA GDJ/PTK