THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, as first amended in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 and as amended for the second time in Ouagadougou on 22 June 2010, and in particular Article 72 thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 617/2007 of 14 May 2007 on the implementation of the 10th European Development Fund under the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, and in particular Articles 5.4 and 8 thereof;
Whereas:
(1) Whilst Côte d'Ivoire has entered a post-crisis phase, the country faces a gap in the provision of essential services between the phasing out of humanitarian aid and the phasing in of long term development assistance. The lack of access to basic public services, to land, food and livelihoods resulting from the 2010 post electoral crisis still hinders the return of about 80,000 refugees and 180,000 internally displaced persons to their home villages and is negatively impacting on the reconciliation process.
(2) Among the vulnerable populations, the internally displaced, returnees and local communities, notably living near the border with Liberia, affected by instability, land ownership and ethnicity related conflicts, count among those most at risk.
(3) To reach populations in need, aid should be channelled through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or international organisations, including the United Nations (UN) agencies. Therefore, the European Commission should implement the budget by direct centralised management or by joint management.
(4) An assessment of the humanitarian situation leads to the conclusion that humanitarian aid actions should be financed by the European Union for a period of 18 months.
(5) The use of the 10th European Development Fund is necessary as all the funds for ACP countries in the general budget are entirely allocated.
(6) It is estimated that an amount of EUR 9,175,000 from Côte d'Ivoire's allocation for unforeseen needs (B-envelope) of the 10th European Development Fund is necessary to provide humanitarian assistance to populations affected by the crisis. Although as a general rule actions funded by this Decision should be co-financed, the Authorising Officer, in accordance with Article 103.3 of the Financial Regulation applicable to the 10th EDF , together with Article 253 of the Implementing Rules of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Union, may agree to the full financing of the actions.
(7) The Commission will inform the EDF Committee within one month of the adoption of the Decision and this in conformity with Article 8 of the Council Regulation (EC) No 617/2007.