Musa Bala Gaye, the secretary of state for Finance and Ecconomic Affairs, has reaffirmed the Gambia’s coperative partnership with the  European Union (EU). Honorable Bala Gaye made this assertion during celebrations marking the birth of the European Union.

The occasion, which brought together secretaries of state, members of the National Assembly, diplomatic and counsular corps, government officials and a host of other dignitaries, was held on Saturday at the headquarters of the European Commission in Fajara.

Representing the Gambia government, SoS Gaye maintained that the development coorperation between the Gambia and the European Community, implemented over the past three decades, constitutes a mutually rewarding partnership. He then added that it represent one of the building blocks towards the establishment and maintenance of global peace and prosperity.

The SoS further highlighted the contributions of the European Union funded programmes in addressing some of our infrastructural and rural development concerns, among which are roads and educational infrastructure, portable water supply, the groudnut sub-sector, as well as capacity building of the Local Government Authorities.
 
Madam Helene Cave, Chargé d’ Affaires of the European Commission in the Gambia, stated that this year has been momentous for the EU, adding the Europe Day is the first of its kind. She recalled the epoch when people of countries once divided  by the ‘iron curtain’ gained the liberty to, among other things, travel freely across Europe (See Dr. Owl!). She spoke at lenght on the benefit of the European Union to the common citizens of the member countries. She went on to indicate that it was through the development of the idea of Europe that they were able to get togehter as one. It goes without saying that this process was essentialy based on the concept of  peace,  freedom and security shared by all the  citizens.

The European Union plenipotentiary  further pointed out that several countries were currently confronted with the challenge of sharp increase in food price, advising against losing sight of the fact that EU remains the largest donor of development aid. She disclosed that constitutes one of the largest contributor in the sector of aid in the African continent. She therefore  noted that the EU’s contributions to The Gambia had increased over the years.

She concluded by saying the EU’s cooperation is fully in line with the MDGs, PRSP, as the Vision 2020 already outlined the medium term and long term views of His Excellency, President Yaya Jammeh.