EU aid to Zimbabwe

24.2.2015

Question for written answer P-002740-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Gerolf Annemans (NI)

In mid-February 2015, it emerged that the European Union intended to give EUR 234 million to the Zimbabwe authorities in order to ‘encourage political reform’. In previous years, EU sanctions had been steadily relaxed, and now money is being donated directly to the Government of Zimbabwe.

Since Head of State Robert Mugabe returned to power as a result of electoral fraud in August 2013, what ‘political reforms’ has he implemented which justify this EU aid?

How can the Commission claim that respect for democratic principles, for example, has improved since that fraudulent election?

What message is the Commission conveying through this decision? That one should cling to power for as long as possible by no matter what means and that the EU will then ultimately cave in?