Relations between the European Union (EU) and Niger are expressed primarily in terms of development aid and generally within the framework of:

• The coherence of internal and external development policies, ensuring a link between diplomacy, defense and development.
• The Cotonou agreements.
• The national indicative (cooperation) program funded by the 11th EDF (2014-2020) and the continuation of the 10th EDF (2008-2013) – to learn more about the cooperation programs and strategy, see the Niger Development Cooperation page.
• The West Africa Regional Indicative Program (RIP).
• The European strategy for security and development in the Sahel.
• The recent socio-economic development program (PDES 2012-2015).

Objectives and intervention framework

Support in this case focuses on political, economic, financial and administrative governance.

It contributes to the democratic process, to the promotion of human rights, democratization, the rule of law, citizenship, decentralization and good management of public affairs, and covers health and education.

Cooperation programs

Many European aid instruments are mobilized:

• The European Development Fund (EDF) translated into NIP: National indicative program (aligned with the country's priorities).
• The RIP: Regional Indicative Program, which includes various projects (infrastructure, migration, trade) at the regional level.

Then through other instruments, such as:

• Thematic budget lines.
• The Instrument for Long-Term Stability.
• The EU Water and Energy Facility initiatives.
• The common security and defense policy (PSDC / Civilian Mission EUCAP SAHEL Niger).
• Humanitarian aid (ECHO): beyond the development cooperation mechanisms listed above, the EU has also mobilized massively through humanitarian aid.
• The European Investment Bank intervenes in the field of investments and to extend the coverage of the water network of Niamey, the capital of Niger.

The cooperation strategy

The 2014-2020 national indicative program, under the 11th EDF, (with an amount of € 596 million programmed for the period 2014 - 2020), gives concrete form to the framework for the implementation of the Niger- EU and runs in partnership with Nigerien state and non-state authorities.

It is built around four main components, for a total of EUR 596 million:

• Food and nutrition security, and resilience (EUR 180 million, 30.2%
• Strengthening of the State's capacity for the implementation of social policies (EUR 200 million, 33.6%).
• Security, governance and peacebuilding (EUR 100 million, 16.7%).
• Opening up of regions affected by insecurity and the risk of conflict (EUR 90 million, 15.1%).

Certain activities are carried out outside the areas of concentration such as support to civil society (16 million euros), support to the National Authorizing Officer (Ministry of Finance) or even the technical cooperation facility (10 million euros for these two interventions).

In accordance with the principle of alignment of aid effectiveness, the programming of the 11th EDF is aligned with the programming cycle of the Nigerien economic and social development program (PDES) 2015-2016.

The five strategic axes of the PDES are:

• The establishment of conditions for the sustainability of balanced and inclusive development.
• Consolidation of the credibility and efficiency of public institutions.
• The promotion of food security and sustainable agricultural development, with the priorities of the initiative of the Nigerien authorities entitled "3N" (Nigeriens feed Nigeriens).
• Support for a competitive and diversified economy capable of delivering accelerated and inclusive growth.
• Social development which integrates, among others, the sectors of health, education and the principles of gender equality, access to drinking water and sanitation.

Justice - Rule of law

With regard to the consolidation of the rule of law, the “Good Governance” section supports the development and implementation of the sectoral support program for judicial reforms (PARJ) through the Support Project for Justice and to the rule of law (PAJED).

In particular, this project supports the modernization of the Nigerien legal framework in trade and human rights. It supports the implementation of the judicial reforms initiated to improve the performance of the system and thus bring justice closer to the people.

The development of a sectoral policy, which is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Justice, is one of the most important objectives that PAJED supports.

In addition, with a view to strengthening capacities to fight organized crime and trafficking, the EU has committed since the 9th EDF to provide support in the area of ​​internal security. The target groups for this support include the security forces, the judicial police and other elements of the judiciary who fight against crime.

Other instruments, besides the EDF, are used by the EU to support Niger in this sector and to contribute to the efforts for stability and peace. In this perspective, the Interim Response Program (PRI) of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) with a budget of 18.7 million euros for the period 2014-2016 aims to reduce risks of insecurity and to support economic and social activity in 61 communes identified by the Niger authorities as priorities in terms of security and development issues.

In line with the objectives of the EU's Sahel strategy, this program, made up of 15 projects, the main one of which is directly implemented by the High Authority for the Consolidation of Peace, pursues three specific objectives. These are: (i) strengthening security in certain regions of Niger; (ii) provide opportunities for young people, in terms of training, employment and economic, cultural, sporting or leisure activities; and (iii) promote tolerance and dialogue for the peaceful management of conflicts.

Health

The government's objective is to strengthen the national health system on the basis of the Health Development Plan (PDS) which reflects Niger's desire to make effective the right of access to health through interventions planned on several strategic axes.

Cooperation is implemented in accordance with the sector policy focused on decentralization through the operationalization of health districts, the reorganization and reform of the health system, the improvement of health coverage as well as the participation and encouragement of private initiatives.

The EU intervenes mainly in the field of improving access to primary health care, access to reproductive and sexual health services (with UNFPA), prevention of malnutrition (MDG acceleration initiative with Unicef) and capacity building for the Ministry of Public Health, particularly the National Health Information System (SNIS).

The EU is also involved in the construction and transformation of health facilities. The implementation of budget support programs (PPARP 2009-2011 and CBGD) contributed to the improvement of sectoral indicators such as free maternal and child care. These programs have also made it possible to revitalize the sector's political dialogue as well as the implementation of the structural reforms contained in the PDS.

Education

Since 2003, the sector has been the subject of a real sectoral approach structured around an education and training sector program (2014-2024) (PSEF) which constitutes the first long-term planning document of the education in Niger and a common frame of reference for the government and its development partners, including the EU.

The aim is to ensure equity and improve the quality of education. The EU supports the implementation and development of this sector policy through overall budget support and aid through projects. It pays particular attention to the sustainability of the education policy by providing additional financial support to the sector (education fixed tranche of budget support), by offering support for the implementation of activities and by participating in the technical monitoring of PSEF developments.

Improving the quality of primary education as well as strengthening the planning and management of activities in the sector remain two major concerns of all EU interventions.

In addition, the EU encourages the development of a development strategy within the framework of a sectoral approach and a comprehensive vision of education.

In this perspective, it provides specific support for the operationalization of the continuing vocational training and apprenticeship strategy which aims to structure a sustainable national training system. It supports the institutional strengthening of actors and supports training activities for the benefit of artisans, apprentices and certain vulnerable categories.

In collaboration with Luxembourg Development Cooperation, the EU notably supports "support for the national vocational and technical training and integration program for young graduates".

EU budget support, notably PPARP and CBGD, has contributed substantially to the progress made in the primary education sub-sector, particularly the gross enrollment rate for girls and the completion rate. These two rates reached 75.3% and 65.9% respectively in 2014. These programs have also made it possible to revitalize the sector's political dialogue as well as the implementation of the structural reforms contained in the PPDE and the PSEF.

Economic relations

The Nigerien economy is characterized by a predominance of the primary sector, the two main branches of which are agriculture and livestock. The secondary sector is mainly made up of the mining and petroleum sector. The tertiary sector includes telecommunications, transport, trade and non-market services of public administrations.

The EU, the largest trading partner

While the EU is Niger’s largest trading partner, the trade balance is in large deficit with the rest of the world. More information available via the "Statistics" page of DG Trade (select Niger from the list).

45% of Niger's budget is financed by external support. The main donors are the EU, the World Bank, the United Nations system, the African Development Bank, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark (the EU and Member States including Germany, Spain and Italy represent 25% of external support).

Encouraging foreign investors, the challenge to be taken up

Improving the Investment Code and the fight against corruption are two of the priorities of Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou's program. The revival of the agricultural sector through a holistic approach and mining resources, in particular uranium, oil and gold, offer real economic prospects, provided they benefit from long-term political stability and ensure rigorous management of public finances and resources.

Macroeconomic support

The “Economy, Trade, Good Governance” section coordinates and strengthens several priority areas of cooperation between the EU and Niger in the following areas: budget support, institutional support, the private sector, health and education, democracy and civil society, justice and the rule of law, and the defense of human rights.

Budget support

Budget support is one of the major axes of cooperation between the EU and Niger. Governed by the European Development Fund, it supports the macroeconomic reform program of the government of Niger, the reforms in public finance management and the implementation of the economic and social development plan (PDES 2012-2015) since 2013.

With regard to public finances, the program aims to improve public expenditure management, tax collection, budget transparency and external control of public management.

Trade relations

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) promote economic development in West Africa through trade. They actively support regional integration and growth, helping to eradicate poverty.

The context of the negotiations

The EPA negotiations between the EU and the ACP countries aim to replace, since January 1, 2008, the trade part of the Cotonou Agreement.

The Cotonou Agreement trade regime is incompatible with WTO rules because it discriminates against developing countries that are not part of the ACP group.

EPAs are reciprocal preferential trade agreements, whereby each party undertakes to remove restrictions on imports from the other party over a negotiated period. The advantage of EPAs is the financial assistance that accompanies them and facilitates their implementation as well as the promotion of regional integration, in order to include the ACP countries in the world economy.

The main points of the EPA negotiations

After ten years of discussions, West Africa and the EU concluded negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in February 2014. More details on the 2014 agreements and the partnership between the two regions on the "Publications" page of DG Trade: EU – West Africa EPA.

“Everything but arms” for the least developed countries (LDCs)

This "Everything But Arms" initiative, independent of the EPA negotiations and the Cotonou trade regime, was set up unilaterally by the EU in 2002 for all LDCs around the world. It therefore complies with WTO rules.

Among the ECOWAS + Mauritania countries, there are 13 LDCs which continue to benefit from duty-free access to the Community market for most of their products, without any obligation of reciprocity, even in the absence of a signed EPA.

With a total contribution of 49 million euros for the year 2015 and an initial budget of 36 million euros in 2016, the European Commission is among the main donors providing vital and emergency aid to Niger.

To meet the country's humanitarian needs, assistance will include medical support and treatment for serious illnesses, as well as prevention and treatment of "severe acute malnutrition", in the most vulnerable areas.

The Commission will continue to commit to improving the delivery of emergency food aid, while speeding up the process of implementing the free health care policy and laying the necessary foundations for the creation of safety nets. social security.

In 2015, the Commission helped treat around 250,000 severely malnourished children and women. In response to escalating violence in northeast Nigeria, the European Commission has stepped up funding to ensure emergency aid for refugees and returnees in the remote Diffa region in the east of the country. This area received EU aid amounting to 13 million euros in 2015.

Finally, since the multiplication of malaria outbreaks in April 2015, ECHO has supported the fight against these epidemics by having notably released 1 million euros for the purchase of vaccines and the organization of medical treatment.

Objectives and intervention framework

The EU and Niger are committed to involving civil society in the development of the country as an active actor in the democratic process and as a privileged spokesperson for the population.

Democracy

The aim is to support the democratization of the country, the promotion of an environment conducive to civil society, the development of a constructive and structured participation of the latter, as well as the capacity building of civil society organizations ( OSC).

On the democratic level, the approach covers support for the holding of free and transparent elections as the mechanism of choice for government and administration at all levels.

The EU therefore participated in the financing of electoral processes in Niger. Support for the 2015-2016 electoral process is also envisaged under the 11th EDF. Since 2012, civil registration has also benefited from EU support. Civil status is the source database for other files, such as the voters list. The proper functioning of the civil registry also makes it possible to have reliable statistics.

Support to civil society is governed by the 9th, 10th and 11th EDF. It intervenes at different levels.

The civil society support program (PASOC I and II), with a budget of 13 million euros, ended in December 2015. It helped improve the institutional environment (regulatory , mechanisms for consultation with the government) of CSOs and capacity building for civil society to play its role as a key development actor and promoter of the implementation of development policies at the national, regional and local levels.

New orientations and action priorities will be decided within the framework of the 11th EDF (2014-2020) and the continuation of support to civil society for which a budget of 16 million euros has been allocated in the 11th EDF.

In addition, many projects funded under several budget lines (Investing in People, European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights - EIDHR, and support to non-state actors and local authorities NSA / LA ) aim, among other things, to strengthen the rights, duties and actions of civil society in the country.

To date, the projects funded cover sectors such as culture, citizenship, consolidation of press freedom, quality education for children, integration of young people, protection and promotion of the rights of women.

Locally, since 2010, the Delegation has launched five calls for proposals for a total amount of 5.5 million euros which have benefited several municipalities or regions, local NGOs individually or in partnership with international NGOs.

Some projects carried out by non-governmental organizations responding to emerging problems have in the past made it possible to support the creation of microenterprises for disadvantaged young people and women.

They have also enabled the strengthening of associative actors working in the troubled children sector and, transversally, that of health, food security, environmental protection and decentralization.

Moreover, a roadmap for civil society in Niger was drawn up jointly with CSOs, EU Member States, the Nigerien State, other TFPs and the Delegation. It made it possible to present an inventory of civil society, current commitments and priorities to be taken into account between 2014-2017.