(1)

In accordance with the EU Declaration on the Financial Protocol, annexed as Declaration XVIII to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, out of the total amount of EUR 13 500 000 000 of the ninth European Development Fund (EDF) for ACP countries, only EUR 12 500 000 000 were immediately released upon the entry into force of the Financial Protocol on 1 April 2003.

(2)

On 22 March 2004 the Council of the EU agreed on the establishment of a ‘Water Facility’ for ACP countries of an amount of EUR 500 000 000 and to release a first allocation of EUR 250 000 000. This decision was taken on the basis that the level of commitments and disbursements at the end of 2003 in conjunction with forecasts for the period 2004 to 2007 presented by the Commission indicated that ninth EDF resources for ACP countries could be fully committed.

(3)

This first allocation of EUR 250 000 000 was released and distributed.

(4)

By the said decision, the Council of the EU decided, in the light of the outcome of the mid-term reviews of the country strategies and of the performance review of the EDF undertaken by the Council before the end of 2004, to decide, before the end of 2005, on the mobilisation of a second allocation of EUR 250 000 000 and the remaining EUR 500 000 000 of the conditional EUR 1 000 000 000 referred to in Article 2(2) of the Internal Agreement for purposes to be agreed,

1.

EUR 185 000 000 from the envelope for support for long-term development, referred to in paragraph 3(a) of the Financial Protocol;

2.

EUR 24 000 000 from the envelope for regional cooperation and integration, and paragraph 3(b) of the Financial Protocol;

3.

EUR 41 000 000 from the Investment Facility in paragraph 3(c) of the Financial Protocol.