370 million euros to fund socio-economic projects

A visiting European Union (EU) delegation yesterday discussed the National Indicative Program for Egypt, which assesses the key funding priorities for socio-economic projects carried out under the MEDA II program in 2002-2004.

Egypt expects to receive at least 370 million euros for these projects through the MEDA II program, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ahmed Al-Darsh said following his talks with the delegation. The projects cover healthcare, basic education and rural development.

The MEDA II program has allocated 5.35 billion euros to the EU's 12 Mediterranean partners during the 2000-2006 period.

Some 86 percent of this funding will go to development projects, while the remainder will promote regional cooperation.

It will be further divided into three categories: socio-economic projects, political and military development and human rights activities.