The local Presidency of the European Union, the British High Commission in Fiji has confirmed that the EU has not made any statement in recent days on the future of its development assistance programme to Fiji.
In a statement issued in the last hour, the EU stresses that it would be premature to make any such statement in advance of discussions in the Council of the European Union which is expected next month.
The EU also confirms that sugar related funding of $8.9 million decided in 2006 in support of the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji and the Sugar Cane Growers Council is going ahead as planned.
Earlier today, THE EU MEDIA CONSULTANT DEBBIE SINGH also confirmed that the EU has not stopped the sugar industry assistance to be provided for this year which a total of $6.05 million to be channeled through the European Union Commitments for Sugar Reform.
Contrary to certain media reports about no funding being released for 2007, Singh added that 60% of the $4.2 million could be released within the next two months through a grant agreement, for the current planting season.
Meanwhile, Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry stresses that the interim government signed the 2006 Financing Agreement with the EU in June this year following the lifting of the Emergency Decree. Chaudhry says the media outlets reporting that the funds have been withheld are purposely misleading the public.
