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Herald Reporter
THE European Union will engage Government directly in development programmes with effect from November this year as part of measures to normalise relations with Zimbabwe, an official said yesterday.
Addressing journalists in the capital, director of East and Southern Africa with the European External Services in Brussels, Mr Koen Vervaeke said Article 96 measures of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement would be revoked to allow direct co-operation with Zimbabwe.

The EU has been operating in Zimbabwe through non-governmental organisations.

Mr Vervaeke said this was in line with efforts to normalise relations between the two countries.

The EU, however, maintains a travel ban on President Mugabe and First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe.

“There is an agreement that Article 96 process will end on November 1 (2014) unless something really dramatic (happens) . . . What it means is that from November we will enter into a development relationship which is a major development in our relationship,” he said.

Mr Vervaeke and director-general for development and co-operation, Mrs Francesca Mosca, flew into Harare from Brussels to brief Government on the EU’s decision regarding the widely condemned illegal sanctions the bloc imposed in 2002.

Mr Vervaeke could not explain why the EU maintained travel bans on President Mugabe and Amai Mugabe, but said Government should continue with the “progress” made over the years.

Mrs Mosca said they would engage Government on a national indicative plan to identify areas of co-operation.

“It is quite a remarkable step forward. What we are doing now is to prepare the necessary steps in order to be able to present this national indicative programme, to our member states, to our parliament, and be ready to sign it if the measures, as the decision have been taken, are lifted in November,” she said.

Mrs Mosca said Zimbabwe would benefit from a fund for implementing the Economic Partnership Agreement that Harare signed, as well as a regional co-operation package being negotiated with sadc.