Haiti has for many years featured among the priority countries of EU cooperation, and the EU is one of the main providers of funds for Haiti. Between 2000 and 2010 alone, more than €500 million was allocated to support the country’s development.
The devastating earthquake of 12 January 2010 only strengthened the European commitment to Haiti. In order to provide vital assistance and help rebuild the country, the EU (European Commission and EU countries combined), decided to provide more than €1.2 billion (or USD 1.8 billion) at the international conference on rebuilding Haiti which took place in New York in March 2010. The European Commission’s contribution to this significant effort amounted to €522 million. Between 2008 and 2013, a total of €889 million was allocated by the EU (excluding bilateral aid from EU countries) to help the country.
The EU’s programmes in Haiti derive from the national indicative programme and the strategy document signed by the European Commission and the government of Haiti, which set the development cooperation priorities for the period 2014-2020.
In order to complement EU countries’ contributions to Haiti as much as possible, the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) is focusing its support, totalling €420 million, primarily on State reform, infrastructure and urban development, food security and education.
Other sectors are also supported, notably binational cooperation with the Dominican Republic, trade and economic development, the social sectors, support for civil society and local authorities, and the promotion of human rights and democracy.