EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION IN TOWN

EU PARLIAMENT DELEGATION ARRIVES


Kathmandu, 24 Nov: A three-member delegation of the European Parliament (EP) for Relations with South Asia led by Jean Lambert (Greens / UK) arrived here in the Capital on Thursday on a six-day visit in order to hold talks with Constituent Assembly members, RSS reports.

The visit aims to review the impact of EU-Nepal cooperation and to identify further areas of partnership that could be beneficial for Nepal's development. The visiting delegates will interact with MPs from across the political horizon and receive information on the possible areas of bilateral cooperation between the European Union and Nepal, the EU Delegation Office in Nepal stated in a press release.

The delegates will meet Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subash Nemwang and discuss the progresses achieved so far in the peace process and ways the EP could strengthen its links with Nepal’s legislature. The European Union has been extending an annual assistance of some EUR 30 million (NPR approx 3.3 billion) to promote peace, stability and development in Nepal.

Lambert will call on President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, as well as the Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala and CPN (UML) Chairman Jhalanath Khanal.

She will also meet the representatives of other political parties during her stay.

The EP delegation is interested in assessing the overall progress achieved by Nepal on a range of issues since the last regular EP visit, in May 2010, and primarily in the steps taken towards the drafting of a new constitution. Lambert will meet the officials of the Election Commission and will learn about the preparations to hold the next general elections, in view of a possible EU Election Observation Mission.

The delegates will be visiting Rupandehi to observe some of the EU-funded projects, one of them being the nutrition project, run in partnership with UNICEF. Other projects on education, youth and women development will also be covered during the field visit to Rupandehi. They will also visit projects related to the peace process.

The delegates will be involved in discussions with civil society representatives working in the field of development and environment.
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