Sudan to sign deal on release of EU aid: report

KHARTOUM, Jan 24 (AFP) — Sudanese First Vice President Ali Osman Taha left Monday with a high-level delegation for a three day-trip to Brussels during which he is expected to agree an aid deal with the European Union, the SUNA news agency reported.

The state-run news service said that during the visit an agreement for the release of 450 million euros in financial assistance from the EU would be signed.

The EU Commission has said it was ready to provide financial aid over the next three years to Sudan, following a 14-year period in which EU aid for the country was halted.

However the EU has also made the resumption of assistance conditional on progress in the seperate conflict in the western Darfur region, where it has called for “additional efforts” to bring about peace.