Press Release: Commission adopts EUR17.5 million anti-landmine programme

The European Commission on 9 March 2006 adopted its 2006 Annual Work Programme for antipersonnel landmines with a budget of €17.5 million. The general objective of this programme was to assist countries suffering the consequences of antipersonnel landmines and to create the conditions necessary for their economic and social development. The focus countries in 2006 were to be Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Cambodia, Georgia, Yemen, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Afghanistan and Kosovo. The work programme announced on 14 March 2006 was part of the EC Mine Action Strategy which was supported by €60 million in the years 2005-07.