APA Abuja (Nigeria) The European Commission on Friday signed a 677 million Euro agreement that aims to help Nigeria tackle development challenges in the areas of governance, trade and peace for the period 2009 – 2013.

The agreement was signed in Brussels by European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Karel De Gucht, and by Nigeria’s Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Prof. Sylvester Monye.

According to a statement to APA in Abuja by the Commission’s Press Officer Onyemaobi Kelechi, the agreement is an ambitious step forward in cooperation and is a direct result of the Nigeria-EU political dialogue.

"It reinforces cooperation in three strategic areas - peace and security, governance and human rights, and trade and regional integration with € 677 million for the period 2009 – 2013 financed through the European Development Fund.’’

The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Karel De Gucht, said “I am delighted that a substantial amount of this financing will go to support conflict resolution and the peace process in the Niger Delta which has been ravaged by years of unrest.

"We are fully committed to supporting Nigeria in the process of restoring peace and bringing development to the region," he added. The agreement known as the "Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme" (CSP/NIP) of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) will provide a total of € 677 million between now and 2013.

The strategy and programme are based on the priorities established at the EU-Nigeria Ministerial meetings in Ljubljana, Slovenia (May 2008) and Prague, Czech Republic (June 2009).

The new approach to cooperation is set out in the Nigeria-EU Joint Way Forward agreed in Prague, which was an innovative tool to propel the relations and cooperation between longstanding partners.

This new cooperation strategy unites Nigeria and the EU around a common position and a common approach on peace and security ; governance and human rights and regional integration.