BRUSSELS, March 18 (UPI) -- The European Commission Friday welcomed the Group of Eight industrialized nations' promise to put Africa and development high on its agenda.
"More should be done for and by Africa," said Louis Michel, European Union Commissioner for Development and Humanitarianism. "I welcome the priority given to Africa by the (Britain's) presidency of the G8 and looks forward to building on this commitment during the (Britain's) presidency of the European Union in the second semester of 2005."
The commission praised the report from the Commission for Africa, calling it "an important contribution in what is a key year for development." The commission agreed trade could be a stronger driver of growth for Africa's development.
Michel is expected to put forward a development package in April outlining the future of the commission's developmental policy.
