Joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, with Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, interim President of the Central African Republic in the EP in Brussels. Statements by Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), Gilles PARGNEAUX (S&D, FR), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Louis MICHEL (ALDE, BE), Stelios KOULOGLOU (GUE/NGL, EL) and Bodil CEBALLOS (Greens/EFA, SE).

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

exchange of views

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

EU - Central African Republic (T)

VALERO, Bodil (Greens/EFA, SE)

GAHLER, Michael (EPP, DE)

MICHEL, Louis (ALDE, BE)

joint meeting

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

PARGNEAUX, Gilles (S&D, FR)

KOULOGLOU, Stelios (The Left, EL)

SAMBA-PANZA, Catherine (CF)

Exchange of views with Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, interim President of the Central African Republic: extracts from the joint meeting

Cutaways (3 shots), arrival of Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, Interim President of the Central African Republic.

SOUNDBITE (French), Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, Interim President of the Central African Republic, "We are doing a lot better now in the Central African Republic. We have had clear improvement in terms of the security situation, even though things are very fragile, peace is slowly being restored in Bangui and in certain other areas in the country. When it comes to the humanitarian front, the number of internally displaced people have been reduced - out of one million people counted a year ago, we now have four hundred and fifty thousand fewer today and that is a clear measure indicator which is very important. Economically speaking we have gone from a growth rate of minus 37% at the hight of the crisis, to 1.6% for year 2014. And we are still making progress, we are heading towards 4 or 5% growth rate for 2015."

SOUNDBITE (French), Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, Interim President of the Central African Republic: "We always need multi-dimentional help from Europe to be able to overcome many challenges. First of all we have the electoral challenge to face where an extra effort still has to be made, we need a further 18 million dollars, then there is also the budgetary deficit to deal with where we need further 22 million dollars. This money has to be found. And then  of course we got a security challenge as well and the disarmament de-mobilization and reintegration challenge as well the DDR challenge. There we need financing of 67 million dollars."

SOUNDBITE (German), Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), "The reform of the security sector, there has already been reference to the fact that members of the militias are going to be re-integrated into the army. Do you feel it would be helpful to have advice or help from the EU or perhaps from other African countries that have experience in this field?"

SOUNDBITE (French), Gilles PARGNEAUX (S&amp;D, FR), "What about the criticism from Amnesty International - they said that they cannot see anything that would guarantee the end of the impunity of some former Central African leaders who are now outside of the CAR, now this is quite important."

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), "On the issue of peace, reconciliation, ending impunity, injustice, are you confident that the trials or the hearings can all be held domestically?"

SOUNDBITE (French), Louis MICHEL (ALDE, BE), "I would just like to say here, in this Parliament, that the forum was a success, essentially thanks to the talent and commitment shown by Mrs. Samba-Panza. I think it needs to be that said she deserves our support and I would like this Parliament to work with her, to push donors to actually make good on their promises."

SOUNDBITE (English), Stelios KOULOGLOU (GUE/NGL, EL), "More than half of the population of Central African Republic are considered to be in need of humanitarian assistance. That means that over 600 million USA dollars need to be mobilized according to the Strategical response plan. But so far only 11% of that amount has been mustered. So my question to you Mrs President - how optimistic are you that the basic needs of your people will be met?"

SOUNDBITE (Swedish), Bodil CEBALLOS (Greens/EFA, SE), "In the west we often are given a certain image of conflict of the CAR, we learn that it is conflict between different religions but actually that is not the impression I got at all when I was in CAR so it would be useful if madam President can say a few words about that issue as well;"

SOUNDBITE (French), Catherine SAMBA-PANZA, Interim President of the Central African Republic: "A year ago when I came here I explained our priorities. Setting up the electoral process, providing assistance to the population. We assessed the situation together with the UN and OCHA, we looked at the humanitarian needs, they were identified and they were assessed. One year later there still has not been any disbursements."