Brussels - The European Commission on Monday threatened to freeze millions of euros in non-humanitarian aid to Mauritania following the recent appointment of a new prime minister by the country's military junta. In a statement, the EU's executive in charge of development and humanitarian aid, Louis Michel, said the appointment of Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf, a former ambassador to the EU in Brussels, was "regrettable."
The commission views the junta's coup of August 6 as a violation of the country's commitments with the EU to uphold democratic principles, respect human rights and the rule of law.
A spokesman for Michel said Monday that the commissioner was to propose suspending its current cooperation agreement with the country until an "acceptable solution" to the crisis is found.
Under the so-called Cotonou Agreement of 2005, the EU is helping build roads in Mauritania and train its bureaucracy. The budget allocated to Mauritania by the European Development Fund for the 2008-2013 period totals 156 million euros.
The EU is also financing the country's fishing sector to the tune of 86 million euros (128 million dollars) per year until 2012.
Humanitarian aid to Mauritania would not be affected, officials in Brussels said.
