El Siglo newspaper reports that the European Union increased aid allotted for African, Asian and Caribbean countries to US$13,900 million, up 7%. According to the DR Ambassador in Brussels, Clara Quiñones President Leonel Fernández, president of the ACP bloc of nations, had requested the increase in a letter sent to Lipponeen Pavvo, acting president of the European Union, following the conclusion of the ACP Summit held in November in Santo Domingo. The aid is sought to help manage the transition to the new global trade schemes. ACP and European Union negotiators have been meeting in Brussels to finalize matters for the successor agreement that should be signed in January. The Lome IV agreement expires in 28 February 2000.
