Above: Haitian President Michel Martelly meets with victims of the Tabarre market fire last month (Photo: OP)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

European Union Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs is in Haiti for a meeting with President Michel Martelly, as part of a two-day visit to the country.

The Commissioner said that the EU’s focus was shifting from relief efforts to economic recovery.

“The European Union has lived up to its promises in delivering life-saving and long-term assistance to Haiti, whose recovery remains at the top of our priorities,” he said. “”Our ambition is now to accelerate the reconstruction and development process.”

Piebalgs is visiting the new road between Mirebalais and Hinche and lay the first stone of the Hinche and Cap Haitien road, part of a new 200km road between Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien.

“There are still substantial challenges to address for which good governance, political stability and effective planning are key elements for success,” he said. “To this end, we are launching, together with the Haitian authorities, a plan for the two years to come, focusing on bringing more help to the people who need it most.”

His visit followed a meeting with Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, in which the EU announced funding for projects on the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

After the earthquake in Haiti, the European Union pledged $1.6 billion. The European Commission pledged approximately $684.7 million of that, of which hit has reportedly committed 75 percent.