The European Union (EU) is expected to approve an M200 million water reticulation project that will cover the Teyateyaneng, Mapoteng, Morija, Roma, Maputsoe and Quthing towns, EU Head of delegation, Mr. Peter Beck Christiansen announced at celebrations to mark Europe Day in Maseru on May 9.

Several procedural matters were still to be set in motion before the project could be up and running. These included the recruitment of the technical  supervisory staff, procurement of equipment and tendering for the works, Mr Christiansen said.

Management of the project would be handed over to government when a solid public finance management system as well as a sector policy were in place, he said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Monyane Moleleki, speaking at the same occasion, said since its inception on the 9th of May 1950, the Union has undergone very interesting developments, under various names, and yet has maintained its major focus as the centre-piece of European integration.

Many of the regional organizations that are found in the world today got their inspiration from, and are consequently modeled on the European Union.

The EU is one of the long-standing and dependable development partners of this country and it is hoped that the organisation's leadership will continue to extend a hand of partnership as Basotho tackle the challenges of development.

The country's education, health, rural development, local government, governance and public sector improvement initiatives continue to benefit from this partnership, Mr. Moleleki said.

10 May 2005