I would like to personally welcome all of you today to this Conference. We are here to
deliver a New Deal for Somalia. And I am delighted to see so many representatives from
Somalia, from the region and from around the world. This is fundamentally what this New
Deal is about: the people of Somalia and the international community coming together, in
partnership, to help build a better future for all Somalis.

Over the past two years, there has been considerable change in the country. Where there
was despair after 20 years of war, of famine, of destitution, now there is hope – hope that a
better future is achievable. The Compact will be the expression of that hope and I would
like to praise all those who have been involved in preparing it for today – great work, at
great speed. We now need a great effort to ensure it is implemented. There are three
particular elements of the Compact, and how it came into being, that I want to highlight.

First, and above all, that it comes from the Somali people. They were the ones who
committed themselves to the changes, who have carried through the political reforms, and
who put forward the Compact’s priorities and its purpose. It is essential that the trust
between the people and those who represent them, and between the clans and regions of
Somalia, is re-built. This takes time. But this time all parties have shown their commitment
to make it work, and to take ownership of the process. Without this, we cannot succeed.

Read more here: Speech by President of the European Council