LAGOS - The European Union has given Niger one month to open consultations with it, warning of sanctions that could lead to a total suspension of cooperation because of a breakdown of democracy.
A letter was sent to President Mamadou Tandja on Tuesday, and jointly signed by Jose Manuel Barroso for the European Commission and Carl Bild of the Swedish presidency of the EU, in a copy made available said on Friday.
The senior EU leaders expressed "deep concern" at the political situation in the west African country and called for a "return to constitutional order in the shortest possible time."
Already, the EU has accused Tandja of "violation of the constitution" by forging ahead on August 4 with a constitutional referendum enabling him to stay in power for three more years, then seek re-election as often as he likes.
Tandja's move was widely opposed in Niger, by the trade unions and a number of civil society organisations as well as the political opposition.
The EU warned that it may resort to article 96 of the Cotonou Accord signed in 2000 with African, Caribbean and Pacific nations, which deals with the failure to uphold democratic principles and defend human rights.
Article 96 provides for the suspension of EU cooperation with an ACP nation after four months of discussions if the talks lead nowhere.
The EU has already suspended budgetary aid worth €180 million ($268 million) in protest at the August 4 referendum.
Brussels announced transitional measures against the uranium-rich country pending the outcome of the 120 days of consultations provided for in the Cotonou accord.
The 10th European Development Fund package for Niger is worth about €450 million.
On October 20, Tandja's government staged strongly contested parliamentary elections which were boycotted by the opposition.
The disputed poll induced the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to suspend Niger's membership for violation of ECOWAS pacts on democracy.
