The current global financial crisis will not affect the European Union (EU)'s development aid to Cameroon in the near future, a representative of the European Commission said Friday.

Javier Puyol made the remarks when attending a meeting on trade and economic cooperation between the EU and Cameroon.

It is unnecessary to worry about the cooperation between the two sides in the next five years, he said.

But Puyol added that if the crisis continues to worsen, the EU may no longer be "generous."

Under an agreement signed before the global financial crisis, the EU should invest 239 million euros (about 317 million U.S. dollars) in Cameroon between 2009 and 2013.

In addition, the EU should also provide free economic aid worth up to 70 million euros (about 91 million dollars) each year to the African nation.

The bloc has invested in some 50 projects in Cameroon, including rural development and public financial reforms.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2008)