Brussels, 23/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - The report by Eleni Theocharousu (EPP, Cyprus) on reducing poverty and creating jobs in development countries was adopted in Strasbourg on Tuesday 21 September by a show of hands. The European Parliament thus sets out a series of recommendations on the challenges facing these countries (as regards economic matters, citizenship and governance), and the challenges facing donors.
Challenges. On economic matters, the EP especially invites the governments of the developing countries to: - diversify their economy through the development of their manufacturing sector and to avoid overburdening businesses (especially SMEs, which generate the most jobs and growth); - sign up to the Decent Work Agenda of the International Labour Organisation (ILO); - prioritise action to help meet basic social needs and promote the protection of children and vulnerable women, as well as young people at risk, unqualified migrant and low-paid workers, rural workers and persons with disabilities; - and to extend land ownership to the poor and dispossessed.
With regards to citizenship and governance, the EP above all invites all developing countries to urgently sign the United Nations convention against corruption, to foster independent parliaments, and to implement the right to non-discrimination.
Shared challenges. The EP requests, inter alia, that the responses to the global economic crisis to be devised by country and region should include the measures mentioned in the ILO policy instrument, “A Global Jobs Pact”, in order to facilitate investment in high labour-intensive sectors and environmentally-friendly sectors, as well as in social protection systems.
Challenges for donors. On the subject of aid, the EP above all calls: - for the adoption of a common definition of poverty among the member states to identify the relevant working fields and the beneficiaries entitled to EU development aid; - on the EU to review its subsidy policies, especially in the agricultural sector; - and on the Commission and member states to promote sustainable enterprises with decent jobs creation.
When it comes to capacity-building and global governance, the Parliament urges the EU to target its aid to building up social protection systems in developing countries as an important and effective means to reduce poverty. It also calls on the EU and the G20 to take concrete measures to eradicate abuses of tax havens, tax evasion and illicit financial flights from developing countries, and to allow these resources to be invested in developing countries. (G.B./transl.jl)