Brussels, 10/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European development policy needs to come into line with the joint challenges of the food, economic and climate crises and the new institutional framework created by the Lisbon Treaty, which makes this policy an element of foreign policy. But what direction should it take post-2013, in the framework of the new financial perspectives, to ensure that it is as effective as possible and that each euro invested makes the biggest possible contribution to inclusive growth and sustainable development in the developing countries? The Commission has its own ideas, but wishes to hear as much as possible from all interested parties. The Green Paper on the future of the development policy, which was adopted by written procedure on Wednesday 10 November, launches a major public consultation on the issue, which will be open until January. Contributions to this consultation will be used by the Commission to present its future guidelines in mid-2011.
“If the status quo continues, even if we increase the levels of aid we will not be able to achieve all of the Millennium Development Goals. This is unacceptable, and it is our duty to find responses and solutions. I am determined to re-direct expenditure and the development policies, working together with the development countries to increase the concrete impact of our programmes in terms of tangible results, in terms of achieving the MDGs, in terms of the impact on the lives of the citizens in the developing countries, and explaining to the citizens of Europe the need to increase aid budgets, even in times of recession at home”, Andris Piebalgs, the Commissioner for Development, told the committee on development of the European Parliament on Tuesday, on the eve of the adoption of the text (our translation).
The Green Paper raises the following questions: how can we ensure that the development policy has a strong impact, proof of added value for each euro invested? How can we facilitate more growth and inclusive growth in the developing countries, to ensure that everybody has the right to a decent life and future prospects? How can we promote sustainable development as a driving force behind progress? How can we obtain sustainable results in the field of agriculture and in terms of food security in countries in which 75% of the population depend on agriculture? “Tackling the problems of nutrition has a multiplying effect to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and agriculture plays a vital role in development in general, as the rate of growth it generates in the developing countries is four times more effective in reducing poverty than growth generated by other sectors”, the commissioner stressed.
To take part in the consultation http: //ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations/index_en.htm (A.N./transl.fl)