Brussels, 07/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - To increase the impact of European development policy, the European Parliament (EP) has called for it to concentrate in future on the poorest, most vulnerable countries and sections of the population, for it to have a substantial real-terms increase in finances and for it not to not to make direct budget aid to the governments of developing countries its priority. This was the message issued by MEPs in two resolutions adopted in Strasbourg on Tuesday 5 July.
Impact of the policy. In response to the Commission Green Paper on development policy after 2013, MEPs adopted a resolution on the impact of development policy (passed by the wide majority of 415 votes to 77, with 66 abstentions). Like rapporteur Filip Kaczmarek (EPP, Poland), they felt it essential that the focus be placed on the poorest and most vulnerable if the ultimate aim of eradicating poverty was to be achieved. Thus, 20% of European aid should be allocated to social services, with particular emphasis on primary health care and basic education because, the rapporteur said, these are the foundations of inclusive growth. The EP said that the impact of growth on the eradication of poverty could be far greater if inequalities were removed and human rights observed.
MEPs agreed that the EU should place greater emphasis on the impact and the results of its development policy while ensuring that it should not fall into the trap of favouring the “easy countries” where there are fewer risks, and phasing out aid to emerging countries. The resolution presses member states and the Commission to find new sources of funding for aid, such as a worldwide tax on financial transactions, but is against extension of the definition of Official Development Aid (ODA) as established by the OECD. That a number of donor countries have already concealed a reduction in the level of their ODA by passing off activities which do not really fit the definition as ODA justifies this EP stance.
Yes to budget support, but not too much. In the resolution drafted by Charles Goerens (ALDE, Luxembourg) and adopted by the overwhelming majority of 570 votes to 37, with 8 abstentions, the EP took the view that budgetary support to the governments of developing countries should aim, as a priority, to create a full fiscal system and a viable fiscal administration. Parliament rejected, however, the idea of making budgetary support the main way of providing aid and of establishing a collective target for the share of budget support in EU development aid. (A.N./transl.rt)