Brussels, 26/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - For the fourth UN high-level forum on aid effectiveness (HLF4), which will be held in Busan (South Korea) from 29 November to 1 December (EUROPE 10448), the European Parliament calls on the EU to defend an ambitious position likely to lead to a consensus on a global partnership for effective and more inclusive development, with greater involvement for the emerging donors. The resolution adopted on Tuesday 25 October by the plenary session is a call for the deepening and full implementation of the commitments made by the international community via the principles of the Paris Declaration and the Accra action programme, which have been unfortunately hindered by the financial crisis, the reduction of the level of public development aid (PDA). “We need a European leadership and strong political commitments in Busan to move the aid effectiveness agenda forward”, summarised rapporteur Christian Dan Preda (EPP, Romania).
As transparency and responsibility are fundamental conditions for the effectiveness of aid, all participants of HLF4 must fully subscribe to the principle of democratic appropriation of aid, by means of a more transparent use of the national systems, and the real involvement of the local authorities and civil society organisations in development policies, which is vital to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs) and guarantee good governance.
The MEPs are calling for better international coordination of the distribution of aid between countries, to avoid a dichotomy between the “favourite” aid partner countries and “aid orphan” countries. Wanting to reinforce the impact of the aid and its viability should not lead to a lukewarm development policy, concentrating solely on the “easy” countries, they state. The Parliament takes the view that the eradication of poverty and needs must remain decisive criteria when allocating development aid, and stresses the importance of a differentiated approach to aid effectiveness, taking account of the level of development of the beneficiary countries (least-developed countries, fragile states and middle-income countries) and their specific needs.
As financial aid is not a miracle cure and cannot guarantee long-term development alone, the Parliament reiterates that the local government and private sector must invest in achieving MDG projects and that it is up to the states to guarantee stability and the rule of law. As for the donor countries, these are called upon to better coordinate and harmonise their actions, and to simplify their procedures. (AN/transl.fl)