Brussels, 22/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has called for synergies between the European trade and development policies to be promoted.
As the liberalisation of trade does not automatically lead to a reduction of poverty in the developing countries, and as development aid does not automatically promote growth, the EU policies need to be better designed with regard to the objectives of development and better targeted aid accompanied by technical tools, according to the MEPs, in their adoption of resolutions drafted by Tokia Saïfi (EPP, France) and Alf Svensson (EPP, Sweden), on the basis of a Commission communication presented in early 2012 (see EUROPE 10541), and adopted at a plenary session in Strasbourg on 16 April.
The Saïfi report calls on the EU to work with the developing countries and to provide increased non-financial support, particularly technical assistance, for instance in sanitary and phytosanitary matters. The financial aid should be focused on support for independent farmers and cooperatives, or on the creation of social and environmental goods and services, including eco-tourism. Donors are called upon to promote innovative forms of financing and partnership. The text also recommends that the method of interregional funding schemes be rolled out further.
The Svensson report emphasises the need for coherence between the CAP and the development objectives of the EU, criticising agricultural subsidies. The text also stresses the risks brought about by the trade liberalisation championed by the EU and the efforts at internationalisation called for of the developing countries on local production and dependence on exports of raw materials. The Svensson report calls on the Commission to include provisions applicable in the field of human rights in all future bilateral trade and cooperation agreements. Lastly, the text stresses the need for social and environmental standards to be observed by EU companies operating in the developing countries. (EH/transl.fl)