Brussels, 01/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - There is often a world of difference between good intentions and putting these intentions into practice, and this is indeed the case involving the efficiency of EU support for good governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), judging by a critical report published on Tuesday 1 October by the European Court of Auditors. Although it is true that the EU intends to continue supporting governance in the DRC, it particularly has to improve the effectiveness of its assistance, which has turned out to be comprehensively limited. In its special report (RS No.9/2013), the Court of Auditors also states that the EU has to be more demanding in the way that it deals with the Congolese authorities.
The Court examined whether EU support for governance in the DRC matches the country's needs, whether it is helping to meet the targets set out and whether the European Commission is sufficiently taking into account when elaborating EU programmes the tenuous situation in the country. The audit focused on the efficiency of support for the electoral process, reform of the security sector (police and justice system), reform of public financial management and the decentralisation process over the 2003-2011 period, in which the EU, as the biggest donor in the world to the country, provided assistance worth almost €1.9 billion.
The verdict is a harsh one and Hans Gustav Wessberg, the member of the court responsible for the report summed up the situation with the following words: “fewer than half of the programmes examined have delivered, or are likely to deliver, most of the expected results. Sustainability is an unrealistic prospect in most cases”.
Although the Commission has a good knowledge of the main causes and consequences of the state's fragility, it did not sufficiently take into account the situation when devising EU programmes, according to the Court of Auditors. Therefore, if optimum opportunities for ensuring that EU funds are spent appropriately, the EU must ensure that programme funding is strictly linked to an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo on the conditions, objectives and the risks of the programme in question, and that this is solidly underpinned by efficient political dialogue with the government on the definition and application of appropriate reform policies and strategies.
The Court is recommending that the European Commission and European External Action Service (EEAS) strive to guarantee balanced aid distribution between the different provinces in the country, particularly the poorest; combine support at a central level with the level in the provinces to improve the management of natural resources, infrastructure and regeneration and development; reorientate EU support towards improving the management of natural resources on the basis of an exhaustive assessment of the country's needs . The Court also recommends that the Commission improves the way it assesses the risks that are likely to compromise effective programme development and adopt measures for preventing or limiting negative impact; that it sets out realistic objectives and introduces more conditionality for aid and promotes political dialogue.
Good governance is a fundamental EU value and key element in its development co-operation policy. In this respect it is included in the essential elements pertaining to the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and the 79 ACP countries (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific). (AN/transl.fl)