Brussels, 07/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - In this decisive year for the global development agenda, the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU aims to adopt robust action on development cooperation and humanitarian assistance in order to increase the EU's credibility in the world.
Internally, its watchword will be the coherence of the EU's development policies.
On the international level, the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency come under a double banner - that of sustainable development, and that of the EU's strengthened presence in the world. These priorities will be guided by the third international conference on development financing (Addis Ababa, 13-16 July) for which the EU's position has already been decided (see EUROPE 11326 and 11322), the universal framework for sustainable development post-2015 and eradicating poverty (which must decided at the UN in September), and the climate conference in Paris (COP 21) at which a global treaty is due to be concluded covering the alleviation, adaptation, financing, technology transfer and capacity building of poor countries, and the transparency of policies.
For these three meetings, the Luxembourg Presidency will focus on ensuring the EU's contribution to the coherence of the three processes. The results of the Addis Ababa conference will be expected to provide the means for implementing future sustainable development goals (SDG) and ensuring enough public funding for development and support to developing countries' climate action.
Policy coherence. The Luxembourg Presidency will make policy coherence for development a priority in order to avoid what the EU gives in development aid with one hand being taken back in the other due to negative repercussions from other policies (such as trade policy, agricultural policy, fishing policy and migration).
Cotonou agreement. It will be for the Luxembourg Presidency to launch work on the future relations between the EU and the 79 ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries at the expiry of the Cotonou agreement in 2020. A Commission green paper on post Cotonou is expected in the autumn in order to launch a debate (see EUROPE 11342).
Humanitarian action. The Luxembourg Presidency aims to facilitate the debate as part of the world humanitarian summit with a view to establishing a common European position. The Presidency wants to strengthen coordination between humanitarian actors and civil protection workers following natural disasters, and also to strengthen the protection of vulnerable people in countries where there is conflict. (Aminata Niang)