The principles, values, approaches and priorities of the future European development cooperation policy, which is to be better armed to address global challenges such a climate change, security or migration, were approved by European ministers in Brussels on Friday 19 May.
The EU Foreign Affairs Council, meeting in its Development formation, unanimously adopted the new European Consensus on Development, which will set out, for the EU and its member states, the framework of European development policy for the next 14 years, in line with the 2030 universal agenda for sustainable development and its 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The text was adopted without discussion, as the ambassadors of the 28 member states to the EU had managed the previous day to overcome Hungary's reluctance concerning 'migration' aspects (see EUROPE 11791). For the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU, this is a source of pride. "This agreement confirms the commitment of all member states to work together on a shared agenda and priorities for the EU's cooperation with all developing countries over the years to come", Malta's Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella stated.
Under the terms of the Consensus, poverty reduction will remain the primary objective, and future development cooperation will be based on rights, gender equality, the creation of decent jobs and a guarantee that no one is left behind.
In response to the SDGs, the text covers a range of areas for action, highlighting good governance, democracy, the rule of law and human rights, migration and mobility, youth, investment, trade, environmental protection, sustainable energy and climate action.
"The world has changed. We are adapting our policy to that. We move from a traditional approach of donor/recipient to a partnership approach in which we work together to cover all different fields. It is mainly still poverty reduction and elimination but also covering many fields that affect living conditions on the ground (...) implementing the SDGs, looking at governance, the rule of law, the environment, women's rights and the place of youth in society. It is a much broader concept that fits the philosophy of the SDGs, looking at the complexity of the world we are facing", High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stated. Giving assurances that the EU would remain the United Nations' primary partner, primary supplier of humanitarian aid and development aid, she added, "our main and privileged partner remains Africa".
Alongside Mogherini, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed, who had been invited to the session, underlined the need to implement the SDGs and to obtain results in the different countries and regions, as at global level. "We have an agenda. We need a partnership to meet the challenges of conflicts, migration, demography, climate change, funding and innovation", she said.
In the view of European Commissioner for Development Neven Mimica, this European Consensus is "a step for strengthening the role of the EU as global actor and promoter of SDG implementation".
An unrealistic Consensus, according to NGOs. Pleased that the eradication of poverty remains the top priority, and that the Consensus contains elements of solidarity, European development NGOs have nevertheless spoken out about the risk of "using" the EU's future development policy for the purposes of security, trade and migration control.
"The Consensus is unrealistic. Development cooperation cannot pretend to lead to sustainable development if it is, at the same time, used to serve Europe's economic, commercial, migration and security interests. The overall direction may even ultimately hamper the achievement of the positive elements in the Consensus”, Tanya Cox, a member of CONCORD’s steering group on sustainable development, stated.
The European Parliament's agreement is expected on 31 May, which should enable the signature of the joint statement on the new European Consensus on Development by the Parliament, Council and Commission on 7 June, at the European Development Days on investment on development. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)