Support for Ukraine is the number one development priority of the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council - a first in the history of European development policy.
“The Swedish Presidency will focus on support for Ukraine and addressing the global impact of Russia’s aggression”, says Sweden in its six-month work programme for the ‘Development’ section of the ‘External Relations’ chapter.
Although Ukraine is not a developing country, the Swedish Presidency argues that “the role that the EU and its Member States play as the world’s largest aid donors will be further strengthened”.
The second priority of this Presidency is to “contribute to developing and strengthening the EU’s role in global health” based on the new EU Global Health Strategy to play a leading role in a strengthened global health architecture (see EUROPE 13074/22), with the future WHO Treaty or Agreement on responding to future pandemics, a legally binding instrument currently being negotiated for conclusion in May 2024 (see EUROPE 13081/22, 13064/22).
The Swedish Presidency also announces that it will “continue strengthening EU efforts to combat development obstacles such as corruption”.
For the rest, it plans to focus on the effectiveness of development cooperation and the mobilisation of private funds to complement official development assistance and thus ensure “sustainable investments in developing countries”. It also intends to continue to promote coordination between the EU, its Member States and its financial institutions (‘Team Europe’ approach).
Reference is made as well to efforts to complete the procedures required for the entry into force of the post-Cotonou Agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries - an agreement initialled by the European Commission and the Organisation of ACP States in April 2021, but is still awaiting signature by the EU (see EUROPE 13074/27, 13055/8).
It should be noted that South Africa has withdrawn from the OACPS, favouring its bilateral relations with the EU, with which it has been linked by a Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement since 1999 and, more recently, by the EU/SADC Economic Partnership Agreement.
As regards humanitarian aid, the second European Humanitarian Forum will take place under the Swedish Presidency. As head of the EU Council, Sweden intends to be “an important platform for enhancing the EU’s leading role in the humanitarian field at global level” (see EUROPE 13089/6).
To see the Swedish Presidency programme: https://aeur.eu/f/4p5 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)