The European Parliament’s Committee on Development (DEVE) is preparing to hear European Commissioner-designate for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela (see EUROPE 13484/6). Agence Europe obtained a copy of the questions that are expected to be put to him on Wednesday, 6 November. Here is an overview of those questions.
Sustainable development. MEPs will seek to clarify how Mr Síkela intends to align the EU’s strategic guidelines with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development while notably respecting the fundamental objective of reducing poverty that is enshrined in Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Global Gateway. Implementation of the Global Gateway investment plan is expected to be at the heart of the discussions. MEPs will be interested in the mechanisms that the commissioner-designate envisages putting in place to attract private sector investments and to ensure that these investments meet partner countries’ development needs, in collaboration with their governments and civil society.
Evaluation. Mr Síkela is expected to be asked about monitoring and evaluation tools as well as ways of ensuring transparency and compliance with the regulations set out in the EU’s Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (‘NDICI-Global Europe’) and the obligations arising from EU Treaties.
Partnerships. The EU’s priorities in its relations [with other regions] – especially its relations with Africa and BRICS+ countries – also appear among the prepared questions. MEPs will be looking to hear how Mr Síkela will strengthen the implementation of ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ and ensure that partnerships having to do with trade, combating climate change, energy, raw materials, migration, and security support, rather than compromise, the development efforts promoted by the EU.
Funding. Funding development and meeting fragile countries’ needs will also be addressed. MEPs will ask Mr Síkela questions about his proposals for bridging the funding gap, in particular, through resource mobilisation initiatives at the national and EU levels and through ‘Team Europe’ as well as through the fight against illicit financial flows and debt restructuring.
See the DEVE Committee’s draft questions: https://aeur.eu/f/dtu (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)