Brussels, 31/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - Miguel Angel Cortes Martin, who chaired the Development Council on Thursday, believes the session, which was essentially devoted to preparing the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 26 August-4 September), was a success. "We shall not be starting at zero in Johannesburg. Not only is the European Union the main fund provider, but its progress is constant in terms of policy coordination and consistency", he told the press. He stressed the importance of having a "strong common position" at the time when, in Bali (27 May-7 June), the last international meeting for preparing the summit is being held. Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Poul Nielson declared: "We have shown proof of coherence and clarity in our policies with regards sustainability, for example by improving access to our market of products from developing countries, in sensitive sectors such as agriculture". The Council's conclusions, which have still to receive the endorsement of the General Affairs Council on 17 June before being submitted to the European Council in Seville, restated the Union's determination for Johannesburg to result in a powerful political statement, accompanied by an action plan focused on a limited number of initiatives, but guaranteeing concrete results. The Council sets out the aims that the Union would like to include in the final declaration, namely: - the fight against poverty; - globalisation to the service of sustainable development (mainly by encouraging reform of subsidies that have considerable adverse effects on the environment and are incompatible with sustainable development); - developing consumer and sustainable production models; - reversing the environmental damage trend by encouraging sustainable management of natural resources; - improving consistency of Union policies with regards development objectives; - improving governance; - and financing sustainable development. Conclusions also give details of concrete initiatives to be presented by the Union in areas that it considers a priority: health, water, energy, assistance to LDC for trade-related matters, world public goods, development of consumer models and sustainable production models, and aid to LDC exports (Sweden's suggestion to create an ombudsman to facilitate exports from developing countries was not approved, but the Council considered it deserved to be studied and the Commission has undertaken to do this).
The other conclusions adopted by the Council on sector-specific themes (information technology, health, water, education in LDC, World Food Summit (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.9) were described as essential as "they concern the fight against poverty and will help the Union strengthen its spearhead role at international meetings". Mr Nielson specified that they will provide guidelines for the Commission for submitting proposals and will have an impact on the implementation of sector-specific policies by the Community and Member States. The Council President welcomed, moreover, the political debate on the most adequate means to promote good governance and democracy in LDC. "Democracy is not a purely ethical requirement but a development criterion also. The fight against corruption is a vector for development", he said, welcoming the line of conduct adopted for making this concern "a priority element of development policy". The Council's conclusions welcome the Commission's intention to establish a working group with the Member States to establish "a political framework founded on links between democracy, good governance with partner coutnries, and an association with non-State actors".
In answer to questions on the eventuality of the Development Council being abolished (see yesterday's EUROPE p.9), the President replied that there was "no proposal on the table" and that ministers had only held a simple exchange of views on the subject. "I believe it is useful to have a meeting that is fully devoted to development. Our work proves the Development Council is very useful. This will serve as a steering structure for the General Affairs Council and for negotiators in Bali", he added. A point of view shared by Commissioner Nielson.