Brussels, 23/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - In response to specific written questions put to him by the European Parliament's Committee on Development, Louis Michel, Commissioner-designate for development policy and humanitarian aid, has, like all his future colleagues in the new Commission, set himself to the task of preparing for his investiture hearing, scheduled for the morning of Wednesday 6 October. In his responses, he professes his faith in an autonomous development policy, which includes the following points.
Development cooperation role in EU external action: Louis Michel reaffirms the independent nature of cooperation policy with its own specific aims and purposes. This is an intangible principle that cannot be circumvented in order to " exploit cooperation and humanitarian aid for political ends" in other spheres. The values and goals underpinning the various external action policies are, in his view, the political and legal base for assuring consistency in external action which "must not lead to confusion between policies but aim at their mutual reinforcement". In practice, a balance must be ensured by close collaboration between the different Commissioners responsible and the future European Foreign Minister - collaboration in which he will be personally involved.
Definition of public development aid within the OECD: Louis Michel states he is fully open to the reflection under way on possible review of the definition of public development aid within the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) at the OECD, but he is not convinced about how appropriate it is to considerably extend the definition of development aid (DA) and is not in favour of the idea of using the Millennium Development Goals as the only basis for determining whether action does or does not come under development aid (support to good governance, especially, covered by the current definition of DA, is not linked to the Millennium Goals but is crucial for achieving these objectives, Louis Michel insists).
The aims of development policy, i.e. the reduction and, in time, the eradication of poverty: Louis Michel subscribes to this aim finding it "the best expression of European solidarity toward the world's vulnerable peoples". The same is true for the Millennium Goals, which the Commissioner plans to promote by rallying European citizens to the cause. His watchwords will be: "bringing cooperation to the people" and ensuring that achieving goals is at the heart of all Commission policies.
Complementarity and coordination of Community and Member State aid/Why does Europe need its own development policy? Louis Michel considers the added value of European development policy is obvious as it makes it possible to "have a critical mass that could not be achieved by a single donor, as well as a presence in all developing countries". Also, he believes development policy must be a vector for consistency in other policies having an impact thereon (trade, agriculture, immigration and environment). "There cannot be a Union foreign policy without a development policy", Louis Michel says.
To the priorities of this policy as defined in the 2000 policy declaration, Louis Michel adds an improved response to Millennium Development Goals and to the new stakes raised by major conferences or international events. Furthermore, he plans to review the definition of EU priorities in 2005 and involve the European Parliament in the debate as soon as possible.
The trend to make development policy depend on security policy in the post 11 September context. Louis Michel considers it would be a "great error" to want to exploit cooperation policy. "On the contrary, I am convinced that it is thanks to its specific nature that cooperation will contribute to combating terrorism as it is a powerful force for doing away with the original cause of conflict and terrorism, and promoting stability after a political crisis. Security and development are complementary agendas (…). Using adequate instruments with a view to achieving foreign policy aims is not the same as imposing a security agenda on development assistance", he writes.
Role of development policy towards poor countries where there is breach of human rights. It is impossible, Louis Michel says, to: "totally abandon developing countries when they are difficult or not successful partners. On the contrary, one must develop effective strategies for these partnerships, find points of entry with a view to supporting governance reforms, in the context of difficult cases where sanctions have been adopted and official cooperation suspended", in the name of solidarity, long-term aid efficiency and global security.
Central Africa: In answer to questions on what he intends for this dossier, that he plans to make a priority, Louis Michel considers that, in this region as in any other region that groups countries coming out of crisis, the EU must above all endeavour to consolidate transition, resume development aid to support transition and keep up permanent political dialogue. …/…
Compatibility between WTO rules and the survival of the ACP economies: Louis Michel does not feel that there is any contradiction between the opening of trade and the development of internal production, but trade and development "are not the magic formula" This opening must be gradual and "come as part of an approved global strategy for development and the reduction of poverty, implemented and managed by the developing countries in question". Louis Michel is convinced that the WTO's rules are flexible enough to allow for a social and differentiated treatment adapted to various development strategies. He undertakes to co-operate closely with his future colleague for Trade, Peter Mandelson, so that "this remains the case for the ACP States" (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific) and other developing countries.
Negotiations on economic partnership agreements with the ACP States: Louis Michel believes that these agreements, "which are not conventional free-trade agreements", should take account of the economic, social and environmental constraints of each partner. He also feels that care should be taken to ensure that "each stage of sub-regional integration" is coherent with the process of the continental integration of the African Union.
Promotion of the private sector, especially SMEs, in developing countries: Louis Michel intends to take stock of the implementation of instruments available to the Commission to fulfil this objective, which is close to his heart. He aims to fuel a reflection "on their contribution to the drive behind a dynamic civil society".
Assessment of the implementation of international commitments for sustainable development: Louis Michel hopes that the process of preparing for the assessment to be carried out in 2005 by the UN with involve the economic and social partners as broadly as possible.
Money for development in the 2007-2013 financial perspectives: If Louis Michel applauds the rationalisation planned for future instruments of external actions, he intends to ensure that this operation will not result in a reduction in budgets destined for developing countries. And when the EDF (European Development Fund) is budgetised, he will call for "the funding of the ACP countries to be defined clearly and unequivocally".
Humanitarian aid: Louis Michel underlines the importance of not mixing up the provisions on the implementation of the common security and defence policy (ESDP) with those on humanitarian aid in the strictest sense, within the Treaty, as "these relate to different actions". He will defend the "humanitarian space" to avoid strictly military operations from being unduly categorised as humanitarian, as was the case "notably in Iraq and Afghanistan".
(The responses are available in full on the Parliament's website, at the following address: http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/commission/2004_com/questionnaires_en.htm. )