Brussels, 13/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted a proposal setting out the European Union's new Development Policy for the next five years. To the great pleasure of European Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, Louis Michel, who inspired and fought hard for it, the Communication is a draft communication to pave the way for a joint statement by the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission. This “European Consensus” would provide, for the first time in 50 years of development co-operation, a common framework of objectives, values and principles that the Union - all 25 Member States and the Commission - supports and promotes as a global player and as a global partner. The Commission proposes a new conception of development cooperation, with better coordination and common objectives as supporting pillars, putting making poverty history at its core and highlighting the importance of partnership with developing countries and good governance, human rights and democracy. It stresses the role of civil society and tackles conflict situations and failed states. The policy also sets development as a key element of the EU's external action and explains the role of the European Commission. Commissioner Michel outlined the new consensus to reporters and then to the EP, at a public hearing organised on Wednesday by the European Parliament's Development Committee.
Developed during wide consultation of all main players in development policy (see EUROPE 8982), the European Consensus will be discussed with the Council and EP and lead to a Joint Statement by the end of the year. Louis Michel hopes the Joint Statement will set the foundations of a genuine common development strategy: 'Since development is an area where competence is shared by the Union and its 25 Member States, this requires a strategy based on coordination and harmonisation. If we really want to make poverty history, we have to act together.'
Louis Michel explained: 'to do more is essential, but we also need to do better,' as the EU demonstrated by deciding to increase to 0.56% of GNP its average public development aid by 2010, reaching 0.7% by 2015. The cooperation strategy for the next five years aims to do better. In the long-term, said Michel, I would like to see a genuine common strategy. We currently have 26 different development policies (the 25 Member States and the Commission), meaning that some developing countries are forgotten about since they are not an issue for any Member State. The foundations for greater complementarity need to be established, he said, and the new strategy will apply to all developing countries, in agreement with Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. He quoted Tanzania, where five hundred different social affairs aids projects are underway, as an example of why harmonisation is necessary. He said work was currently focussing on tightening up the EU rules, adding that it was not easy to get all 25 states to take action. He explained that the aim was not 100% harmonisation, but rather to facilitate, through common principles and targets, coalitions of Member States that can provide value added to the implementation of parts of programmes and avoid duplication of effort by sharing out work better. This would ensure less waste and greater absorption of aid by the recipient countries. The Commission hoped such coalitions would not be restricted to the traditional neo-colonialist and paternalist models, arguing that if, for example, Germany and the Czech Republic were to take an interest in Belgium's former colonies, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, rather than only Belgium getting involved, it would be most welcome.
The Commission would be given the role of inspiring and managing, seeking synergy and collaboration for each interest group. Louis Michel said agreement on common principles and targets should ensure Member States adhere to this approach. It won't be my fault if it doesn't work, he said, but you can trust me - we will know who wants what.
The Commission's proposal for a new EU Development Policy puts poverty eradication at its core, in line with the Millennium Development Goals. The shared principles quoted by the Commissioner are supporting performance; the ownership of aid by beneficiary countries since without ownership, there is no responsibility; the participation of civil society; in-depth political dialogue on respect of human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law; good governance; greater attention to fragile and failed states; and aligning Development Policy with national processes. Asked how the new Development Policy meshes with security issues, Louis Michel said the Development Policy was the only policy likely to combat terrorism in a sustained manner. He explained that providing future prospects to millions of deprived youngsters in a series of poor countries was the best bulwark against the risk of those countries serving as a terrorist recruitment camp.