Brussels, 21/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - Coherence between the EU's 12 policy coherence for development (PCD) targets and development objectives has improved, but progress is still below target in terms of tangible results. This was the main conclusion of the EU's report on PCD adopted by the European Commission on 20 September, which will be the focus of the EU27 development ministers' meeting in Madeira, Portugal, on 21-22 September (see EUROPE 9506).
The EU's PCD concept aims to maximise the positive impact of EU policies on the EU's contribution to achieving the millennium development goals in developing countries. The PCD covers 12 policy areas (trade; environment; climate change; security; agriculture; fisheries; social dimension of globalisation, employment and decent work; migration; research and innovation; information society; transport; and energy). The report identifies outstanding issues for each of the 12 policy areas where synergies with development policy could be further explored. In particularly sensitive areas, such as migration or security, the Commission writes that 'the promotion of European interests and the identification of partner countries' own concerns must be balanced, with a view to finding win-win solutions.'
The report notes that generally speaking, the EU has taken concrete steps to improve the state of PCD. It has improved its organisation mechanism to this end at member state, Council and Commission levels. 'In terms of concrete results, however, progress remains well below the ambition set in the European Consensus on Development,' laments the Commission. It explains that 'awareness and knowledge remain insufficient,' and the involvement of actors beyond the development community is still limited, both within the institutions and within civil society and the private sector. The Commission notes that 'continuous high-level political commitment is needed to ensure further progress'. 'This in turn calls for increased awareness of the fact that development and poverty reduction are eventually in Europe's own interest,' explains the report. The Commission explains that the main outstanding issues are: reviewing and improving Council procedures; intensifying the inclusion of PCD in national and regional cooperation strategies; improving information sharing; better using the Impact Assessment process; making the rolling PCD work programme more operational; and boosting dialogue with developing countries on the impact of EU policies other than aid at all levels (national, regional and global), particularly in the process of drawing up country strategy papers. The Commission comments that 'the relevance of the PCD approach to developing countries' own policies should also be considered, since in most policy areas the positive impact of EU policies depends on parallel efforts being undertaken by partner countries.' The report can be found at http: //eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0545en01.doc (ol)