Brussels, 07/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Development part of the “Jumbo Council” (External Relations/Defence/Development), to be chaired by French Development and Francophony Minister Alain Joyandet, in Brussels on 10-11 November, will give much of its time to preparing the EU position for the United Nations Doha Conference on the financing of development. Ministers will debate and adopt conclusions on a raft of other issues.
Afghanistan: Over dinner on the evening of 10 November, ministers will hold an informal exchange of views on the country's reconstruction, development and food security.
Financing of development: Hard on the heels of the Bordeaux informal Council (see EUROPE 9751), the Council will adopt formal conclusions on the EU concerted position for the Doha Conference (29 November-2 December). The EU is likely to repeat its commitments on volume, quality and consistency of its Official Development Assistance (ODA). There is still division on two issues. Should the funding of adaptation to climate change be in addition to existing ODA commitments? And should 2010 be given as the deadline for setting multiannual indicative timetables which will allow member states to show how they intend to meet their targets so that the EU can meet its collective commitment of taking average ODA to 0.56% of its GDP in 2010 and to 0.7% in 2015?
Food crisis: The Council will adopt conclusions that will stress the need for immediate action to help the people most affected, and will encourage developing countries to put agriculture higher up their list of political priorities.
EPAs and regional integration: The Council will adopt conclusions which will reiterate the EU's desire that economic partnership agreements (EPAs) be development tools at the service of ACP (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific) regional integration. It will welcome the first full EPA signed on 15 October with all the countries of the Cariforum except Haiti. (A.N./transl.rt)