Brussels, 20/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - EU development ministers want an enhanced transatlantic partnership on development cooperation, both in terms of political dialogue and on the ground. This was their message at an informal exchange of views at the Development Council, chaired by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout in Brussels on 18-19 May, on prospects and possible arrangements for a renewed partnership between the EU and Obama administration.
“There is general consensus that development may be an area for an extremely strong partnership, for example on climate change, governance, pure development and humanitarian aid. We have meetings with the United States and, as part of the EPA (Ed: Economic Partnership Agreements), we will hold EPA-related seminars through aid for trade with third countries, such as the United States. We want a renewed partnership with the Obama administration which seems to us to be very open,” Development Commissioner Louis Michel told press. The exchange of views was guided by an unofficial Czech Presidency document, drafted in cooperation with the European Commission. This document speaks of unexploited potential in strategic and practical cooperation to be discussed and developed between the EU and the US, which together provide 80% of world public development aid (€90 billion in 2008, with €49.4 billion coming from the EU and €19 billion from the US). It states that the EU and the Obama administration had said they had a common interest in creating a Development chapter in the transatlantic action programme, which will be agreed at the next EU-US summit this autumn. Food security and agricultural development, regional integration in Africa, public-private partnerships, governance, climate change and national adaptation programmes, and aid effectiveness ahead of the 4th high-level forum in 2011 are listed as possible priority areas. (A.N./transl.rt)