1. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTS TILTS TO THE RIGHT IN LOW TURNOUT ELECTIONS
Centre-right parties will dominate the European Parliament for the first time in twenty years (EP) following last weekend’s EP elections. Although the socialist (majority in the last parliament) vote held up in France, Spain, Sweden and Portugal, gains made by the UK Conservatives and German Christian Democrats will give the EP right political grouping – the European People’s Party (EPP) - the majority of seats. Other winners include the Green Group and, to a lesser extent, far right political groupings.
Voter turnout was exceptionally low with under half of the EU’s electorate bothering to vote. In the UK less than a quarter of the electorate voted, while in the Netherlands less than a third of the electorate voted. Several critics have declared after the election that the very legitimacy of the EP has been put into question. Ironically the incoming EP will have more power than ever, with 80% of EC decisions requiring its consent.
The centre right grouping with its majority has the right to select one of its members as first President of the incoming Parliament. This position is most likely to go to French MEP and current Vice-President, Nicole Fontaine. The Christian Democrats as the largest sub-grouping of the EPP are like to choose German Christian Democrat, Hans-Gert Poettering, as the leader of the EPP. UK MEP, Pauline Greene, is likely to lose her presidency of the Socialist Group to German MEP, Klaus Hansch. French MEP, Daniel Cohn-Bendit could now head the Green Group, replacing Belgian MEP, Magda Aelvoet.
Among notable in-comers to the Parliament are the Acting Commissioner for EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Emma Bonino, the Acting President of the Commission, Jacques Santer and former President of the Eurostep and Director of Novib (Netherlands Organisation for International Development Co-operation), Max van den Berg. (See below)
EU leaders are already coming under pressure to ensure that the gains made by the EPP are reflected in the nominations for candidates of the new Commission. The incoming President of the Commission, Romano Prodi, while acknowledging that the choice of Commissioners should take account of the balance of political powers in the EU, insists that the quality of those nominated by governments remains the top priority.
2. FORMER NOVIB DIRETOR ELECTED TO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Max van den Berg, the former Director of Eurostep’s member organisation Novib, was elected to the European Parliament last weekend. A former politician, the new MEP has been credited for transforming Novib into a truly global organisation which is now part of the Oxfam international family. He also played an important role in the development of Eurostep.
In his new job, the former Novib Director has described the prevention of the abuse of EU aid as his top priority. Other priorities include funds towards basic social services, a greater focus on conflict prevention and moves to open up European borders for developing countries. The Eurostep Secretariat and member organisations would like to wish Max all the best in his new position as an MEP and new Eurostep lobby target.
3. EU GUIDELINES ON THE REVISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM TO BE DISCUSSED BY THE G8
EU Heads of States and Governments have approved the report submitted to them by EU Finance Ministers on improvements to be made to the functioning of the international financial system. The EU during the G8 Summit in Cologne will defend the report on 18-20 June. The report states that in order for European countries to contribute constructively to the debate on how the international finance system should work, following the international financial crisis, there needs to be a joint European vision. This is all the more relevant following the introduction of the euro and the increased weight of the EU in international monetary matters.
The report gives the following guidelines for the international finance system: 1) The EU considers that international financial stability may be improved by making the actors on the international financial markets belonging to the private sector adhere to certain minimum rules regarding transparency, accountability, decision-making and risk management. 2) Governments may contribute to international financial stability by improving transparency of their economic policies and divulging key economic data at appropriate times. 3) Countries operating international capital markets could be encouraged to comply with respect of codes and norms by giving greater visibility to their adhesion of such rules. The EU welcome the IMF’s agreement to take into account, in order to judge admissibility to the advantages of the new IMF credit facility, progress made by a country in the respect of relevant internationally accepted standards. 4) The international financial institutions are expected to promote transparency in their own policies and in the advice they give to clients. 5) The EU also welcomes the World Bank and regional development bank increased interest on the impact that economic adjustments have on the most vulnerable sectors of society. The report states "There is a clear need to attenuate the potentially negative effect of globalisation on the poorest sectors of society in emerging and developing countries". Though the EU call for the reform of the Bretton Woods institutions in general the report states that the IMF must remain at the centre of the international monetary system.
The agenda for the G8 Summit includes a discussion between the G7 (without Russia) on global economy (Russia, Asia and Latin America), discussion on the ‘Cologne’ initiative on debt for the most indebted countries, and a discussion on the situation in Kosovo.
4. EUROSTEP MEET WITH EU PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS ACP-EU NEGOTIATIONS
Eurostep, this week, held a meeting with the Development Counsellors of the EU Permanent Representations to discuss Eurostep proposals for the ACP-EU negotiations for the new ACP-EU framework agreement. Apart from the Eurostep secretariat, representatives from Eurostep member organisations – terre des hommes – Germany, NCOS and ACTIONAID were also present.
Eurostep’s proposals were in the areas of: political and institutional issues; civil society participation; social development; poverty eradication and gender; trade; and finance and instruments. On political and institutional affairs, the objective of Eurostep is to push for more transparent and accountable decision making. On civil society participation Eurostep is calling for the next agreement to give explicit recognition to the central role that civil society plays in the partnership. Concerning social development the aim is for the next agreement to identify explicitly strategies for advancing social development in line with the international commitments made by the EU and the ACP. On gender Eurostep call for the next agreement to include clear and practical plans for action in the mainstreaming of gender issues in the partnership. Amongst the proposals on trade are for the EU and the ACP to strive for a ten-year waiver from the WTO for the current Lomé preferences. This period would be not be used to simply delay future trade arrangements, but be used to prepare and allow the ACP to make an informed choice for the option that is in its best interest.
On civil society participation amongst the concerns raised by the EU Development Counsellors was that a formal and institutionalised approach towards civil society participation might not prove productive. The view was expressed that such a formal approach in the undemocratic environment in some ACP countries could create an alternative political structure.
Regarding social development, many Counsellors expressed the view that the next Convention could not be too detailed on strategies to advance development in specific sectors such as basic education and other areas of social development. This is because of, inter alia, the need to have a shorter Convention, the different situations in different countries and the need for a more global approach. The same arguments were expressed on the need for the Convention to identify specific action on gender.
On trade the view was expressed that while
there is no great enthusiasm in the EU for the establishment of
Regional Economic Partnership Agreements (REPAs) with the ACP by
2005, this is the best option in a very difficult situation.