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1. COMMISSION FINALISE POLICY DOCUMENT ON THE REVIEW OF AID
The Commission this week finalised and adopted its draft document on EC Development Policy (see PAF 171 and 176). A press release from the Commission claims that the new policy document places poverty eradication as the central focus of Community’s development policy efforts. According to the press release, Poul Nielson the EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid states that issues such as trade liberalisation, integration of developing countries in the global economy, and private sector cooperation remain important features of the European Development Policy, but only in as far as they directly contribute to the overarching objective of raising the standard of living of the poor.
The press release also alleges that the Commission is radically re-focusing its policy on poverty eradication, built on three pillars; development cooperation and financial aid targeted on assistance that directly benefits the poor, intensified political dialogue, and trade and economic cooperation designed to facilitate the smooth and gradual integration of developing countries in the global economy.
The Commission identifies six priority areas that it hopes to focus on as: 1) trade for development; 2) regional integration and co-operation; 3) macroeconomic policies linked with poverty reduction strategies; 4) reliable and sustainable transport; 5) food security and sustainable rural development strategies; and 6) institutional capacity building, good governance and the rule of law.
The final document is available at the following Commission website:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/document/dev_policy_en.htm
Incidentally the notice of the website where the document is made available was put up by the Commission’s Directorate for Trade and not the Directorate for Development.
NGDOs and representatives from EU Member States that attended the recent EU Liaison Committee of NGDOs General Assembly expressed their disappointment at the Commission paper’s failure to identify precise strategies or actions required to address the fundamental questions that have been raised concerning EC aid. A common view within the NGDO community is that proposal for the priority areas by the Commission, is not based on any detailed analysis of the problems at hand.
The press release in only stating that the Commission’s paper will be subject to discussions at the next EU Development Council on May 18, seems to support the indications being given by Member State representatives that the EU Development Council might decide not to adopt a resolution on the Commission paper. The Eurostep Secretariat is co-organising with MEP Glenys Kinnock, a roundtable discussion between NGOs and MEPs on May 3 in Brussels on the way forward for the review of EC aid policy. For more information you may contact the Eurostep Secretariat.
2. SECOND PREPARATORY COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S SPECIAL SESSION
The second Preparatory Committee of the United Nations General Assembly session responsible for preparing the Geneva 2000 Summit, (Geneva, 26 till 30 June) concluded on 14 April in New York without agreement on the majority of the proposals put forward for the Geneva 2000 Summit. The Summit will review the implementation of the Social Summit Commitments adopted by Heads of State in the 1995 Copenhagen Summit and adopt new initiatives on Social Development.
In order to continue the preparation process another preparatory committee meeting will be held on May 17-23 in New York. Among the outstanding issues to be agreed is the Canadian proposal in the draft document intended for Geneva on investigating the feasibility of an international tax on speculation and transaction of capital. Though there is no agreement on this issue, discussion of the Canadian proposal represents progress as most developed countries had previously refused to discuss the issue at all.
Eurostep and Social Watch, (the Uruguay based organisation that monitors the implementation of the Commitments adopted in Copenhagen) hope to keep up the pressure for the implementation of the commitments and the introduction of further initiatives to improve the commitments.
3. EU DENIES PLANS FOR LARGE SCALE MILITARY OPERATION IN ZIMBABWE
EU Council sources have denied reports published in the German press claiming that the EU is preparing a large-scale military operation to evacuate the white population of Zimbabwe where violence is continuing to escalate. According to the Council its political and military bodies have not discussed this subject yet. The EU’s efforts relating to the Zimbabwean crisis are still focussing on putting political pressure on President Mugabe of Zimbabwe to hold elections.
However the Council pointed out that individual EU Member States have emergency plans that can be activated quickly in the event that their citizens living in strife-torn countries should need evacuation. It was at the request of the UK Government that the EU General Affairs Council discussed the crisis in Zimbabwe this month. The question of imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe under the Lomé Convention will be discussed at the next EU General Affairs Council on 22 May.
4. FORTHCOMING EVENTS
| May 3 Brussels | Roundtable discussion between MEPs and NGOs on the Commission’s paper on the review of EC Development organised by MEP Glenys Kinnock and Eurostep |
| May 12 Lisbon | EU-Algeria ministerial meeting |
| May 15 New Delhi | EU-India ministerial meeting |
| May 17 Brussels | EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Javier Solana speaks on A Common European Security & Defence Policy: Targets and Realities organised by the European Policy Centre (contact 32 2 648 8983) |
| May 18 Brussels | EU
Development Council: Probable issues on the agenda: Review of EC aid; Evaluation of EC Humanitarian aid; Action plan of Evaluation of EC Development co-operation; Re-organisation of Common Service for External Relations; EU resolution on structural adjustment |
5. IN BRIEF
Cuba has cancelled the visit by the EU Troika (present, future and previous presidencies of the EU) to Havana scheduled this week, due to the EU’s backing of a UN resolution on human rights in Cuba tabled by the US. One of the main issues on the agenda of the meeting with the Troika was to have been Cuba’s accession to the new ACP-EU Framework Agreement.
The EU last week welcomed the establishment of the new electoral code in Togo. The EU also expressed its willingness to continue to support intra-Togolese dialogue and examine the possibilities of financial support for the electoral process provided that the Togolese accept the principle of assistance.
The proposal from the QUAD countries (EU, Japan, US and Canada) to provide duty free and quota free market access for essential products from least developed countries (see PAF 177) will be discussed at the meeting of the WTO’s ruling body on 3 May. The meeting will also address developing countries’ problems with implementing existing trade liberalisation arrangements and measures to ensure full participation of WTO’s 135 members in its decision making process.
The Eurostep
Secretariat will next week put out paper that assesses the new
ACP-EU Agreement and provides recommendations for implementation
of the Agreement. For more information you may contact the
Eurostep Secretariat.
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