PAF ProActive File - Regular News Update from Eurostep

No. 315
6 June 2003

1. EU COUNCIL IN ALEXANDROUPOLI: FIRST DISCUSSIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT POLICY OF THE ENLARGED UNION

At the EU Informal Council, which took place on 2-3 June in Alexandroupoli – Greece, for the first time Development Ministers from EU Member States and accession countries discussed prospects for a development cooperation policy of the enlarged Union. During the meeting, for which no written conclusions were provided, representatives of acceding countries reported about their difficulty towards establishing a development policy due mainly to the lack of experience and of public awareness on the issue and the economic weakness to implement the commitments taken in Barcelona.

Ministers also addressed the issue of the place to be reserved to this policy in the European Constitution as drafted in the Convention on the Future of Europe.

2. CHANGES TO THE EU BUDGET RAISE CONCERNS

The Preliminary Draft Budget for the 2004 European Community Budget was presented to the Parliament last month. To incorporate the Activity Based Budget approach there has been some re-organisation of the budget and the lines have been renamed. The result is that integrates co-operation with Asia and Latin America with the CFSP within the External Relations Policy Area (19), while co-operation with the ACP and the development sectoral budget lines (including NGOs) are placed in a separate Policy Area (21) for Development and Relations with the ACP. This suggests that development policy is limited to the ACP – an approach has also been seen within proposals from the Convention. These concerns have already been drawn to the attention of the Parliament’s Development Committee’s Budget Rapporteur, Mrs. Marieke Sanders-ten Holte.

3. EU LAUNCHES NEW PEACE-KEEPING OPERATION IN DR CONGO

On 4 June the EU Council of Ministers decided to launch the second European peace-keeping operation - “Artemis” - in DR Congo as foreseen by the Security Council resolution 1484. The operation is aimed to stabilise the town of Bunia in the northern-eastern province of Ituri, following recent clashes between the Hema and Lendu groups. The European Voice quoted German General Klaus Naumann as saying that “This is a very risky mission and soldiers risk dying because of ambitious decision taken by politician”. Genaral Naumann referred, in particular, to the rules of engagement which do not allow soldiers to use weapons against fighters. However, according to the head of the EU’s Military Committee, Finnish General Gustavv Hagglun, the alternative to the engagement would be to watch and to stand aside during a likely genocide.

The EU Special Representative for the African Great Lakes Region, Mr Aldo Ajello, reportedly will hold meetings on 3-12 June with the political leaders of the region.

4. EUROSTEP HAS SENT A LETTER ON THE 6 JUNE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

Eurostep has sent a letter on the 6 June to the Chairman of the European Convention on the future of Europe, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, and the other members of Convention’s Praesidium in order to underline that while the inclusion of the European Development Fund in the overall Community budget could bring transparency, consistency and efficiency in the implementation of EU development policy it risked being separated from fundamental principles set out in the Cotonou Convention. The Praesidium is therefore urged to include within the development section of the constitutional Treaty the principle of partnership that are based on the fundamental principles of equality of the partners; ownership of the development strategies by the countries and populations concerned; and participation in order to encourage integration of all sections in society, including civil society organisations.

5. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

June 11, Brussels	WIDE Consultation: “Towards EU accession: Forward looking strategies for gender equality” European Parliament, Paul-Henri Spaak – Building, Room 1 C 47 tel: +32.2.545.90.70
June 11-12, Brussels	European Parliament Development Committee
June 12, Brussels	Ad hoc meeting – Sustainability Impact Assessment WTO Negotiations; Final Report Centre Borschette, 36 rue Froissart - 1049 http://tradenfo.cec.eu.int/civil_soc/meet.php?action=consult&critere=108
June 14, Everberg	Action Aid: second-hand English book sale at Stonemanor British Store. Proceeds to finance projects in developing countries. Tel: 02.767.91.44; 02.767.82.84
June 18, Brussels	“SRI LANKA- A new chance for peace?” European Institute for Asian Studies asbl, Rue des Deux Eglises 35 – 1000 Tel: +32.2.230.81.22; e-mail: [email protected] - www.eias.org
June 20-21, Thessalonica	Summit of EU Heads of State Broad Economic Policy Guidelines – BEGP (2003-2005)
June 24, Brussels	“Sudan’s road to peace: the European Dimension”, The European Coalition on Oil in Sudan European Parliament, room ASP 1 E 2 e-mail: [email protected]
June 25, Brussels	EPC-World Bank colloquium on “The EU and Global Governance” Résidence Palace, 155 Rue de la Loi – 1040 e-mail : [email protected]
June 26-27, Brussels	European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development (CONCORD) General and Consultative Assembly

IN BRIEF

During the G8 meeting in Evian on 1 and 2 June, the leaders of the world’s wealthiest countries (US, Germany, Japan, France, UK, Italy, Canada and Russia) reaffirmed their commitment to “achieve the objectives and respect the general timetable laid down under the Doha development programme”. Reportedly the Summit also decided to renew its attention to development in Africa and, according to Commission President in office, Mr Romano Prodi, “The commitment of the developed countries to devote 0.7% of their GDP to helping developing countries remained their main objective”.

The European Commission will grant € 3.27 million to support the peace process in Sri Lanka. The funding, provided thorough the rapid reaction mechanism for managing civil conflicts and crises, will be mainly used to check the implementation of the cease-fire agreement; rehabilitate electricity lines; support the secretariat for peace. The European Commission also committed to allocate additional funds for the reconstruction of the Northern-Eastern region of the country as soon as negotiations between the Government and the Tamil Tiger Liberation Movement, currently interrupted, would begin again.