1. The European Union is based on the principles of equality, solidarity, social justice human rights and the rule of law. The majority of European citizens expect the EU to apply these values in its relations with developing countries. Moreover, they firmly believe that the EU can and should fulfil its role in a global partnership to eradicate poverty.
2. Since 1992, the EU has had a legal obligation to ensure that it takes into account development objectives in all of its policies which might affect developing countries. This principle must guide the reform of the EU's agricultural policy, the EU's position in the World Trade Organisation negotiations and the ongoing negotiations over the so-called "economic partnership agreements" with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.
3. The EU has repeatedly stated its commitment to working towards the eradication of poverty. The various international development commitments to which the EU is party, including those set out in the United Nation's Millennium Declaration, must provide the principal framework for the EU's relations with developing countries.
4. The EU is a major player in development and humanitarian assistance, providing almost 60% of total public aid. Europe is also the largest trading partner for the world's poorest countries. In addition, Europe has strong historical ties with Africa, Asia and Latin America. These ties remain relevant today.

The European Union should translate its stated commitment to poverty eradication into concrete results by adhering to the following guiding principles for its cooperation with developing countries:

• Poverty eradication: Ensure that the eradication of poverty is the overarching objective of all aspects of its cooperation with developing countries.
• Gender equality: Ensure that the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equality are taken into account in all areas of external relations.
• Policy coherence for development: Ensure that EU policies on agriculture, external trade, migration etc fully support the objective of poverty eradication.
• Consistency: Ensure that development cooperation is not subordinated to any other area of external relations.
• Democratic accountability: Ensure parliamentary scrutiny over all development programmes both in developing countries and in the EU.
• Inclusive ownership: Ensure genuine ownership over development programmes by involving civil society organisations in all stages of the development policy process.