EU Development Policy
The general development framework of the EU institutions is set out as following:
The general development framework of the EU is described on this official website. It outlines the main structure of development within the EU institutions.
The European Consensus on Development from 2006 is the latest revision of the EU development policy : the document defines the principles of the European Union's action in the development cooperation field. It sets out nine intervention areas: trade and regional integration, environment and the sustainable management of natural resources, infrastructure, water and energy, rural development, governance, democracy and human rights, conflict prevention, human development, and social cohesion and employment.
The EU report on Policy Coherence for Development and the subsequent Mid-term report on policy Coherence for Development are also important documents. The Commission will report every 2 years on progress made on policy coherence for development by the EU in twelve areas. The aim is to encourage continual progress, based on feedback from developing countries, civil society and the European Parliament. With the new Swedish presidency in place since July 2009, there has been an extra focus on 'policy coherence for development'. Eurostep believes however that although this is an important part of development coordination, more time should be spent acting and not merely talking about action.
The EU and the Millennium Development Goals
The European Union (EU) joined world leaders at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000 with the aim “to free fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanising condition of extreme poverty”. Leaders of 189 countries committed their nations to a new global partnership, focused on eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty with a deadline of 2015 by setting out a series of time-bound targets.
Ahead of the 2010 UN Summit to review progress towards the MDGs, the European Commission published a brochure on the EU Contribution to the Millennium Development Goals. This publication offers an overview of the different ways in which the Commission has helped the world’s most disadvantaged populations.
EU as a "Global Player", The North-South Policy of the European Union is a book written by Mirjam Van Reisen. She offers a profound analysis of the dynamics within the European Union and the understanding of the development policies and practices.
