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CONCORD reportEuropean policies are harming developing countries, says Concord. Responding to the Commission’s Communication and report on Policy Coherence for Development, CONCORD recently released a report appealing for Europe to stop harming developing countries with its policies.
Spotlight on coherence
Download the Spotlight on Coherence report, Pdf The “Spotlight on Policy Coherence” report looks at the damaging impact that EU policies such as trade and agriculture are having on developing countries, effectively undoing all of the potential achievements of its development aid. “The EU cannot give with one hand, and take away with the other. It doesn’t make sense for the developing world and it doesn’t make sense for the EU. It means wasted EU money, and wasted lives in poor countries,” said Justin Kilcullen, President of CONCORD, the European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development. Of particular concern to CONCORD is the new approach proposed by the Commission in its September 15th Communication entitled “Policy Coherence for Development – Establishing the policy framework for a Whole of the Union approach”. This document marks a clear departure from the Commission’s commitment to scrutinising the impact of its policies on the poor by dropping the focus of its ‘policy coherence for development’ framework, from twelve areas to just five. Vital policy areas such as trade, which has massive implications for the lives of millions of poor people, have suddenly been dropped.
“The European Union needs to think carefully about how policies in different areas affect the lives of millions of poor people outside the EU. Member states need to implement coherent policies and meet their aid commitments”, added Lappalainen “CONCORD calls on the EU and its member states to ensure that all its policies that affect developing countries are coherent and have poverty eradication as their overarching aim”, added Justin Kilcullen.
Email: romain.philippe@concordeurope.org
The “Spotlight on Policy Coherence for Development” report will be launched on 14th October at the Passage Room in Residence Palace (155 rue de la Loi, Brussels). Media Briefing at 10.00 am.
CONCORD report: Spotlight on Policy Coherence The CONCORD report comes ahead of the expected adoption by Member States of the EC’s Communication on Policy coherence for Development at the General Affairs and External Relations Council this November. It calls on the EU, as the world’s biggest overseas development aid donor, to play a leading role in contributing to global poverty reduction. This is currently undermined by its inability to make non-aid policies coherent with the development goals that its aid seeks to promote. CONCORD’s Spotlight on Policy Coherence report highlights, for example, that while the European Commission acknowledges the need for policy coherence for development, this is not put into practice. For example, the EU continues to fund export subsidies for European beef, pork and dairy products which are then dumped in developing countries while using aid money to support farmers in these countries. Similarly, the European Union has adopted a strategy called “Global Europe, Competing in the World” that focuses only on trade and does not even speak of developing countries’ needs and right to their own development. Another example is the European Union introduction of a Blue Card for highly skilled migrants, increasing the risk of a brain-drain of highly-skilled workers from developing countries. Furthermore, the EU’s permissive corporate accounting regulations that facilitate tax evasion from developing countries, deprive these countries from revenues much needed. CONCORD is the European confederation of relief and development NGOs. Its national associations and international networks represent over 1 600 NGOs which are supported by millions of citizens across Europe. CONCORD leads reflection and political actions and regularly engages in dialogue with the European institutions and other civil society organisations: http://www.concordeurope.org - CONCORD is part of the 'Global Call to Action against Poverty'. Communication on PCD accompanying the 2nd EU Report on PCD: http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/COM_2009_458_part1_en.pdf Council Conclusions on Supporting developing countries in coping with the crisis: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/09/st10/st10018.en09.pdf
Other reports showing policy incoherence CONCORD/EVF “EU Coherence programme”: case studies on Health ; Agriculture; Fisheries ; External relations; Environment; Migration; Trade: http://www.eucoherence.org ActionAid Swedish Presidency Policy Briefing: calls on the Swedish Presidency to tackle 5 key policy areas: Financing for development, Policy Coherence for Development, Climate change, Food security, Gender Equality and Women’s rights: www.actionaid.org/micrositeAssets/eu/assets/actionaid%20position%20paper%20for%20swedish%20presidency%202009.pdf Coherence Barometer 2008 from Kehys: Civil society organisations check the pressure on the Swedish Policy for global development: www.kehys.fi/files/503/Barometer_2008_eng-1.pdf Het Belgisch Ontwikkelingsbeleid in 2008 : Report of 11.11.11 about the incoherencies of policies in 2008 from the Belgian point of view: www.11.be/jaarrapport2008 For pictures from developing countries and EU, go to: www.concordeurope.org/Public/Page.php?ID=3156
Page updated 2009-10-13
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“The Commission’s new proposal to keep its policies coherent and fair is nothing more than an attempt to get Europe off the hook for the damage it is causing with its trade, fisheries, energy, agriculture and other policies. We cannot stand by and allow this to happen” said Rilli Lappalainen, the Secretary-General of the Finnish NGDO platform Kehys, and a member of CONCORD’s Board.
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