EU Development Policy

Latest business news about the Development Policies of the European Union.

Development is at the heart of the EU's external action, along with its foreign, security and trade policies.

The primary and overarching objective of EU development policy is the eradication of poverty in the context of sustainable development.

FACT SHEETS

Key Development Policies

• The European Consensus on Development
• Policy Coherence for Development

Development Programmes and Financing

• 'Investing in People' 2007-2013
• Environment and sustainable management of natural resources
• Financing for Development

Useful Links

Geographical Partnerships

EU Development Contacts

LATEST NEWS

Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) - briefing — 17 March 2010, 23:32 CET

The European Commission has adopted a €190 million support package for banana exporters from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states. This proposal was part of the historic Geneva Agreement on Trade in Bananas. The EU concluded this deal with Latin American countries and the US in December 2009 which settles 15 years banana disputes. It also cuts the tariff which the EU applies to bananas imported from Latin American countries. Today's measures aim to support ACP banana exporters to adjust to this new trading environment, taking into account each country's specific situation. The measures will focus on three goals: boosting the banana sector's competitiveness, promoting economic diversification and addressing broader social, economic and environmental impacts.

EU Project: Development of Rural Business — 05 February 2010, 15:29 CET

The EU assistance programme has assisted SME development mainly through advisory support for enterprise restructuring and privatisation, and for development of business support services.

EU Assistance in Albania: Activities — 03 February 2010, 17:25 CET

EU Assistance is available in all EU candidate states and potential candidates for membership. The assistance of the EU in Albania include activities in the following areas: Strengthening of public administration and judiciary, Police and public order, Customs, and Development of infrastructure, etc.

ACP country profiles — 10 December 2009, 11:35 CET

Profiles of the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Most of these countries are signatories of the Lomé Convention (i.e. the 77 ACP countries), which has been replaced by the Cotonou Agreement signed in June 2000 and having come into force since 1 April 2003.

Tax and Development - briefing — 10 December 2009, 11:17 CET

European Commissioners and President of the Development Committee of the European Parliament launch debate on how to improve tax revenue collection in developing countries

Promotion of compliance with international humanitarian law: Guidelines — 10 December 2009, 00:27 CET

The European Union sets out guidelines with a view to promoting compliance with international humanitarian law in its relations with third countries.

EU disappointed at climate plans from developed nations — 02 December 2009, 17:09 CET

The European Union on Wednesday voiced disappointment at the level of climate change measures being promised by richer nations, warning that they fall short of the ambition needed.

EC website to help improve development co-operation — 20 October 2009, 21:42 CET

Capacity4dev.eu is an interactive website aimed at improving Europe's development co-operation. It allows the development community at large to meet and exchange best practices on the European Commission's reform of how it provides know-how through training, research, consultancy or technical support. The goal of the reform is to ensure EU aid for developing countries happens faster and better. The launch coincided with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on Saturday 17 October 2009.

EU Development Contacts — 02 October 2009, 22:23 CET

 

Financing for Development — 02 October 2009, 22:28 CET

The 2002 Monterrey Consensus is the partnership between developed and developing countries to find ways of financing development that will meet the Millennium Development Goals. The EU, which provides over half of all official development assistance worldwide, made a number of commitments to achieve this consensus.

Environment and sustainable management of natural resources — 02 October 2009, 22:24 CET

The main objectives of Thematic Programme for Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources including Energy for the period 2007-2013 are to integrate environmental protection requirements into the Community's development and other external policies and to help promote the Community’s environmental and energy policies abroad in the common interest of the Community and partner countries and regions.

'Investing in People' 2007-2013 — 02 October 2009, 22:19 CET

'Investing in People (2007 – 2013)' is the main thematic instrument of the European Commission for support of programmes in the area of human and social development, on top of country programmes that form the corner stone for the implementation of the EC activities in this area.

Policy Coherence for Development — 02 October 2009, 22:28 CET

When exploring ways to accelerate progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the European Union (EU) considers how non-aid policies can assist developing countries in attaining the MDGs. The EU activity in this field is not only a key political commitment in the context of the MDGs, but also has a firm legal basis in the Treaty establishing the European Community (Article 178).

The European Consensus on Development — 01 October 2009, 16:35 CET

The European Consensus on Development 2005 is a policy statement that reflects the EU's willingness to eradicate poverty and build a more stable and equitable world.

EU Communication Stepping up international climate finance - briefing — 10 September 2009, 17:48 CET

The European Commission today put forward a blueprint for scaling up international finance to help developing countries combat climate change. This initiative aims to maximise the chances of concluding an ambitious global climate change agreement at the December U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen. By 2020 developing countries are likely to face annual costs of around €100 billion to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Much of the finance needed will have to come from domestic sources and an expanded international carbon market, but international public financing of some €22-50 billion a year is also likely to be necessary. The Commission proposes that industrialised nations and economically more advanced developing countries should provide this public financing in line with their responsibility for emissions and ability to pay. This could mean an EU contribution of some €2-15 billion a year by 2020, assuming an ambitious agreement is reached in Copenhagen.

Trade and Development: the Doha Development Agenda — 20 July 2009, 12:10 CET

The agenda of the Doha Round is much broader than past global trade negotiations and is specifically targeted at addressing the needs of developing countries.

The EU-ACP Trade Relations — 21 July 2009, 12:09 CET

Economic Partnership Agreements: A New Approach in trade relations between the European Union and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP).

Sugar producers in developing world seek more EU aid — 19 May 2009, 12:55 CET

Sugar-producing countries from the ACP are appealing to the EU for more funds to help bolster their sugar cane production, which has been hard hit by the global financial crisis.

EU strategy to support developing countries - briefing — 08 April 2009, 18:45 CET

Less than a week after the London Summit, the European Commission outlines a range of actions which the EU can take now to help developing countries weather the ongoing economic crisis. The Communication adopted today by the Commission looks at how Europe can support developing countries in coping with the crisis.

EU savaged over aid package for developing states — 08 April 2009, 18:53 CET

Non-governmental organisations lashed out at the European Union after the Commission unveiled a package to help developing nations weather the economic crisis but offered no new money.

EU 1 billion euro "Food Facility" for developing countries - briefing — 30 March 2009, 15:59 CET

The European Commission adopted on 30 March a EUR 314 million package of projects to support agriculture and improve the food security situation in 23 developing countries across the globe. This is the first financing decision in the framework of the EUR 1 billion Food Facility which was adopted at the end of last year as a response to the growing food security problems faced by many developing countries. The Commission also agreed to an overall plan for the use of the entire amount of the Facility, targeting 50 developing countries in total.

European Development Days — 15 November 2008, 21:56 CET

The European Development Days exist to enhance public awareness about development cooperation and to strengthen the effectiveness of EU development assistance. The third edition of the European Development Days take place in Strasbourg, France on 15–17 November 2008.

EU contributes EUR 40 million to fight against infectious diseases — 02 June 2008, 19:40 CET

The European Commission has promised EUR 40 million in funding to the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). The amount signifies half of the EUR 80 million that the EDCTP has approved for research into the prevention of poverty-related diseases in Africa.

Putting Trade Policy at the service of development — 22 April 2008, 17:11 CET

EU Trade Policy and Market Access for Developing Countries 2006-2007 - Report from DG Trade of the European Commission to the European Parliament - April 2008.

EU commitment to the Millennium Development Goals - milestones — 04 April 2008, 10:32 CET

At the half-way stage of the Millennium Development Goals timetable, 2008 is a crucial year on the international stage as regards the development agenda. In 2000 the international community set eight Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015.