The European Consensus on Development

30 September 2009
by inadim -- last modified 01 October 2009

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.

European Consensus on Development

Common Vision for Development

The Consensus identifies shared values, goals, principles and commitments which the European Commission and EU Member States will implement in their development policies, in particular:

• reducing poverty - particularly focusing on the Millennium Development Goals. This will help meet other challenges such as sustainable development, HIV/AIDS, security, conflict prevention, forced migration, etc., to bring about equitable globalisation.
• development based on Europe's democratic values - respect for human rights, democracy, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, good governance, gender equality, solidarity, social justice and effective multilateral action, particularly through the UN.
• developing countries are mainly responsible for their own development - based on national strategies developed in collaboration with non-government bodies, and mobilising domestic resources. EU aid will be aligned with these national strategies and procedures.

More and better EU aid

• The EU (which already provides over 50% of all development aid worldwide) has agreed to increase its official development assistance to 0.56% of its gross national income by 2010 (on the way to achieving the UN target of 0.7% by 2015).
• Half the additional aid will go to Africa - with special attention to fragile states, countries with low numbers of donors and poor people in middle-income countries.
• The EU and its member countries are committed to making the aid they provide more effective, particularly through better coordination and ensuring it complements other development support and work in the beneficiary country.

The Commission and the member states will also coordinate their positions in the UN and international financial institutions, to speak more often with a single voice.

Source: European Commission