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EU Development Policy

Latest news on the development policies of the European Union.

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): EU action plan - briefing 21 April 2010, 14:53 CET
The European Commission has adopted an action plan for EU action to speed up progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In 2009, the EU aid level has slightly decreased and amounted €49bn. This corresponds to 0.42% of EU GNI, making the EU still far from meeting the intermediate collective target of 0,56% GNI by 2010, before reaching 0.7% EU GNI by 2015. The EU remains the most generous global donor, providing over half of global aid. The Commission proposes to EU Member States a number of actions in support of MDGs. They aim at increasing the level of aid while making aid more efficient and focused on those countries and sectors most in need. To feed into the action plan, the Commission also adopted a Communication on taxation and development which aims at increasing developing countries' domestic revenues through building stronger domestic fiscal systems and fighting tax evasion internationally. The action plan sets out a possible EU position ahead of the UN Summit on the MDGs this September.

MEPs urge transaction tax to help developing countries 25 March 2010, 20:53 CET
EU Member States should bring in a financial transactions tax and consider a temporary debt moratorium for developing countries, says the European Parliament. In a resolution adopted at their plenary session in Brussels today, MEPs said this would help developing countries to cope with the effects of the global financial and economic crisis.

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.

Effectiveness of EDF support for Regional Economic Integration in East Africa and West Africa - Special Report No 18/2009 23 February 2010, 11:35 CET
In this report, the European Court of Auditors analyses the Commission’s approach to regional economic integration in East Africa and West Africa, its management of the support provided and the results of a sample of projects. The report contains recommendations which aim at helping the Commission to improve its approach to, and management of, regional economic integration programmes.

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, 18:25 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.

Special Report No 15/2009 "EU assistance implemented through United Nations organisations: decision-making and monitoring" 13 January 2010, 15:09 CET
European Commission aid implemented through United Nations organisations amounts to over 1 billion euro per year. In this report the European Court of Auditors examines whether decisions to channel aid through the United Nations are the result of a transparent and objective selection process. It also examines whether monitoring and audit arrangements provide adequate information on the robustness of financial procedures and on whether funds have been used for their intended purpose.

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.

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).

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 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.

International Finance Corporation 22 June 2009, 17:10 CET
IFC fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing capital in the international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments.

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.