|
|
EUROPEAN UNION: 'Giving With One Hand, Taking With the Other'
By Peter Dhondt
BRUSSELS, Oct 14 (IPS) - "EU policies continue to undermine the economic, social and human
development of developing countries" despite repeated commitments in treaties
and declarations, a group of European NGOs said in a report published
Wednesday.
Efforts are being made to prevent this and there is some progress, they
noted, but "there is plenty room for improvement."
The report was released in Brussels by Concord, the European NGO
Confederation for Relief and Development. Its 18 international networks and
22 national associations from the European Union member states represent
more than 1600 European NGOs.
EU ways are sometimes too complex even for its own bureaucracy. That
seems to be the case with 'Policy Coherence for Development' (PCD), an EU
commitment not to let other policies undermine development cooperation.
The European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, said
last month that PCD is difficult to put into practice, and proposed to
concentrate on five priority issues. The five are climate change, food security,
migration, intellectual property rights and security and peace-building.
It is "remarkable" that the issue of trade is not among the five priorities,
Concord said in its report 'Spotlight on Policy Coherence'. Blatant cases like
subsidised export of EU beef, pork and dairy products to Africa had ruined
livestock holders and breeders who were supported by the same EU, the
report says.
"You have to name the beast, otherwise you give the impression of a cover-
up," says Rob van Drimmelen, secretary-general of Aprodev, a coalition of 17
European development organisations and a member of Concord. "Trade
absolutely has to be included."
But trade is not the only area where policies conflict with EU development
objectives. Concord criticises EU member states that are "increasingly using
development aid to control migration flows and reduce irregular migration."
Development aid often serves European needs rather than those of the
receiving country, the report says. As example, it mentions that eight million
euros were earmarked from the 10th European Development Fund for
"management of migration flows" by Mauritania. Earlier in 2006 the EU
announced the release of 2.45 million euros to help Mauritania tackle
migration. Since then, thousands of African migrants trying to reach the
Canary islands via Mauritania have been arrested and forcibly returned to Mali
and Senegal.
The pressure for migration from Africa itself arises partially from other
European policies, the report argues. "EU trade, agriculture and fisheries
policies that aim primarily at meeting demands from Europe "might have
pushed small farmers, fishermen and other entrepreneurs to embark on a
migration journey they had probably never before considered."
The authors of the Concord report see many reasons for lack of progress on
policy coherence.
"There is no obligation to be coherent," Aprodev's van Drimmelen says. "The
EU has only to 'take into account' the effects of other policies on
development. That is as much as saying that you can sin, as long as you
confess your sins."
Representatives of the European Commission say progress is being made. "We
have for instance increased the PCD-degree of the Common Agricultural
Policy by reducing export subsidies and reducing other trade distorting
effects," says Francoise Moreau, acting director of the Directorate General for
Development.
"This is an ongoing effort. At the same time, we try to promote positive
effects between different policies. In the research policy area, we are helping
developing countries to access European research programmes."
Moreau says trade has not been removed as a focus of PCD efforts. "We have
defined five challenges to enable a more dynamic approach. When we look at
food security, trade policy is involved, as is agricultural policy and even
energy policy. We do not want to reduce the scope of PCD."
"Our core aim regarding developing countries is to improve market access,
making sure that trade stimulates growth and reduces poverty," says Silvia
Formentini of the Directorate General for Development. The European
Commission, Formentini says, also remains committed to a "strong
development outcome" of the Doha round of international trade negotiations.
Concord has demanded greater transparency and accountability from the EU.
A "hierarchy of values" should be clearly spelt out, with pro-poor and
sustainable development policies forming the basis for EU policy, it says.
Broad-based consultations and democratic debates as an integral part of
policymaking processes could ensure that the rights and interests of people
living in developing countries are taken into account, the report says.
The EU, it says, needs clear benchmarks to assess whether another priority
should override development considerations. A complaints mechanism could
improve accountability and coherence. (END/2009)
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
What is RSS?
