DEVELOPMENT-EU: Caution Urged over Constitution

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Stefania Bianchi

BRUSSELS, Oct 30 2003 (IPS) - A leading think-tank has highlighted key issues European leaders need to address to ensure that development cooperation is not compromised under a new EU constitution.

A draft constitution drawn up earlier this year proposes radical changes, including creation of a president of the European Council, and a European foreign minister to conduct a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

European leaders are still discussing the proposed constitution at a series of Intergovernmental Conferences (IGCs). Discussions were due to end in December but look likely now to continue into the new year.

A report, ‘Ensuring that Development Cooperation Matters in the New Europe’ released by the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) sets out several recommendations it believes European Union (EU) leaders must consider in order to strengthen development cooperation and humanitarian aid.

These include a stronger strategic vision for the EU’s external action, strong political leadership and greater harmonisation.

The report was prepared on behalf of Britain’s Department for International Development (DIFD). It was based on confidential interviews carried out at the beginning of October with members of the European Commission External Relations Services, cabinets of some of the Commissioners, and with members of the Council Secretariat.

The report asks the question: "How can the EU enhance and maintain its development focus while contributing to world security, peace and prosperity?"

It highlights a number of challenges under the new constitution such as the balance between foreign policy and development cooperation, and disagreements between member states over EU external action. It proposes measures to overcome these difficulties.

The report recommends strengthening of external action to give commissioners and members of the European Parliament (MEPs) a stronger foundation on which to pursue their policies.

"The draft constitution does not make the bridge between, on the one hand, promoting the values and interests of the Union and the need for peace and security and, on the other hand, development and cooperation, the eradication of poverty and the relief of suffering," the report says.

The report says a European Foreign Minister (EFM) would work as servant of the European Council, a political body, and also as a member and vice- president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU. The report recommends that this role should be reviewed so that the minister is not pulled too much between the two institutions.

"More clarity would be desirable on the respective roles of the European Council and the Foreign Affairs Council in the area of external action," the report says. It suggests that this could be done by giving the foreign minister a "clearer strategic vision" and by strengthening and formalising the roles of other commissioners.

The report says the EU must determine the most effective strategy for development cooperation and humanitarian aid under the new European External Action Services (EEAS). It raises the question whether this proposed service will include only diplomats working on foreign policy or also trade and development professionals.

The report says changes to the Constitution must be carried out carefully. "The draft constitution is already a finely balanced package and there are limitations to the changes possible in the IGC before the whole package unravels."

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have welcomed the report and expressed their own concerns over the Constitution.

"The draft treaty sections on foreign and security policy contain proposals that could result in EC (European Commission) aid become a resource for the nascent European Foreign, Security and Defence Policy," says Simon Stocker of Eurostep, a Brussels-based network of development NGOs.

"This would be a tragedy," he said. "An independent and comprehensive EU development policy is vital for tackling the root causes of poverty – which is ultimately the only way to gain the global security that we seek."