This week, the European Think Tanks Group – ODI, ECDPM, FRIDE and DIE – sent an Open Letter to the European Commission – to Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, High Representative Catherine Ashton and the Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs.
In the letter, we urge appropriate action to be taken to enable development to play its essential role in shaping more coherent EU global action, particularly within the context of the agreement reached on the functioning of the European External Action Service (EAS) amongst Foreign Affairs Ministers in the Council on 26 April. We urge the EU to address four main challenges.
First, ensure that the EAS is properly staffed on the development side. This means a Director General responsible for development, supported by his or her own strategic policy staff and with authority over the development units transferred into the EAS from other parts of the Commission. The Director General should be fully responsible for results-oriented planning and for taking the necessary measures to ensure policy coherence for development (PCD);
Second, protect the capacity of the Development Commissioner and of the institutions he or she manages. In particular, EuropeAid will need the breadth and depth to manage a €11 billion aid programme. It is not now and should not become simply a mechanical administration for delivery of decisions taken elsewhere;
Third, preserve the participation of developing countries themselves in setting frameworks and programming development cooperation. Programming mandates must not become the exclusive preserve of EAS officials, even those in the development wing. Instead, the EAS, DG Development and EuropeAid should work together to embed policy and programming as close to the field as possible; and should make full use in all countries of the type of partnership pioneered in ACP countries; and
Fourth, put in place appropriate accountability to the European Parliament, engaging both the foreign affairs and development committees, along with others dealing with trade, environment and other items linked to policy coherence.
To read the Open Letter, click here.
