In December, the European Commission unveiled its package of legislative proposals on the EU’s external action instruments for the period 2014-20 as part of the negotiations on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s spending review. Mikaela Gavas has written an ODI Background Note analysing the changes introduced by the instruments of direct relevance to international development.
February 17, 2012
The European Commission’s legislative proposals for financing EU Development Cooperation
Posted by edcsp under Research | Tags: European development policy, legislative proposals, MFF, Mikaela Gavas, multi-annual financial framework |Leave a Comment
February 14, 2012
Simon and Siân give evidence to the IDC inquiry on EU development assistance
Posted by edcsp under Events, Facts, News | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", European development policy, IDC, International Development Committee, Sian Herbert |Leave a Comment
The International Development Committee recently called Simon Maxwell and Siân Herbert to give oral evidence at a session for the inquiry into EU development assistance.
The session covered a vast array of issues including:
- The EU’s new development strategy – An Agenda for Change;
- The comparative advantages of the EC, compared to both bilateral and multiateral donors;
- The differences between the EU’s central development instruments, and the European Development Fund (EDF);
- How the EU should deal with middle-incomes countries;
- Administration costs – looking at the tricky task of comparing DFID to the European Commission’s development projects; and
- Policy coherence for development.
Click here for a transcript of the session.
February 10, 2012
The EU’s policy on differentiation: Tackling poverty and global challenges?
Posted by edcsp under Events, News, Presentation | Tags: differentiation, European development policy, MICs, poverty, Sian Herbert |Leave a Comment
On 2 February, Siân Herbert gave a presentation at a workshop in Copenhagen, discussing the EU’s new policy on ‘differentiation’ (‘Differentiation’ means reassessing aid to middle income countries). The workshop was hosted by Concord Denmark, the Danish NGO platform for EU development work, and attended by a variety of Danish NGOs.
The objective of the workshop was to define a common position on differentiation. The NGOs present were open to the changes proposed by the European Commission, and support revaluating aid to MICs. At the end of the workshop, the decision was taken that Concord Denmark will not engage with the debate regarding the proposed criteria for aid allocation, but will instead focus on where the funds should be redirected. Concord advised that they are engaged in discussions with the European Commission, ahead of the release of a communication on CSOs later this year.
The EU’s policy on differentiation has also been discussed recently by Andy Sumner, Andris Piebalgs and Simon Maxwell.
Siân’s presentation is available here.
February 9, 2012
How will EU trade policy respond to new challenges in the coming decade?
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: Dirk Willem te Velde, European development policy, ODI, trade |Leave a Comment
Following the release of the European Commission’s communication on trade, growth and development, Dirk Willem te Velde examines how the policy plans to respond to a growing differentiation amongst countries and a growing list of global challenges in this ODI blog.
February 7, 2012
EDCSP update – February 2012
Posted by edcsp under News, Newsletter | Tags: development, EDCSP, EU, European development policy, ODI, policy |Leave a Comment
February 5, 2012
EDCSP visit the European Parliament
Posted by edcsp under News | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", European development policy, European Parliament, Mikaela Gavas |Leave a Comment
Simon Maxwell and Mikaela Gavas recently spent two days at the European Parliament, meeting MEPs and Committee Secretariat staff. Their objectives were (a) to understand better how the EP works, (b) to map who is doing what on the current EU agenda, especially the Multi-Annual Financial Framework, (c) to exchange views on the MFF, and (d) to explore the potential for a European Think-Tanks Group initiative linking the EP and national parliaments.
Read more in this trip report.
February 3, 2012
Too much aid to middle income countries? The EU’s aid allocation conundrum
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", development, differentiation, EU Development Policy, European Commission, MICs, Poverty focus |Leave a Comment
The high share of aid provided to relatively better-off middle income countries is one of the biggest challenges to the aid record of the European Commission. But what are the reasons behind this?
Simon Maxwell sets out to explore the issue in this EDCSP Opinion.
January 26, 2012
UK International Development Committee launches inquiry into EC development assistance
Posted by edcsp under Research, Research Paper | Tags: EU Development Policy, IDC, inquiry, International Development Committee, Romilly Greenhill, Sian Herbert, UK |Leave a Comment
The UK’s International Development Committee (IDC) has launched an inquiry into EC development assistance. The inquiry comes at a momentous time considering the new poverty landscape, changing economic and geopolitical dynamics in the world, the economic crisis, and the potential ramifications of a possible EU treaty change. As the global development scene changes, the UK and the EC’s approaches to development must also change.
The terms of reference established for the inquiry call for evidence regarding: the EC’s comparative advantage as a channel for UK development assistance, ‘An Agenda for Change’, future funding of EC development cooperation and progress towards policy coherence for development (PCD). These areas of inquiry ultimately lead to four key questions:
- What development objectives can the UK better pursue through the EC than through bilateral means?
- How much funding should be allocated to EC development assistance?
- What countries and sectors should the EC concentrate its funds on?
- How should these funds be managed?
ODI’s Siân Herbert and Romilly Greenhill set out to answer these questions in this submission of written evidence.
Submissions from other organisations are available here.
January 11, 2012
Reflections on the Durban outcome and the EU’s role in brokering a deal
Posted by edcsp under Blog, News | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", climate change, Connie Hedegaard, Durban, EU |Leave a Comment
Over on his website, Simon Maxwell looks at the outcome of the climate talks in Durban, focusing on the central role played by the EU. Simon notes:
“The most interesting aspect for me is the role of the EU in brokering this deal, first by developing the idea of a ‘road-map’ to a post-Kyoto framework, and second by stitching together an alliance across the traditional dividing lines of Annex 1, Annex 2 and non-Annex 1 countries, as well as large and small emitters. I can’t say that I have studied the internal EU processes in any detail, nor been able to disentangle the role of European institutions versus Member States, but at first sight Connie Hedegaard, the EU Climate Commissioner, deserves a great deal of credit. There are a couple of implications.
First, Durban may well provide a case study of why it is sensible for Member States to work together through the EU, and of how to do it. At a time of political crisis in Europe, there are valuable lessons about the benefits of developing an EU-wide vision and set of targets, as well as specific instruments like the European Emissions Trading Scheme, however flawed (but NB worth celebrating and defending, especially given the current row with the Chinese, Americans and others about bringing airline emissions into the Scheme). Are there implications for development ministers working on climate change, but also more widely?
Second, it is interesting to speculate whether and how EU momentum will be sustained. Is it sensible to think, for example, that the global public good would be served if EU Member States concentrated more of their climate change energy through Brussels institutions rather than bilaterally – giving Connie Hedegaard more bargaining power in the negotiations over a new treaty? From a development angle, there might be implications for the funding of the EU’s Global Climate Change Alliance, so far very poorly funded, and for the allocation of bilateral funds, like the UK’s International Climate Fund.”
To read more, click here.
December 20, 2011
Re-thinking Europe: what development can offer
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", development, eurozone crisis, policy |Leave a Comment
In development circles, we often ask what ‘Europe’ can contribute to our development objectives. However, with Europe in financial and perhaps even political crisis, isn’t time we asked what development can contribute to our European objectives? Simon Maxwell sets out three answers to this question in his latest EDCSP blog.
December 19, 2011
‘Modernising European Development Policy’ at the European Development Days
Posted by edcsp under Events | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", Andris Piebalgs, Baroness Lindsay Northover, European development policy |Leave a Comment
On 16 December, EDCSP jointly hosted a panel debate, as part of the European Think-Tanks Group and with French research institute Ferdi, looking at ‘Modernising European Development Policy’, at the European Development Days conference in Warsaw.
To watch a video of the debate, click here.
December 10, 2011
EDCSP update – December 2011
Posted by edcsp under News, Newsletter | Tags: development, EDCSP, EU, European development policy, ODI, policy |Leave a Comment
December 8, 2011
Modernising European Development Policy – Event at the European Development Days
Posted by edcsp under Events, News | Tags: Andris Piebalgs, Baroness Lindsay Northover, development, EDDs, EU, European Development Days, Poland, Warsaw |Leave a Comment
The EDCSP team is now all set for next week’s European Development Days.
On 16 December from 14.15 until 16.00, we will jointly host a panel debate, with our European Think-Tank Group partners and with French research institute FERDI. Our debate will look at ‘Modernising European Development Policy’ and boasts a high-level panel including:
- Andris Piebalgs (European Commissioner for Development),
- Baroness Lindsay Northover (UK Government Spokesperson on International Development, House of Lords),
- Tertius Zongo (Former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso),
- Alain Henry (Head of the Cabinet of Mr. Henri de Raincourt),
- Paul Engel (Director of ECDPM),
- Patrick Guillaumont (President of FERDI), and
- Simon Maxwell (ODI) (chair).
If you are attending the EDDs too, please come along!
December 7, 2011
Commission adopts legislative proposals for external action instruments (2014-2020)
Posted by edcsp under Facts, News | Tags: Agenda for Change, Andris Piebalgs, European Commission, legislative proposals |Leave a Comment
The European Commission has today adopted legislative proposals for its external action instruments (2014-2020), setting out the practical implications of the new proposed development strategy – ‘An Agenda for Change’. These instruments will come under increasing scrutiny over the next few months, in the lead up to the Foreign Affairs Council in May 2012.
December 6, 2011
Attention, MEPs: The future of EU external action is up for grabs
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", Agenda for Change, development, European development policy, European Parliament, MEPs, Mikaela Gavas, Sian Herbert |Leave a Comment
As the European Commission is on the eve of releasing legislative proposals on the future financial instruments and regulations for external action, researchers from the European Think-Tanks Group identify six key points for Members of the European Parliament to keep an eye on.
Read more here.
Also published by EurActiv.
December 5, 2011
What the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework could mean for development
Posted by edcsp under Events, Facts, News | Tags: EU budget, European development policy, MFF, multi-annual financial framework, Thijs Berman |Leave a Comment
On 29 November, EDCSP, as part of the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG), together with Thijs Berman MEP, hosted a roundtable debate in the European Parliament on the development aspects of the proposals on the EU’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework.
To see the ETTG’s presentation, click here.
November 30, 2011
“Development and humanitarian aid and related policies are amongst the priorities of the Cyprus government for its Presidency”
- Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, 28.02.2011
November 25, 2011
What will the EU push for at Busan?
Posted by edcsp under Events, News | Tags: aid effectiveness, Busan, common position, EU |Leave a Comment
Ahead of the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness at Busan, read the EU’s common position here.
November 23, 2011
What do Europeans think about development aid?
Posted by edcsp under Facts, Poll | Tags: aid, development, EU, Eurobarometer, opinion poll, support |Leave a Comment
Eurobarometer have just released an opinion poll on development aid, based on interviews with 26,856 people across the EU in September 2011.
The key findings reveal that 85% of Europeans find development aid very important or fairly important. The countries that are most supportive of development aid are Sweden (97%), Cyprus (95%), Poland (92%), Luxembourg (92%), Germany (92%) and Finland (91%). Overall support is the weakest in Hungary (75%), Bulgaria (75%), Estonia (74%) and Slovenia (71%).
A large majority of Europeans (70%) see sub-Saharan Africa as a part of the world that is most in need of aid in the fight against poverty. In a question that allowed respondents a maximum of three answers, North Africa and the Middle-East came second at 33%, followed by the Indian sub-continent (25%), the Caribbean (17%), South East Asia (16), Eastern Europe (outside the EU), Caucasus and Central Asia (15%), Latin America (15%). and the Pacific and Oceania (6%).
Read the report to learn more interesting stats.
November 14, 2011
Generalised System of Preferences graduation: will it reduce poverty?
Posted by edcsp under Research | Tags: development, EU, exports, Generalised System of Preferences, GSP, trade |Leave a Comment
The EU is reviewing the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), its broadest-based trade policy to support developing country exports. The European Commission has proposed the most radical changes in the scheme’s three-decade history, arguing that this will ‘focus the GSP preferences on the countries most in need’. But will it?
This Project Briefing summarises ODI research, and finds that only a very small part of any gains will accrue to poor countries and that workers in the graduates may be just as poor and vulnerable as those in beneficiary states.
November 3, 2011
EDCSP update – November 2011
Posted by edcsp under News, Newsletter | Tags: development, EDCSP, EU, European development policy, ODI, policy |Leave a Comment
October 31, 2011
EU budget support: both a ‘name changer’ and a ‘game changer’
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: aid, budget support, development, EU, European Commission, European development policy, Heidi Tavakoli, ODI |Leave a Comment
In this ODI blog, Heidi Tavakoli analyses the European Commission’s new strategy for budget support.
As one of the biggest providers of budget support, any policy changes by the EC will not only affect the budget support landscape, but may also drive changes in many of its member states. Heidi notes that the new proposal introduces two significant changes: firstly, the EC proposes that budget support becomes a political instrument; and secondly, as with DFID, the EC will change the name of its budget support instruments to better reflect its objectives. Read more here to see how this could be both a ‘name changer’ and a ‘game changer’.
October 28, 2011
EU development policy: ambitious agenda for change or the same old story?
Posted by edcsp under Blog | Tags: Agenda for Change, aid, development, DIE, European development policy, German Development Institute, Mikaela Gavas |Leave a Comment
Following the Commission’s launch of its latest mission statement on development policy – ‘An Agenda for Change’ – the EDCSP’s Mikaela Gavas, with German Development Institute’s Svea Koch and Dr. Mark Furness, have written an article questioning is it really an Agenda for Change? Is it ambitious enough to equip the Commission to tackle global challenges such as poverty, the food crisis, the economic slump, climate change, and insecurity? And will it be able to deliver greater impact?
Read their analysis here (English) and here (German).
October 25, 2011
Simon Maxwell discusses the Commission’s new Agenda for Change
Posted by edcsp under Events | Tags: "Simon Maxwell", Agenda for Change, aid, Commissioner Piebalgs, development, EU, European Commission, European development policy, growth |Leave a Comment
On 19 October, the EDCSP’s Simon Maxwell was invited to speak on the panel at Commissioner Andris Piebalgs’ launch event for the European Commission’s new development strategy – An Agenda for Change. Simon welcomed the document and the new directions it signals, noting that it is still work in progress, with seven more months of negotiations ahead. He also identified some key points of unfinished business that the strategy uncovers.
To watch the panel discussion, click here.
To watch Simon’s speech, click here.
To watch Simon’s interview by Capacity4dev, click here.
October 23, 2011
The eurozone crisis: Risks for developing countries
Posted by edcsp under Research | Tags: developing countries, economic crisis, European development policy, eurozone, eurozone crisis, Isabella Massa, Jane Kennan, Jodie Keane, LICS, ODI |Leave a Comment
Just as the world was recovering from the 2008-9 recession, the global economy looks once again close to boiling point.
But what does this actually mean for developing countries, and in particular for low-income countries (LICs)? What makes the eurozone sovereign debt crisis different from the recent global financial crisis? Through what channels could the European debt crisis spread to the developing world? Are LICs prepared to weather a new global downturn? What policy options may be adopted by developing country policy-makers?
This ODI Background Note explores these key questions, and offers advice for policy makers.
