Development Policy: eradicate poverty with well-coordinated policy and new partnerships

“The international situation has changed considerably since the adoption of the last consensus in 2006. We now face new challenges but also have new tools and new possibilities”, said Bogdan Wenta MEP, the EPP Group’s Spokesman on Development Policy and co-author of the Parliament’s position on the New European Consensus on Development adopted today in plenary.

This joint political statement lays the ground for the development policy of the EU and its Member States for the next 15 years, aligning it with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It provides for the well-coordinated policy to eradicate poverty, overcome the causes of migration and build a fairer and more stable world.

The new policy will now improve the coherence and coordination of actions taken by the EU and its Member States as well as other donors and actors in the field. It provides for an improvement of the effectiveness of aid and for the leverage of new development finance by increasing public-private partnerships in addition to the official development aid. It also allows the strengthening of links between security and development activities through capacity-building in order to ensure sustainable development objectives.

The proposed European External Investment Plan is an example of a 'smarter' use of Official Development Assistance to leverage funding from other sources, create quality and decent jobs, and generate inclusive sustainable growth for the benefit of the poorest.

“Development cooperation is crucial for addressing the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement because the countries which are politically stable are less prone to massive expatriations. In this context, greater focus has been put on the essential link between development and security and the interdependence between stability, good governance and the rule of law, and long-term development and growth”, said Wenta.

Having spent €75.5 billion in 2016 on the projects linked to i.a. education, promoting democracy and good governance, access to potable water and energy or job creation, the European Union and its Member States have consolidated their place as the world's leading aid donor. It also confirms that eradicating poverty and reducing vulnerabilities will remain the main goal of the EU Development Policy.

The signature of the new consensus is expected to take place during the European Development Days on 7-8 June 2017.