Effective development policy crucial to addressing root causes of migration

16.09.2015 16:28

Effective development policy crucial to addressing root causes of migration

In less than two weeks, the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be approved at the UN summit in New York. The sectorial scope of the new global development agenda is enormous, including areas such as migration, justice, human rights, industrialisation and energy.

"In its November resolution, the European Parliament set out its contribution to the definition of the new global development framework after 2015. The EU has devoted this whole year to promoting development policies by naming it the European Year of Development. However, this year turned out to be the European year of migration, and development policy plays a key role in defining solutions to the present crisis," says Davor Ivo Stier, the EPP Group's Spokesperson in the Development Committee and  Parliament's Rapporteur on the Post-2015 framework.

The EPP Group supports the establishment of the emergency 1.8 billion-euro Trust Fund for Africa announced by the Commission, along with the existing fund for Syria. However, EPP Group members warn that contributions to these funds are necessary and are calling on the Member States to meet the target of 0.7% of GNI for Official Development Assistance (ODA) as soon as possible.

"In these times of profound change and emerging challenges, the EU's development policy needs more attention and transformation. Development efforts should be rights-based, and aid should refocus on building peace and stability, as well as promoting good governance, combatting corruption and building transparent, efficient and inclusive institutions."

"The Millennium Development Goals have not addressed these issues and this is changing with the new framework to be adopted in New York. This new concept is aimed at refocusing global development efforts on addressing the root causes of poverty, instead of curing the symptoms. It makes the global development framework truly transformative, but also very challenging to implement."

"The new set of priorities for ending poverty and achieving sustainable development have been already agreed upon, now comes the hard part - keeping the promises we make. Precise and effective proposals for implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are yet to follow," concludes Stier.

Note to editors

The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 217 Members from 27 Member States

Other related content