Brussels, 15 June 2006: The European Commission has published a new proposal suggesting reforms of EU's external polices.

Following the publication of the Barnier Report, suggesting a complete reform of the EU's external relations policy, the European Commission has published a more modest proposal aimed at creating greater coherence of the EU's external policies. The communication is intended to provide a basis for discussion, and frames the discussion within the context of the existing treaties, rather than the more ambitious plans of the Constitutional Treaty.

European, African, Caribbean and Pacific parliamentarians meeting in the 12^th session of the ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Barbados, on 18-23 November 2006, criticized the process of programming European aid for ACP countries. Discussions with the European Commissioner for Development, Louis Michel, during this session, highlighted the fact that aid is being used to serve Europe’s economic and geopolitical interests rather than the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as a consequence of the lack of parliamentary oversight.

EU’s GMO position threatens development policies for farmers

Questions have been raised by European and ACP parliamentarians on the legitimacy and the credibility of the programming process of European Community aid to ACP countries under the 10^th European Development Fund (EDF), in the context of a debate with Louis Michel (European Commissioner for Development) during the 12^th session of the ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Barbados on 20^th November 2006.

While Louis Michel explained that “the EU should respect the choices of its partner countries in the programming process”. He added that he will push to ensure that governance “is an essential element of the 10^th EDF programming”. The Commissioner’s definition of governance has however been questioned by various members of the ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

More

An assessment of European Community aid Programming

On 8 November Eurostep published a report that critiques the planning of the EU’s aid to ACP countries from 2008.  The report includes 4 country studies looking at the national process to date written by civil society actors.  The report looks at the process for selecting focal sectors for the EC's aid to those countries, and at the mechanisms to involve civil society actors in the programming process.  It concludes that from the case studies presented, and information provided by civil society actors from other countries, the EU's principles of ownership, transparency and participation are very far from being reflected in the process to date.

The case studies focus on Benin, Burundi, Cameroon and Zambia.  Further country studies are planned.

See report:

• Assessment (EN - FR)
• Benin (EN - FR)
• Burundi (EN - FR)
• Cameroon (EN - FR)
• Zambia (EN - FR)