The informal meeting of EU Development Ministers, organised by the Spanish presidency, took place in Segovia, Spain, on 17 and 18 February. I represented the UK.
The items covered were as follows:
The Millennium Development Goals Review Summit
This session focused on EU preparations for the MDGs summit in New York in September 2010. The new Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and the presidency underlined the importance of the summit to galvanising support for poverty reduction before the 2015 MDG target date. The UK, alongside the Commission, a number of other member states and civil society representatives, argued that the EU should demonstrate global leadership through a comprehensive package that would include commitments to those goals most at risk, particularly maternal and child health, food security and education. The Commission welcomed the clear steer from Ministers and will reflect this in its proposals planned to be put to the May and June Foreign Affairs Councils. The overall EU position will then go to the June European Council for agreement by leaders.
Financing for Development
I underlined the importance of honouring our EU Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitments. While alternative financing mechanisms, including from the private sector, are likely to form an increasingly significant part of meeting the global development and climate challenges, ODA will remain the core contribution and our pledges must be met. I shared the UK’s experience of increasing ODA to a position where we will meet the 0.7 per cent. GNI target by 2013 and there was considerable interest in our draft legislation to make this commitment a legal obligation. Several member states highlighted the challenge of meeting the targets in the current economic environment, though all member states reaffirmed the importance of the commitment. The Commission and presidency will work further on suggestions for enhancing the accountability of member states to meet their pledges including an annual review of progress by Heads of Government and delivery plans to 0.7 per cent. for member states.
By special invitation, Norway presented on its work on combating tax evasion and tax havens. In response to the presentation and a Commission discussion paper, Ministers noted the importance of mobilising domestic resources in developing partner countries as a key step in reducing dependency on aid and harnessing finance for poverty reduction. In this context, economic growth, support for improving partner countries’ tax systems, tackling illegal financial flows and corruption and addressing tax havens where noted as particularly important. The French led a call for the presidency to ensure that innovative proposals on taxation and financing were discussed by both Development and Finance Ministers given the shared interest. The Commission will draft a paper for Ministers at the May Foreign Affairs Council on enhancing work on tackling tax evasion in developing countries.
More effective EU development assistance
Alongside the quantity of aid, we discussed improving the quality of that aid. The Commission presented work on the improving the complementarity and co-ordination of EU aid.
Transatlantic relations
The new Administrator of the United States’ Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Shah, presented his priorities to the group. These were: a strong focus on the MDGs, particularly how technology can be deployed in support of development; maternal health; food security; and education. Dr. Shah emphasised his desire to build an effective and practical partnership with the EU on development issues, something already in evidence and underlined by the response to the Haiti earthquake. EU Ministers welcomed his appointment and pledged to take forward this important relationship on a range of issues, not least the 2010 MDG summit.
Haiti
Ministers discussed the situation in Haiti, both in terms of immediate response and ensuring better co-ordination for the reconstruction. Edmund Mullet, UN Special Representative to Haiti, Kristalina Georgieva, the new EU Humanitarian Commissioner and Dr. Shah provided details of their own efforts and their assessment of need. I joined my EU colleagues in recognising the tireless efforts of UN staff, Commission and other aid workers in Haiti
I argued for a thorough review of the humanitarian system over the last five years, learning lessons from Haiti and other disasters and drawing up recommendations to improve future responses. This proposal gained support from a number of Ministers and this will help to build the growing consensus behind the review.
I also held a series of useful bilateral meetings discussing for example reform of the humanitarian system, Haiti, the MDGs and aid financing with, amongst others, Dirk Neibel, the German Development Minister, Dr. Shah of USAID and Commissioner Piebalgs.