Case: Policy coherence in general

08-04-2009 Louis Michel proposes to introduce PCD training for Commissioners

On 31 March 2009, one of the last meetings of the Development Committee of the European Parliament in its current composition took place. The Commissioner for development, Mr Louis Michel,  was present at the meeting to exchange views with the MEPs and together look back at the past five years of his term as Commissioner. Even though Mr. Michel will probably take a seat next to the MEPs after the elections for the EP in June, he still had some ideas for the future, especially for the next Commissioner for Development.         

MEP Frithjof Schmidt (Verts/ALE), vice-chairman of the EPs Development Committee, expressed his concerns about certain missing elements in the Commissions annual policy strategy for 2010, presented to the Parliament. This policy strategy sets the policy agenda of the Commission for 2010, and marks the start of institutional dialogue on the policy priorities for next year. It focuses mainly on the subjects of Economic and social recovery, climate change and sustainability, on citizens and on Europe in the world.  MEP Frithjof Schmidt correctly noticed the absence of the notion of Policy Coherence on Development (PCD). One could assume that the second European report on PCD,that will be published by the Commission in September 2009, may lead to the stepping up of action and improvement in that area. Mr Schmidt wondered if the Commission feels that PCD is not important? Why is it not mentioned in the annual policy strategy?

According to Mr. Michel, coherence between different policy areas is of vital importance for improvement in the field of development. He believes that the Commission could improve awareness of the notion of policy coherence in the Commission by means of a tailored training. Several Commissioners, he suggested, could be trained on how to take into account development issues when they make decisions and develop policy initiatives in their own policy fields. Development cooperation could, in his view, be a small part of every DG. These specialised units would then be well-placed to draw attention to the importance of policy coherence. Every six months, Mr Michel went on, there should be a report about the developments in terms of awareness of PCD and progress made in terms of policy changes.

Fair Politics EU encourages these very good and crucial measures that Mr. Michel proposes; they could indeed make an important difference by possibly even avoiding new incoherencies between policies from coming into existence. Even though his term as Commissioner has almost come to an end and he cannot make sure these measures will be negotiated and implemented, it is good to hear that he feels very strongly committed to this subject. Hopefully the next European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid shares these views and will take the necessary next steps to ensure a better level of coherence in intra-Commission procedures.

Frithjof Schmidt contributed to fair politics by raising this issue during the meeting of the Development Committee in the EP.