Case: Policy coherence in general

14-09-2009 The crisis does not only affect us...

While Europe is facing and trying to mitigate the consequences of the global financial and economic crisis, we tend to forget that there are many countries in the developing world that are much less responsible, yet much more vulnerable and affected by the crisis.
On behalf of the Committee on Development, MEP Eva Joly, highlights this issue to the Commission in a question that was taken to the plenary session in Strassburg this week.

Joly points out how G20 leaders expressed their support and the need for extra resources in these countries, yet only 1,6% of newly loaned resources has gone to Africa (in contast to 82% to Europe). It shows an inadequacy of the Bretton Woods institutions to serve the needs of developing countries, which can be related to their lack of voice and representation. Joly therefore asks how the Commission plans to improve this situation of the institutions, as well as the budget plan of the Commission itself.

Innovating funding mechanisms and increased flows are necessary to mitigate the disastrous effect of the crisis in developing countries and we would like to praise Joly and her Committee for bringing this to the attention by monitoring her as Fair Politician here.

In Strasbourg a plenary debate took place on the topic, including an answer from the Commission on the urgency of the matter and a promise to defend the need for increased access to finance for developing countries in the next Development Affairs Council.

The Fair Politics Netherlands is currently developing a case on the topic, as well as organising a student symposium that will take place end of November.

Monitor fair: Greens/EFA

 

Update: More and more MEPs concerned for developing countries in financial crisis

01-10-2009 Also other MEPs are concerned about the effects of the financial-economic crisis on developing countries. Czeslaw Adam Siekierski (EPP) asks the Commission if aid can be increased to help those countries most affected or what else can be done (see below).

 

Parliamentary questions - 1 September 2009 H-0299/09 
ORAL QUESTION for Question Time at the part-session in September 2009 pursuant to Rule 116 of the Rules of Procedure by Czes³aw Adam Siekierski to the Commission

Subject: Development assistance in an economic crisis   
 
In this current period, when we are having to contend with an economic crisis, is there a realistic chance of putting in place specific conditions to help the countries most affected? I am referring above all to the very poor countries of the third world. Would it be possible to increase the aid for developing countries? If our own internal problems, such as an insufficient budget or a lack of time, do not allow us to do that, then what is being done to speed up the take-up of funds that have already been assigned to developing countries? My question is essentially whether it is possible to simplify the procedure for allowing this assistance to be increased.
 
14-10-2009 MEP Iva Zanicchi (PPE) raises the issue again in a question to the Commission that emphasises the rise in hunger and malnutrition caused by the crisis. She asks the Commission to take the lead in tackling the lack of resources and need for innovative solutions.

 

Parliamentary questions
14 October 2009 
E-4995/09
WRITTEN QUESTION by Iva Zanicchi (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: Effects of the global financial crisis and support for developing countries

The recent financial crisis has triggered a global economic recession whose numerous repercussions have hit developing countries particularly hard, not least by exacerbating the food crisis: the toll of hunger victims has, for the first time in history, risen to 1020 million, and there are at present 100 million more people suffering from malnutrition than there were in 2008. The FAO (the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation) has sounded the alarm, noting that the scourge, which is also spreading to rich countries (where 15 million people are going hungry, the numbers having jumped by 15.4 % within the space of a year), is growing unremittingly at a disquieting rate. The financial crisis has had a very strong impact on the ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific) countries, bringing still more complications in terms of environmental challenges and volatile food prices. The Asia-Pacific region, the most populous part of the world, has the highest number of hungry people (642 million), following an increase of 10.5 % compared with 2008. Sub-Saharan Africa, on the other hand, has the highest percentage of malnutrition victims, 32 % (approximately 265 million), 11.8 % more than in 2008; in the Caribbean countries too, the hungry have risen in number over the past year. Given that the developing countries, as well as being affected more severely by the global economic crisis, will have to deal with the greatest challenges as regards mitigating, and adapting to, climate change and that a substantial EU contribution will be essential to enable them to cope with these additional requirements, will the Commission take the lead in tackling the task ahead by coordinating donor responses and delivery of the necessary extra resources? Will it commit itself to other innovative solutions aimed at financing development in developing countries so as to cushion the effects of the crisis in the medium term?