Case: Policy coherence in general

04-02-2010 New Development Commissioner Piebalgs Strongly Commits Himself to PCD

New Development Commissioner Piebalgs strongly commits himself to PCD
During the past few weeks all of the hearings of the Commissioners designate took place. During these hearings the Commissioners were targeted with questions in relation to their field of work by the MEPs from the different committee’s in the European Parliament. In many hearings of relevance to Development, the issue of PCD or a particular case in relation to PCD was raised.

Commissioner Designate for Trade Karel de Gucht, was asked questions in relation to the developmental aspects of the EPAs and the implication of the inclusion of IPRs in trade agreements, to both questions he answered by saying that currently he is the Commissioner for Development Cooperation and therefore he is very well aware of the developmental implications of both these issues. He did not go into great detail, but let us hope that indeed he will not forget about the developmental angle of his work on trade and lets keep reminding him on Policy Coherence for Development.

Andris Piebalgs, Commissioner Designate for Development Cooperation was very well aware of the meaning and obligations in relation to PCD, he even mentioned it to be one of his top priorities; “I will pursue tangible process in Policy Coherence for Development, so that other policies of the EU, such as trade, research, migration, CFSP, agriculture and fisheries release their potential to contribute positively to development. And I will boost the way in which other financial means, be it public of private, can be better leveraged to enhance resources for development.” On a question asked about the whole of the Union approach (the communication presented by the Commission on PCD last September) he said he was ‘puzzled’, that ODA is clearly defined and that the ODA+/Whole of Union approach needed to be studied further and felt that although there are other means to finance development, ODA+ is not a valid concept. Furthermore Piebalgs claimed to be very willing to enter in debates with his colleague Commissioners when it comes to sensitive topics in relation to Policy Coherence for Development, and to make his future colleagues aware of PCD.

Catherine Ashton, High representative to be, for Foreign Affairs will receive an interesting portfolio. She will be in charge of the European External Action Service (EEAS), a new body which shall work in cooperation with the diplomatic services of the Member States and shall include officials from relevant departments of the General Secretariat of the Council and of the Commission as well as staff seconded from national diplomatic services of the Member States. The Commission's exclusive competence in trade and development will not be transferred to the EEAS. Although the service will have cells for these areas, decisions will have to be made jointly by the High Representative and the College of Commissioners. The Commission's representations abroad will fall under the EEAS as EU embassies. How exactly this new structure will work out in practice, and whether it will provide for more coherence, has to be awaited.

The new Commissioner Designate for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva, as the replacement to Rumiana Jeleva who withdrew, was only questioned on the 3rd of February. Counter to her predecessor commissioner designate, she was extremely popular amongst the MEPs. Many questions were asked on Haiti and preventive climate change measures that are going to be taken to avoid future increase in natural disasters. Despite all these important questions for a humanitarian aid commissioner, little was asked about PCD. Only one or two MEPs pointed out relations to trade and fisheries policies. Georgieva responded to these points by explaining how they were not her areas of expertise or part of her portfolio, but emphasized the importance for the different commissioners to communicate and work together in order to not counter act each others efforts and help each other attain their goals.

During other relevant hearings, such as of the Commissioners Designate of Agriculture, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs and Industry and Enterprise, there was unfortunately not much attention paid to Policy Coherence for Development, when concerns were raised on for instance the Fisheries Partnership Agreements, answers were given in the sense that cooperation between the different DG’s will certainly take place.

All in all, it is promising that the Development Commissioner to be, Andris Piebalgs seems very aware of the importance of PCD. Fair Politics will therefore closely monitor his work and we will put our efforts into raising more awareness around PCD also towards the other Commissioners and the INTA, AGRI, PECH and ITRE Committee’s within the European Parliament. The college of Commissioners will be approved by the Commission next week during the plenary session in Strasbourg.