Case: Policy coherence in general

22-02-2010 Keller Presents her Own-Initiative Report on PCD

In the meeting of the Committee on Development of the European Parliament on the 22nd of February 2010, Franziska Keller, from the political group of the Green (Greens/EFA), presented her own-initiative report on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) and the Official Development Assistance plus (ODA+) concept. For her efforts to enhance PCD, as presented in the draft report, Ska Keller is in the race to become the Fair Politician of the parliamentary year!

The point on the agenda started with a short presentation on the draft report by Keller. She outlined the most important objectives on the report and its content. The report was written in order to raise awareness of existing incoherences (in EU trade, agriculture, fisheries, climate, intellectual property rights, migration, finance, arms and raw materials policies) and reaffirm the commitment of the Commissions, Council and Member-States to PCD. It includes some concrete suggestions for possible changes in policies as well as in institutional structure. One example of such a structural change would be the introduction of a complaint mechanism concerning incoherencies. The report suggests that complaints could be brought to the European Ombudsman, an exiting independent body, who can highlight the problems at the different European institutions. Furthermore it suggests that the Commissioner for Development take up the responsibility to ensure PCD and the that the parliament will write an annual report on developments made concerning the subject.

The Director General of DG Development, Manservisi, gave his opinion on behalf of the Commission. He agreed on the importance of PCD and the importance to act on EU level. He emphasized the importance of setting concrete targets and indicators, in order to eventually have a scoreboard of what is done and what is not done, in the future. Although he agreed with much of the report, he did not see the usefulness of the ombudsman for improvements. According to him we need to simply keep pressuring for change. Finally he mentioned the importance for PCD in the ODA+ concept, that all money must be spent in a development friendly way.

A councillor of the European Ombudsman was next invited to speak. He also welcomed the report as well as a new task in support of PCD. According to him, the European Ombudsman, as an independent body of the EU will not hesitate to criticize the EU institutions. Any citizen, organization, company or state within or outside of the EU can bring their complaints. Only if the complaint is brought from a third country, is it up to the Ombudsman to decide what to do with it. According to the councillor, it is the logical next step.

Rilli Lappalainen, on behalf of CONCORD and civil society also welcomed the report and believed the recommendations, including using an existing complaint mechanism, were valid. The Parliament is suggested to report on PCD biannually and furthermore push for PCD to make the agendas in bilateral meetings as well. Civil Society will be happy to contribute.

After the speakers, MEPs from the different political groups had the opportunity to give their opinion. The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) had the most to say. Arsenis and Guerrero both being S&D, supported ideas on the involvement of the Ombudsman, the responsibility of Commissioner of Development and the ODA+ approach and emphasized the importance of synergy between climate change policies and poverty alleviation, highlighting the case of biofuels. The S&D also wanted to express their concerns on how the institutions are going to deal with the complains and that sometimes one needs to be more flexible with PCD (in times of economic or energy crises). Schieber-Jastram, member of the Christian Democrats, simply expressed her concerns on the work load of the Ombudsman, but she was guaranteed that it should be possible. Furthermore MEPs hoped to see more on trade and incoherencies concerning finance and tax issues in the final report on PCD.

All in all the opinions on the draft report on PCD and the ODA+ concept were positive.
MEPs can send in amendments until the 4th of March. Fair politics of course hopes that the report will be adopted in DEVE next month and in the plenary session in Strasbourg in April.

Later in the same meeting on another agenda point, Keller asked the Commissioner for Development, Piebalgs on his plans for improvements in PCD and what he thinks of the proposals made in the report, like the suggestion for the use of the Ombudsman as a complaint mechanism.

His answer was that development should be part of the strategy in all policies and not just the "Christmas tree decoration." Parliamentary reports on PCD would be extremely useful and concerning the Ombudsman, he would have to look into it further and come back to Keller on that.

For her strong efforts to enhance PCD within the European institutions as expressed in the draft report on PCD, we recognize MEP Franziska Keller (Greens/EFA) as fair politician. She will therefore receive a point in our monitoring system, and she is in the race to become the Fair Politician of the parliamentary year!

Monitor fair: Greens/EFA(2)

Draft Report on the EU Coherence for Development and the 'Official Development Assistance plus' concept by the Cmmittee on Development

Update: 18-05-2010 Motion for a resolution on PCD adopted in plenary!

Update: Final Report on the EU Coherence for Development and the 'Official Development Assistance plus' concept