Case: Policy coherence in general

31-03-2010 EU Paving the way to UN MDG Summit

In 2000 at the UN Millennium Summit, 189 countries signed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to be met by 2015. The eight goals, believed to be achievable and realistic, with measurable targets, were set to motivate the world to come together to combat poverty. The member states of the United Nation will come together in New York coming September, as 10 years have passed, to discuss the progress that has been made and agree which actions will need to be taken to ensure that the Goals are met. The European Union, representing the large majority of the global aid flows, has a special responsibility, to take up a leading role at the 2010 Summit and  rescue these goals.

The EU has always taken pride in its distinguished position when it comes to the fight against global poverty. However this reputation is at risk due to the failures of previous attempts this past year to set up a strategy to reach the MDGs and mitigate the impact of the economic crisis. Therefore the European institutions, politicians and civil society are now working hard to brainstorm and to advocate their ideas for the UN Summit and the future of the MDGs. The European Commission has sent out communications to the other EU institutions about the impact of the financial crisis on de MDGs. The European Parliament has given the DEVE and the INTA Committees the responsibility of reporting on the “Progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals: mid-term review in preparation of the UN high-level meeting in September 2010.” And civil society is also doing their best to be heard.

All in all there is a call fore more aid (that the EU countries deliver the 0.7 GNI/ODA that was promised), better aid and policy changes. CONCORD, the confederation of 1600 European Development NGOs, also calls on the EU to use its leading role in the development arena to push for other donors to do better and to stick to their commitments.  Oxfam held a hearing on the MDGs on the 23rd of March 2010, in the Parliament. At this hearing the Oxfam rescue package was presented, in which they advocate for the EU to adopt four essential components: more aid, better aid, beyond aid and to increase efforts towards essential services (health and education). “Beyond aid” refers to policy changes that are necessary for MDGs to be attainable. It was emphasized that Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) was a prerequisite for achieving the MDGs by 2015 because the development policy will simply not be as effective otherwise. The EU’s current external policy, particularly in areas such as trade, agriculture, migration, capital flight and intellectual property rights, are having a negative impact on development objectives in poor countries. CONCORD, in their MDGs position paper also call on the EU to make linkages between policy areas more explicit and to make the policy-making procedures transparent and participatory in order to ensure PCD.

At the Oxfam MDG hearing, Sargentini, Member of Parliament as well as many others, explained that obtaining PCD is the secret to achieving the majority of the MDGs, especially those related to education and healthcare. The five priorities set out by the European Council concerning PCD, migration, food security, climate change, security and trade and finance, all directly and indirectly have an effect on education and health.

If the EU wants to protect its reputation as the global leader in the fight against global poverty, it needs to adopt some changes in its internal and external policy and set a good example. It needs to become more coherent and to deliver on the promises and commitments made in the past.

 

CONCORD MDG Position Paper: Read here

Oxfam EU MDG Rescue Packag: Read here