Case: Policy coherence in general

07-06-2010 Ghana Impact Study Presentation and Fair Politics Awards...

Fair Politics at the European Parliament on the 29th of June, 2010

Ghana Impact Study:

By means of two panel discussions Fair Politics will present its findings of the impact study conduced in Ghana on European policies having an impact on development. During the first panel discussion the case of the EPAs will be discussed; our main findings will be presented after which Peter Thompson (European Commission) and Sanoussi Bilal, an EPA expert from ECDPM will react and discuss the subject further.

In the second panel debate, Sarah Hardus (Evert Vermeer Foundation), Francoise Moreau (European Commission) and Paul Engel (ECDPM) will discuss how one can conduct research on Policy Coherence for Development; how can we measure the impact of European Policies? What do we define as incoherent? And how far should the responsibility of the EU go? (in terms of implementation).

Please find the programme here.

Fair Politician of the Year Award:

The Proclamation of the Fair Politician of the Year is coming closer. On the 29th of June, 2010, it will be awarded at the European Parliament, to the Member of Parliament (MEP) who has shown the most effort to make EU Policies more coherent and fair.

Fair politics relates to Policy Coherence for Development, defined as politics in which EU policies are not incoherent with the EU Development policy. It is important that PCD and fair politics are promoted because development efforts are in vain as long as other policies are counter productive.

Since the beginning of this Parliamentary year Fair Politics has been monitoring questions, (own initiative) reports, and amendments in order to scrutinize the MEPs for their efforts to achieve fair politics. Each time an MEP engaged in a positive action related to one of our cases, a news item was published and the appropriate points were given.

Thus far the race for the Fair Politician of the Year title is close and very exciting. Eva Joly still spearheads the race with eight points. Not far behind her are Kader Arif, Enrique Guerrero Salom and Franziska Keller. Although the lead is occupied by a GREENS/EFA politician, the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) as a political group as a whole are the most active in relation to PCD. WIth almost 40 points, they are way ahead of the game. Joe Higgins from the GUE/NGL leads his political group and Charles Tannock leads the ECR.

For more information on our points system; have a look at the section “monitor” in the blue toolbar.

We very much look forward to seeing who will be the fair politician of the year!

Please register by sending an email to: hdgroot@evertvermeer.nl