News archive

04-04-2012 Who will become the Fair Politician of the Year 2012?!

This year’s competition for the Fair Politician of the Year is as exciting as ever and everything is still possible! So far, MEPs Maurice Ponga from the EPP and Judith Sargentini from the Greens/EFA both take the lead in the running towards becoming Fair Politician of the Year. But there are still more than two months left for the competition so who will go home with the trophy? Will it be mr. Ponga, ms. Sargentini or will the standing rapporteur on PCD, ms. Birgit Schnieber Jastram, pull back from behind?  Read more »

04-04-2012 Policy Coherence for Development: 2012 and beyond?

The European Commission published its second report on PCD this year. The report counts over a 100 pages and assesses the efforts to implement PCD of the EU and its member states. Unfortunately the Commission opted for a more low key launch than was the case with the previous edition, and it will not be discussed in Parliament as such. Read more »

03-04-2012 Stage “Fair Politics” in Brussel

De Evert Vermeer Stichting (EVS) wil dat beleidsmakers en politici in Den Haag en in Brussel zich realiseren welke impact hun besluiten hebben op mensen in ontwikkelingslanden. Politici en beleidsmakers moeten dus beslissingen nemen waarbij de belangen van ontwikkelingslanden worden meegewogen. Read more »

27-03-2012 MEP Silvestris: hinder local growth developing countries needs to stop

Roughly 60% of the contracts that are put out to tender development cooperation are awarded to companies from the same country that finances the development initiative. In absolute terms, donors get back some USD 29 billion. This occurs as invitations to tender tend to indirectly favour global companies or companies from the donor country, in terms of language, access to information or participation requirements. The result is that entrepreneurial activity and local employment in developing countries are hindered. Read more »

27-03-2012 MEP Benova questions social rights aspect EU immigration strategy

Although migration is high on the European Unions political agenda, the Arab spring and events in the Southern Mediterranean in 2011 further highlighted the need for a coherent and comprehensive migration policy of the EU. Read more »

27-03-2012 EU reform Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)

Only a third of the EU vessels fishing outside EU waters operate under fisheries agreements. The rest operate under private licensing and joint ventures. Inter alia to promote sustainable fisheries in its fisheries relations with developing countries, the EU is currently reforming its Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).  Read more »

27-03-2012: Draft Report and Opinion on External Dimension of CFP

The committee on Fisheries (PECH) of the European Parliament has made a draft report on the External Dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), drafted by rapporteur Isabella Lövin (Greens). The main point made in the draft report is that it urges the Commission to drive the global and multilateral agenda forward promoting sustainable fisheries worldwide, and address crucial issues such as the eradication of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the strengthening of high seas control and governance. Furthermore it emphasizes that the EU has to seek policy coherence for development. Read more »

27-03-2012 MEP Aylward: Transparency needs to be improved

3.5 billion people live in countries rich in oil, gas and minerals. With good governance the exploitation of these resources can generate large revenues to foster growth and reduce poverty. However, when there is a lack of transparency and governance is weak, it may result in poverty, corruption, and conflict. Read more »

06-03-2012 Launch Impact Study Rwanda!

In 2010 Fair Politics carried out its first impact study in Ghana. We looked at the effects of the EPAs, European migration policies and illegal logging on the local development. Read more »

30-01-2012 Shell's involvement in armed conflict addressed by MEP Désir

According to a report from the British NGO Platform, the Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell has actively fuelled conflict and violence in Nigeria. Shell would have paid nearly 120.000 euro to armed groups, causing hundreds of people fleeing their homes, getting tortured or executed. Read more »

12-01-2012 Preference erosion in ACP countries questioned by MEPs

In order to promote and facilitate socioeconomic development in developing countries through sustainable economic growth, the European Union grants tariff preferences to trading partners in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The Generalised System of Preference (GSP) allows such preferential treatment of developing countries as an exemption of WTO rules that aim for equal treatment of imports from all WTO member countries. Read more »

11-01-2012 Two-tier trade agreements questioned by MEP Bearder

In a written question to the Commission, MEP Catherine Bearder (ALDE) addresses the issue of the two-tier trade system in recently signed free trade agreements (FTAs). Referring to the Lisobn Treaty, she criticises the fact that environmental and human rights provisions are not part of the main body of the FTAs. This means that there is no real enforcement mechanism nor subject to dispute-settlement machinery and that it seems less important than the commercial chapters. Read more »

11-01-2012 Predatory land deals questioned by MEP Matias

Following a recent report from Oxfam on 'Land and power: The growing scandal surrounding the new wave of investment in land', MEP Marisa Matias (GUE/NGL) has made inquiries to the Commissions actions to fight land grabbing. Read more »

11-01-2012 MEP Rossi asks about WEEE compliance

In 2009, the European Commission adopted a directive on electronic waste (e-waste). This so called WEEE (waste electric and electronic equipment) directive requires Member States to collect electronic waste separately in order to increase the recycling of electronic devices and to fight illegal export of e-waste. Despite this directive, the illegal dumping of hazardous electronic waste still takes place on a large scale. African and Asian countries that are used as dumping ground are hit the hardest, and in effect their soil and water resources are being polluted by toxic materials such as lead, arsenic, beryllium and cobalt. Read more »

11-01-2012 MEP Kaczmarek addresses medical brain drain

In a written question to the European Commission, MEP Filip Kaczmarek (EPP) addresses the exodus of medical staff from developing countries. Qualified doctors can earn more money in the EU and the US than in their own countries, which leads them to leave their own countries. Not only do developing countries lose two billion dollar a year which they invested in training these doctors, but also they lose out on the availability of already too little medical staff. The need for qualified doctors is extremely high, particularly in sub-Saharan countries, due to infectious diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Read more »

11-01-2012 MEP Bearder asks for extension of TRIPS waiver for LDCs

People in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have limited or no access to basic services. One of the reasons they do have to some extent access to generic medicines is beacause of the TRIPS waiver. The TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property) agreement is meant to protect intellectual property and encourage innovation. Read more »

11-01-2012 MEP Aylward asks about sustainable trade and development

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) stated that a new international development architecture is needed to assist developing countries with their development of sustainable trade and development and to reverse their marginalisation. In our case study on the Raw Materials Initiative (RMI) we have shown that indeed trade in raw materials is often unfair and incoherent with development policies. Read more »

11-01-2012 DEVE committee content with fisheries agreement EU Guinea-Bissau

In a recently adopted opinion, drafted by MEP Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA), the DEVE committee has expressed its content with the new Protocol agreed between he European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the two parties currently in force. Read more »

11-01-2012 Concerns over minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), some of the critical mineral raw materials that are essential to EU markets are mined. These critical minerals are used for i.e. electronic devices. MEPs Dan Jørgensen (S&D) and Syed Kamall (ECR) have expressed their concerns on the mining of these minerals in the DRC. Read more »

28-11-2011 The Big Banana Movie

Multinational corporations in developing countries can make or break the development and sustainability in the area. In the EU, politicians, decision-makers and consumers can influence the way corporations behave in developing countries. This was one of the conclusions drawn from the public screening of the documentary The Big Banana Movie, on October 19th at the European Parliament, organised by the Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFN). The film was banned in Cameroon on the 26th of April this year. Read more »

28-11-2011 Privatisation of water resources incoherent with MDGs according to MEP Mélenchon

Under the pressure of the World Bank, the IMF and the European Commission, there has been a world wide increase of privatising water recourses. The aim was to encourage sustainable development, mainly in developing countries, and to have the costs increasingly covered. However, as a consequence the prices of safe water access have risen, since water has been turned from a public good into a commodity in countries where water resources have been privatized. Due to this, many people in developing countries have decreased or no access to safe drinking water. Read more »

28-11-2011 MEP Stihler questions EU cotton subsidies

In a written question to the Commission, MEP Catherine Stihler (S&D) points out that the EU cotton subsidies contribute to the artificially high price of cotton. The EU subsidies are worth more per pound of cotton than the price of which it is traded on global markets. This is disadvantageous for developing countries in West and Central Africa, where cotton production plays a major role for the economy. MEP Stihler asks the Commission why it excluded cotton subsidies from the CAP reform proposals and if the EU should not be leading the way for the US and China by revising its position on cotton subsidies. Read more »

28-11-2011 INTA adopts report on Trade and Investment Barriers

The committee on international trade (INTA) of the European Parliament has adopted a report on Trade and Investment Barriers, drafted by rapporteur Robert Sturdy (EPP). The main point made in the report is that removing or reducing non tariff barriers (NTBs) should be one of the key regulatory priorities of the new EU trade policy under the Europe 2020 strategy. Although in the draft report there is not much attention paid to development, several amendments have been written that take development into account. Read more »

28-11-2011 EUs policy on biofuels questioned by MEPs

On behalf of the DEVE committee, Michèle Striffler (EPP) posed a question to the Commission on the EU biomass policy and its impact on development. Referring to the targets for renewable energy that the EU has set to have by 2020 a 20% share of energy from renewable sources in the EU final consumption of energy and a 10 % share of energy from renewable sources in each Member States transport energy consumption, she expresses her concerns on the possible negative environmental impacts of these targets, like deforestation. She therefore asks the Commissions what measures will be taken to ensure sustainable biomass production, to protect forests and to prevent negative climate, environmental and social impacts from the use and production of biomass for energy. Read more »

28-11-2011 Blog: Jasper in Rwanda!

Bourbon Café, Kigali hotspot for muzungus and Rwandans alike, is a great place to drink good coffee and eat overpriced and not so good food (the free wi-fi somewhat makes up for it, so do the speakers blasting Jody Bernal). Im waiting for two energetic young guys from a local film school to arrive and discuss a short documentary were making about mining here in Rwanda. Theyre going to an artisanal mine tomorrow run by a cooperative. They will shoot the goings-on at the mine and interview the workers. We hope it will give you and European policymakers an idea of the way the metals on which we so heavily depend are produced. Yesterday I met with the executive secretary of the federation of mining cooperatives in Rwanda, and he had some interesting things to say. The complete lack of equipment is a major problem in upgrading production, and he was very enthusiastic about the idea of a new loan from the European Investment Bank, something they had received in the past. Right now they have to export a lot of their metals unrefined, which means they get a lower price for it than if they had the equipment to refine it to a higher grade. Read more »

10-11-2011 CONCORD launches its 2nd spotlight report on PCD

The European Unions still fails to meet its Lisbon Treaty obligation to take account of the objectives of development cooperation in the policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries (Art 208 Lisbon). The EU therefore seriously undermines human rights of people living in developing countries. This is one of the conclusions of the new report on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) that was launched on 7 November by CONCORD, the confederation of European development NGOs. The report uncovers incoherencies between EU development objectives and other policies, coming at an important time as the EU currently reforms its agricultural, trade and development policies. Besides we are expecting the release of the 3rd biannual EU progress report on PCD, and the 2nd report of the European Parliament on PCD. Read more »

08-11-2011 The Commission proposes Sustainable Fisheries Agreements

The Common Fisheries Policies (CFP) is currently being reformed. On the 13th July the European Commission presented its proposal for this reform which aims for sustainable fisheries worldwide. As one of the means to reach this goal, the Commission has proposed to transform the current Fisheries Partnership Agreement into Sustainable Fisheries Agreements (SFAs). These SFAs have to be focused on resource conservation and environmental sustainability, improved governance and effectiveness of sectoral support. Moreover, the Commission proposes that the SFAs should be based on the best available scientific advice, using the concept of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) as a reference. Read more »

08-11-2011 Commission sets EPA ultimatum

The European Commission has set an ultimatum for the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) for ACP countries. ACP countries which have not signed an EPA by 1 January 2014 will lose their beneficial access to the EU market. The EPAs were designed to support development by promoting regional integration of developing countries. However, the EPAs turned out to be some sort of free trade agreement, demanding partner countries to open up their borders to the EU, and to liberalise not only trade, but also services and investments. This would mean that countries that signed an EPA can’t give preferential treatment to local businesses and investors, to stimulate the local production and market. ACP countries fear that they won’t be able to compete with European corporations and producers and that their markets will be disrupted. Critics say that ACP countries should first be able to diversify their economies and to enjoy regional free trade zones, before opening up completely their borders to the EU. Signing an EPA may lead to a reverse of development and an increase of poverty in ACP countries. Read more »

11-10-2011 The challenge of food security

Food security is a main challenge the world is facing nowadays. It is a complex problem with many factors contributing to it, which means that there is not a clear-cut solution to it. However, action needs to be undertaken. In the run up to the reform of the EUs Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), a public hearing on food security in developing countries was held in the Development Committee of the European Parliament on the 4th of October. Topics on the agenda were speculation on food prices, land grabbing, the CAP reform and the EU development cooperation. Read more »

10-10-2011 MEPs ask questions on the humanitarian emergency in the Mediterranean Sea

In the aftermath of the unrest in North-Africa, thousands of people have tried to flee to Europe by boats. Hundreds of them got shipwrecked in the Mediterranean Sea and are now dead or missing. Read more »

10-10-2011 MEP Meyer calls subsidies and incentives for biofuels into question

In 2009, the European Parliament and Council adopted a renewable energy directive (RED). This directive states that 10% of transport fuel used in the EU should come from biofuels by 2020, which comes down to a doubling of the current biofuels consumption. By setting this target, the EU encourages the growing of crops for conversion to biofuels. Consequently, this means there is less land to grow crops for human consumption, leading to a reduction in food production. This in turn causes a rise of food prices as well as a rise of the number of people going hungry. Read more »

10-10-2011 MEP Koppa questions the Commission on illegally dumping of hazardous electronic waste in West Africa

Referring to information from the NGO the Environmental Investigation Agency, MEP Maria Eleni Koppa (S&D) posed questions about illegally exporting and dumping of hazardous electronic waste (e-waste) in third-world countries by British companies. Read more »

10-10-2011 MEP Imbrasas questions the rise in food prices

Since the UNs Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) started to measure food prices in 1990, the food prices have not been as high as today. Particularly poor people, both in developed and developing countries, suffer from the recent rise in food prices. Food security is a major challenge for the EU, as the first MDG to which the EU committed itself is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Read more »

10-10-2011 MEP Cretu: fight corruption and illegal transfers of capital

Taxes are the most sustainable, stable and predictable form of income for governments. By increasing tax income, developing countries could become more independent from foreign loans and aid. Moreover, public sectors like education, health care and infrastructure are traditionally financed from tax revenues. Raising the tax income would mean more funds to invest in these sectors, which will promote development. Read more »

10-10-2011 DEVE report: Assisting developing countries in addressing food security

On behalf of the DEVE committee, Gabriele Zimmer (GUE/NL), wrote the report: EU policy framework to assist developing countries in addressing food security. The achievements towards the MDG hunger target have shown to be insufficient. The number of hungry people, estimated by the FAO, has decreased after 2009, but is still greater than in 2008; food prices have been indicated as a factor leading to food insecurity. In this report some important calls are made, some of which are listed here: Read more »

28-09-2011 Adoption ITRE report on effective raw materials strategy

On September 13th, the ITRE report on an effective raw materials strategy for Europe by rapporteur Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA) was adopted by the European Parliament. The European industry is facing an increasingly difficult situation with regards to the supply of raw materials (RM), due to a growing global demand for RM and a lack of supplies. The report makes several proposals to increase the effectiveness of the Raw Material Initiative. Read more »

19-09-2011 DEVE opinion on PECH report: Combating illegal fishing at the global level the role of the EU

On behalf of the DEVE committee Maurice Ponga (EPP) wrote an opinion on the report Combating illegal fishing at the global level the role of the EU by the committee on fisheries. In this opinion he stresses that responsible and sustainable fishing favours economic growth and job creation both within the EU and in developing countries, whereas illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) inhibits this and thus impedes the achievement of the MDGs. Next to this, he stresses the Commission to ensure coherence among its policies so that the development policy, which combats poverty, is an integral part of the banning of IUU fishing, which in its turn improves governance in the fisheries sector. Read more »

19-09-2011 The battle for the Fair Politician of the Year 2011-2012 has started!

The summer is over and everybody has returned to Brussels. The new parliamentarian year has started. Of course this year, Fair Politics will again keep a close eye on the MEPs in their battle to become the Fair Politician of the Year. All parliamentary questions, reports, opinions and their amendments will be monitored. Every time MEPs pay attention to Policy Coherence for Development (PCD), they will be rewarded a point in our monitoring system. The MEP with most points, will be titled the Fair Politician of the Year 2011-2012! We challenge all MEPs to keep fighting for more Policy Coherence for Development. This will give development a real chance.ll Read more »

12-09-2011 Ghanas national CSO platform shares its concerns about the IEPA

This month (september 2011), Ghana will host the ECOWAS Ministerial Monitoring Committee (MMC) on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in Accra. The Ghana National CSO Platform on EPA has urged the Ghana government to abandon the separate interim-EPA (IEPA) they made with Europe four years ago, and to do this before the MMC meeting.   According to the CSO Platform, the IEPA is threatening the development and position of both the Ghana and the West African region for several reasons. First of all, the IEPA brings forth an overdependence of Ghana and the region on EU market and a predominance of Europe over these countries economies. Furthermore, the IEPA will further fragment and eventually derail harmonisation of West Africas regional position and regional integration. Read more »

04-07-2011 24 NGOs file complaint with the European Commission  

24 NGOs file complaint with the European Commission for denying access to documents on EU fisheries agreements in developing countries Read more »

30-06-2011 MEP Catherine Grèze wins the Fair Politician of the Year Award.

Yesterday (June 29th) Fair Politics awarded the most ‘Fair Politicians’ of each political group in the European Parliament. The top three of each political group was invited and a total of eight MEPs were able to join us, for which we are very grateful. MEP Thijs Berman (S&D) welcomed this year’s nominees as the very first time winner of the Fair Politician Award in 2008. Read more »

28-06-2011 Raw Materials discussed thoroughly in the European Parliament!

On behalf of the ITRE committee, Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA) wrote 'an effective raw materials strategy for Europe' as the European industry is facing an increasingly difficult situation with regards to the supply of raw materials. This is particularly the case for the 14 critical raw materials, which the European Commission identified. Increasing global demand coupled with a lack of supplies due to long lead-times in the mining industry and the increased use of export restrictions by resource-rich countries, are not only pushing prices to record heights, as is the case with copper, but are also leading to potential supply shortages. Read more »

22-06-2011 Fair Politician of the Year Award ceremony Next week!

Coming Wednesday the 29th of June, the award ceremony for the Fair Politician of the Year will take place! The top 3 from each political group is invited to join the ceremony to find out, who has won most points in each of the political groups and which group and politician is this Year’s ultimate winner. Read more »

01-06-2011 Opinion DEVE on the external dimension of social policy

On behalf of the DEVE committee Catherine Grèze (Greens/EFA) wrote an opinion on the report: on the external dimension of social policy, promoting labour and social standards and the European Corporate Social Responsibility by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL). In this opinion Grèze expresses the disappointment that the social provision of EU preferential trade agreements are presented as objectives to be achieved rather than legal commitments to be enforced; as the core labour standards (CLS) and ILO are essential to achieve the MDGs. Next to this, Grèze deplores the fact that FTAs contain few references to social standards, and urges the EU to incorporate a social clause into all EU external trade agreements, including those coming from the WTO. Also, MEP Grèze insists that trade negotiations pursued within the WTO must not jeopardise social development. Read more »

01-06-2011 MEPs request for a moratorium of the European financing for mining projects

In an open letter to the Hungarian Presidency, the President of the European Council and the European Commission on EU public funding for mining 50 MEPs from 4 different groups (S&D, ALDE, the Greens/EFA and GUE/NL). request for a moratorium of the European financing for mining projects for as long as there are no bound rules and regulations. Read more »

01-06-2011 MEP Tarabella questions the Commission on the privatisation of the coffee industry

The main source of income for Burundi is coffee production, covering 80% of its export revenues. The state of Burundi entirely controlled the coffee industry for many years until 1997. From then on the ownership was handed over to the coffee growers, enhanced by the World Bank. This privatisation excluded all Burundian companies from bidding in public procurement procedures, meaning that all coffee has to be sold unprocessed passing all their property rights on further down the chain where they are being snapped by foreign multinationals. Read more »

01-06-2011 ALDE group questions the Council on the Arms Trade Treaty

Trade in arms is an issue in which many EU member states are involved. EU member states export arms to so referred to friendly-nations which on their turn export these arms to countries with often instable governments. This is not intended by the member states and clearly undermines the development aspect of the member states and that of the EU. Currently, the UN is in a process of preparing a global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in which amongst other is stated that member states are themselves responsible that these arms will not be used in battles which are in serious violations of international human rights or humanitarian law, or acts of genocide or crimes against humanity. Transparency should be one of the main pillars in the ATT. Read more »

31-05-2011 Don't forget TRIPS on generic medicines when tackling counterfeit medicines.

The trade in counterfeit medicines is a criminal act as there is no control on what ingredients are actually in the medicines, either too few or too many, or even toxic substances. This fraudulent trade seriously harms the poorest members of society, mainly in ACP countries where markets are not well organised and regulatory legislation is still at a drafting stage. The EU has amended a resolution in order to combat the entry of falsified medicinal products into the European legal supply chain. This EU resolution together with the resolution adopted by a group of ACP states to combat trade in conterfeit medicines is very good. Read more »

31-05-2011 A new trade strategy, report by INTA committee with an opinion by DEVE.

On behalf of the INTA committee, MEP Daniel Caspary (EPP) wrote the report: a new trade strategy for Europe under the EUROPE2020 Strategy. In this report he states that this modern trade policy should take account of other policy areas among which the EUs development policy. In the  report it is stated that, the European Parliament supports the Commission in its goal to promote sustainable development, international labour standards and decent work, for example by negotiating EPAs, which are to combine European and ACP interests. According to MEP Caspary, the Commission should withdraw GSP benefits in the event of a GSP beneficiary country making use of unfair trade practices, as this would undermine other policies such as environment, development, research and foreign affairs. Read more »

12-05-2011 Will the CAP towards 2020: meet the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future?!

On behalf of the DEVE committee, MEP Arsenis (S&D) wrote an opinion in which he points out the concerns on the negative impact of CAP on developing countries. They regret that the Commissions communication on the CAP towards 2020 does not mention such impacts and calls for the new CAP to include the principle of do no harm to developing countries as a core objective. They call for the post-2013 CAP to eliminate all export subsidies and to decouple direct payments from production, so as to create a level playing field between EU and developing countries agricultural products. Read more »

12-05-2011 Who will become the Fair Politician of this parliamentary year?

The Parliamentary year is not over yet, so everyone is still in the race to become the most Fair Politician of the parliamentary year 2010/2011! The Groups that are currently leading are the S&D and the EPP closely followed by the Greens, GUE/NGL and ALDE. Which MEPs are leading the race will be kept a secret until the end of June, to encourage all MEPs to keep on asking questions, writing amendments, opinions and reports in which they raise Policy Coherence for Development. There are still almost two months to go before the granting of the award, so still plenty of time to keep up the good work on PCD issues! Read more »

12-05-2011 Raw Materials and transparency hot topic among various MEPs

The Raw Materials Initiative set up in 2008 leads to many discussion and questions among MEPs. In the first place this initiative could lock resource-rich developing countries in a situation where they have no choice but to remain net exporters of raw materials, instead of being given the chance to develop their own downstream industries and move up the value chain. This outcome conflicts sharply with EU developments objectives, as to better integrate developing countries on the world market. In the second place, the raw material industry is subject to many financial scandals. Read more »

12-05-2011 MEP Watson questions sustainability of Renewable Energy Directive

Since 2009 the EU has a Renewable Energy Directive (shortly RED) in which is stated that in 2020 20% of all energy should come from renewable energy sources, and 10% of transport energy should be renewable. This target is leading to an increase of biofuel plantation, of which many are in developing countries. Currently, a strong debate is going on in which it is questioned if renewable energy sources like biofuels are indeed sustainable. Read more »

12-05-2011 AFET report on migration flows

On behalf of the AFET committee in the EP, MEP Fiorello Provera (EFD) wrote a report on migration flows arising from instability. The main causes for these migration flows are wars, armed conflicts, ethnic tension, natural disasters, the lack of proper economic and democratic structures; which are a challenge for the European Union. The tension that these migrations cause are not only in the country of origin, but also between the countries of origin and the countries of transit. In order to meet this challenge effectively, the EU must implement a policy of prevention, employing the most appropriate foreign policy instruments in order to address the causes of instability directly so that emigration becomes an opportunity and not a necessity. Read more »

27-04-2011 Schnieber-Jastram addresses possible violation of PCD in Zambian coper mine

In 2005 the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted a 48 million euro loan to the Mopani Copper Mine (MCM) in Zambia. In 2008 an international tax audit team assisted in a pilot audit of selected mining companies in Zambia. On 13 February some results leaked and indicated that the MCM used tax avoidance practices. It was concluded that the mining sector in Zambia has been marginalised due to unfavourable terms agreed upon in the privatization of the Zambian Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM). Read more »

26-04-2011 MEP De Rossa questions the Council on the European Conflict Minerals law

MEP Proinsias De Rossa (S&D) asked a question to the Council on the European Conlflict Minerals law. In this question he wonders the response of the Council to the call on Failure in protection of human rights and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Read more »

26-04-2011 Fox questions Commission on proper implementation of RED

The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) requires that biofuels deliver substatial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and should not come from vulnerable araes like forests, wetlands or natural protected areas. By 2020 10% of fuels used should be derived from sustainable biofuels. Read more »

26-04-2011 De Rossa questions "brain drain"

MEP Proinsias De Rossa (S&D) asked a question on health brain drain from developing countries; he asked the Council how they responded to the need to address the issue of brain drain in the implementation of bilateral trade agreements, in particular in the health sector. Read more »

23-03-2011 Thijs Berman addresses PCD and tax evasion to European Investment Bank

MEP Thijs Berman (S&D) on behalf of the DEVE committee wrote an opinion on “Granting an EU guarantee to the European Investment Bank (EIB) against losses under loans and guarantees for projects outside the European Union”. Next to the core mission of financing operations in the European Union, the EIB also finances projects outside of the EU, in accordance with the EIB’s external policy, by which the EIB contributes to the general guiding principles and policy objectives of the European Union, Read more »

23-03-2011 New study ones again demonstrates the impact of TRIPs on access to medicine

A policy guide published by the WHO and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), which addresses the impact of TRIPS and discusses how to improve access to medicines for the most vulnerable citizens throughout the world. Read more »

23-03-2011 CFFA request transparency on Fisheries agreements from the Commission

The Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), to which also the Evert Vermeer Foundation belongs, send a letter to the Commission requesting for access to all reports held by the European Commission on fisheries access partnerships and fisheries partnership agreements with third countries. Read more »

17-03-2011 ALDE group questions Commission on Rare Earth Elements

In the last weeks and months, many questions have been asked to the Council and the Commission on Rare Earth Elements (REE). Most of the questions were however about, how Europe will safeguard its position next to China. As currently, China controls 97% of the world production of REE imports, the EU is dependent on China, which announced significant export restrictions as a reply to the global demand for REE. Read more »

04-03-2011 Successful student proposal

Last Monday, the 28th of February, the winning group of the Student Symposium, World of Plenty organized by the EVS last November, came to our office in Brussels to present their proposal. The symposium provided different master classes on the topics: water, food, land, energy, biodiversity, minerals and finance. The winning group, which was on renewable energy, won a trip to the European Parliament to present their ideas to MEPs Thijs Berman (S&D) and Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA) who were very enthusiastic about the ideas and seemed willing to cooperate. Read more »

24-02-2011 MEP Patriciello concerned about waste disposal and raw materials

Fair Politics follows the EUs Raw Materials Initiative (RMI) and the incoherence between this initiative and the  EUs development policy (see our case study on the RMI). In its new communication which was published at the beginning of February, the Commission is taking some steps in the right direction as it points to the sustainable exploitation of natural resources, combined with the creation of a sound investment climate as one of the main drivers of growth in Africa. Nevertheless the good suggestions made like for instance the possibility of introducing Country by Country reporting, and investigating the policy goals of export resrictions, will still need to be put into practice The European Union, as Africas most important trading partner and donor of development aid, should help lift developing countries out of poverty by investing in the sustainable management of their natural resources, in good governance and in promoting sound financial management. Read more »

24-02-2011 MEP Marisa Matias questions biofuels

Biofuels are on the agenda of many MEPs, luckily, because many questions are to be asked on the effects for developing countries. As one of the largest economies, the EU plays a key role in stimulating the use of alternatives to fossil fuel.  Biofuels were thought to combat the climate change due to CO2 reduction. The production of biofuels are thus highly subsidized and benefit from tax exemption. Fair Politics questions the coherence between the Renewables Directive promoting biofuel production on one hand and the development objectives by the EU on the other hand. Read more »

24-02-2011 MEP Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou asks questions on Tax Havens

The focus of development cooperation is usually on the amount of money transferred as aid from the North to the South. However, a tremendous amount of money is leaving developing countries in the form of illegal financial flows corresponding to 10 times the amount of injected development aid from developing countries. Thus, on one hand the EU is supporting developing countries by its development policy and aid programmes, but on the other hand the EU and in particular its Member States are enabling corporations to escape their tax responsibilities in developing countries. This is a flagrant case of incoherent policy as you can also read in our case on Fair Taxes. Read more »

24-02-2011 MEP Ferreira questions commission on IUU

To combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing more transapancy is needed. Lack of transparancy undermines the quality of descision making processes, it stiffles political voice among marginalized stakeholders and it contributes to the problem of corruption and illegal fishing. As the fisheries sector could have a significant role in combating poverty as described by the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) it is very important to combat IUU. Currently, the PECH committee in the European Parliament is working on a report on combating IUU fishing all over the world. Read more »

24-01-2011 MEPs worry about implementation of FLEGT

The European Parliament has been discussing two new Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with Cameroon and the Congo Brazzaville under the Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. MEPs Yannick Jadot on behalf of Greens/EFA, Catherine Bearder on behalf of ALDE, David Martin on behalf of S&D, Joe Higgins on behalf of GUE/NGL, and Daniel Caspary on behalf of EPP have expressed concerns about the implementation of the FLEGT. Also they wonder how the Commission is going to ensure the rights of local populations and how the EU is going to finance these schemes in the upcoming year. Lastly the MEPs want to know if the Commission will create more legislation to end deforestation. Read more »

24-01-2011 MEP Tarabella: effect EUs biofuel policy devastating

The EU has set a target on transport energy supply that by 2020 10% must come from renewable sources, mostly biofuels. This target has recently been attacked by many MEPs. The cause was the report by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) which showed that biofuels will increase CO2 emissions instead of reducing them. In a written question MEP Marc Tarabella (S&D) added another report to the debate. The Tricontinental Centre (CETRI) was commissioned by the Belgium government to investigate biofuels. It concludes that the target will cause both social and evirnomental disasters in Soutern countries. Tarabella wonders how these effects could be prevented and asks the Commission to give a respons to CETRIs conclusions. Read more »

24-01-2011 MEP Michel wants a European Dodd-Frank Act

Fair Politics has already referred to the American Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in previous news items, because MEPs continue to pay attention to this topic. This time Louis Michel (ALDE) asked the European Commission why the European Union (EU) has not yet introduced similar legislation. The significance of the Dodd-Frank Act is not just about reforming Wall Street. More important is the legal obligation for extractive companies to disclose information on the origins of the raw materials and whether their payments are used to fund conflicts in developing countries. Michel provides the example of the DRC as a clear case where this has happened in the past. Read more »

24-01-2011 The Commission must decouple cotton subsidies, according to MEP Michel

The debate about the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is due in 2013, has started in Brussels. MEP Louis Michel (ALDE) urges the Commission to include the cotton subsidies in the reform. In West-Africa 15 million people are directly dependent on cotton production. Today cotton has only been decoupled for 65%, which means that 35% of the subsidies are calculated based on production. Most other agricultural products have been decoupled for 90%. The subsidies for European cotton farmers are causing  market distorting effects, which are negatively affecting the African cotton farmers. Read more »

24-01-2011 FTA negotiations India pose threat for migrants and patients, according to MEPs Falbr and Smith

The European Commission is negotating a Free Trade Agremeent (FTA) with India. There have been several MEPs who already expressed concerns about these talks in the past. Recently MEP Richard Falbr (S&D) asked the Commission in a written question if India is insisting to include Mode 4 in the FTA. Mode 4 is part of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). This would create a new way for temporary labour migrants coming from third countries as part of trade agreements instead of immigration policies. It could be argued that this would create a chance for migrants, yet they would not be protected by the International Labour Organisations conventions. Moreover Falbr is wondering if the talks between India en the EU are done in secrecy, and only made public after an agreement is reached. Read more »

12-01-2011 ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly calls for PCD

Between November 30th and December 4th Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) met with parliamentarians form African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Resolutions on free and independent media, on technology transfer, new technologies and technical capacity building with regard to climate change, on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), on food security, and on the security problem in the Sahel-Saharan region were adopted in the 20th session. Read more »

12-01-2011 Biofuels under attack from MEPs

A decade ago, biofuels were seen as the answer to scarce and polluting fossil fuel sources. The European Union (EU) jumped on board of this idea, aiming at a 10% share of renewable energies in transport fuels by 2020. Biofuels were to provide at least half of the share, and therefore the EU provided subsidises to increase production. However it soon became clear that the benefits of biofuels were smaller than the damage it was causing. In general, biofuels are not sustainable since they do not produce less CO2 than fossil fuels. In November 2010 the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) published a report about this, called Anticipated Indirect Land Use Change Associated with Expanded Use of Biofuels and Bioliquids in the EU An Analysis of the National Renewable Energy Action Plans. Read more »

12-01-2011 European Parliament annoyed by delay in GSP reform

The Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) is being discussed by the European Commission and the European Parliament, because the current scheme will end on 31st of December 2011. The Commission is preparing a new legislative proposal, however the policymaking process is expected to finish in the summer of 2012. In order to overcome this gap between the two agreements, the Commission proposed to extend the current GSP and GSP+ scheme. Read more »

13-12-2010 EU’s weapon exports: profit is all that matters

In 2008, the EU declared the EU code of conduct on the control of exports of military technology and equipment legally binding; Meaning, that the export of weapons to third countries is restricted by certain criteria, like: “Member States shall deny an export licence if there is a clear risk that the intended recipient would use the military technology or equipment to be exported aggressively against another country or to assert by force a territorial claim.” \[1\] It is understandable that the weapons industry wants to make profit. However, according to a report (presented below) published on November 22nd, EU Member States seem to have the same interest, as they are approving weapons exports to third countries, by not applying the agreed criteria. Read more »

13-12-2010 Collier: ‘Brussels was build on the plunders of Congo, and should not make the same mistakes again!’

On the 6th and 7th of December the 5th edition of the European Development Days (EDD) were organised in Brussels by the European Commission and the Belgian presidency. During the EDD many high level meetings and side events were organised by the European Commission and civil society on current topics in relation to developing countries. On the afternoon of the 6th Fair Politics contributed to the EDD by the organisation of a side event on Policy Coherence towards the good governance of natural resources. We organised this side event together with the Belgian Natural Resources Network, the Alternatrade project and Forum Syd. Read more »

02-12-2010 S&D MEPs advocate for new European law for the extractive industry

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the best known example of a country suffering from the resource curse. When looking at the natural resources reserves it is one of the richest countries is the world, since it has for instance 80% of the worlds coltan reserves and 30% of the diamonds reserves. Yet today the DRC is one of the poorest countries where human rights are violated on a daily basis. Two S&D MEPs Marc Tarabella and Ana Gomes asked questions to both the European Council and the European Commission about the relationship between resources and the desperate human rights situation. Read more »

25-11-2010 MEP Rossi on combating poverty

Fair Politics has already reported on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) summit that took place in September. It became clear that it will be difficult to attain all goals by 2015, even though additional funds were raised. MEP Oreste Rossi (EFD) raised the question what the Council is doing to promote joint action among Member States to combat poverty. But more importanly Rossi mentions that not only the amount of money is important, but also how it is going to be spend and how aid can be  more effective. Read more »

25-11-2010 A coalition on Country-By-Country reporting between Greens and ALDE?

Tax evasion is a large threat to development, because Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are not adequately paying their taxes, which local governments could use to enhance developent. A solution for this problem would be the introduction of Country by Country (CBC) reporting, which would oblige EU listed companies to disclose their financial reports. This would make tax evasion more difficult. MEPs of both the Greens (Pascal Canfin, Sven Giegold, Eva Joly, and Philippe Lamberts) and ALDE (Sharon Bowles and Louis Michel) asked questions about CBC. Read more »

23-11-2010 Tsoukalas wonders what the EU is doing about e-waste

We are using more electrical and electronic equipment than ever, and often the devises need to be replaced after a year or two. How to recycle e-waste is an increasing world wide problem, since some components in the old equipment are made of raw materials that could be re-used. Today the raw materials reserves are decreasing, while the demand continues to grow. That is why the European Union designed policies to increase recycling of e-waste in Member States. Read more »

23-11-2010 MEP Childers asks Commission how to eradicate TB

World wide millions of people die from Tuberculosis (TB). In Europe TB is eradicated, unfortunately this disease remains wide spread in developing countries. TB, together with malaria and AIDS, is considered one of the three big killers, nevertheless it remains a neglected disease. MEP Childers (S&D) mentions that Catherine Ashton, vice president of the Commission plans to finance vaccination programmes in Africa and South-East Asia, and  thus he asked the Commission how they are going to eradicate TB world wide. Read more »

16-11-2010 Commissioner de Gucht acknowledges EU needs to change position towards EPAs

In a debate organised by the Peace Centre and the dienst Europa Direct of the province Antwerp, Commissioner Karel de Gucht openly presented his views on trade and development. Regarding the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) de Gucht said that he inherited this difficult dossier from the last Commission. To re-open negotiations with the ACP countries, de Gucht mentioned two points. Firstly de Gucht mentioned that the fixed figure of 80% market opening is now discussable. Secondly the EPAs should for the time being only focus on goods. Services and investments could be implemented in due time. Read more »

15-11-2010 Fair Politics at the European Development Days

The European Development Days will take place in Brussels on December 6th and 7th. In cooperation with the Belgian platform on Natural Resources and more NGOs active in the field of raw materials, Fair Politics is organising a side event. The topic is policy coherence toward the good governance of natural resources and its contribution to sustainable development. How to change the European Raw Materials strategy in order to fulfill the goals of internal and external sustainable development. Paul Collier (University of Oxford) will be among the speakers, as well as Claude Kabemba (Southern Africa Resource Watch). There will also be representatives of the European Commission and the Belgium Presidency. Fair Politics is inviting everybody who is interested to visit this event. Read more »

15-11-2010 Ashton: ‘there should be no conflicts of interests’

Finally after many requests Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy made it to the Development Committee (DEVE) meeting in the European Parliament last Monday. She was there to have an exchange of views with the members of the DEVE committee on her role in relation to development cooperation as high representative and head of the newly constructed European External Action Service (EEAS). Read more »

10-11-2010 The European Parliament on human rights and social and environmental standards in international trade agreements

Policy Coherence for Development strives for more coherence of European policies in order to have a positive impact on development. This means that while creating new policies, every Committee in the Parliament and every Directorate General within the Commission should pay attention to development. The International Trade Committee tried to achieve this goal by writing a report on human rights and social and environmental standards in international trade agreements. They attempted to point out what the most important provisions should be. It goes without saying that the Development Committee wrote an opinion about this topic. On behalf of his colleagues in this Committee, Filip Kaczmarek (EPP) pointed out what the most important standards are. Read more »

10-11-2010 MEP Nirj Deva on GDP and beyond

Following a Communication of the  European Commission, which aimed to complement the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and to provide more comprehensive information to support policy decisions, the European Parliament (EP) has been discussing how to measure growth and moreover development this last fall. This is a discussion which Fair Politics welcomes and recognises. Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) enhances development and makes development cooperation work better, but it remains difficult to prove that a change in European policy improves the situation in a developing country. To measure development and all the different indicators that are influencing this, there is need for a comprehensive measurement system. Read more »

10-11-2010 European Parliament opens debate on CAP reform: round 1

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), one of the most important EU policies as it concerns about 40% of the EUs budget is due to be reformed in 2013. If there is one topic that is bound to generate emotional discussions, it is the CAP. Everybody remembers the farmers who spilt their milk in the parks of Brussels in 2009, demanding support for the dropped market prices. Read more »

10-11-2010 EP recognises tax evasion as threat to development

On behalf of the Development Committee, MEP Eva Joly (Greens/EFA) wrote an own-initiative draft report on Tax and Development Cooperation with Developing Countries on Promoting Good Governance in Tax Matters. Fair Politics is pleased to see this report, since we are planning to launch our own policy case study on Fair Taxes soon. Read more »

09-11-2010 EU to prohibit trade in illegal timber by 2013

Trade in illegal harvested timber will be prohibited in the EU from 2013 onwards. Member States are going to be obliged to trace and prosecute offenders. On October 11th the Member States approved the legislative act, after the European Parliament (EP) had already given its consent. Read more »

21-10-2010 The EP on CSR in International Trade Agreements

The topic of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was raised in the 1990s when scandals of horrible working conditions in plants owned by Multinational Corporations (MNCs) in developing countries made headlines in the media. Companies causing these scandals saw the negative impact on their revenues and quickly adopted CSR programmes. In the following years many small and big companies were to follow, yet too often the working conditions have not improved. Read more »

18-10-2010 MEP van Dalen asks Commission about child labour and development charter in FTA with India

The Commission is currently conducting negotiations with India on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). MEP van Dalen asked what measures will be undertaken in order to combat child labour. The European Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs has also expressed its concerns in relation to child labour in India, stating that more than 200 million children are still working in India. According to van Dalen the Commission has the duty to come up with a proper response for these concerns. Read more »

18-10-2010 MEP Guerrero Salom concerned about food security

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) one, is aimed at ending hunger and poverty worldwide. Today 925 million people do not have enough to eat. The food crisis of 2007-2008 only emphasized the importance of this first goal, and demonstrated how easily progress can evaporate when market prices start to rise. In order to fight this problem the Commission has installed a fund for a rapid EU response when this occurs again. This is only one example of how the EU is committed to the MDGs. Read more »

12-10-2010 Sign this petition now!

Millions of people rely on generic medicines to stay alive. These medicines, mostly produced in India, are a lot cheaper than patented medicines. The European Commission has undertaken action against the production, registration, transportation and exportation of generic medicines. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) started a petition against this, since 80% of the HIV/AIDS medicines they use for treatments are generic. Read more »

11-10-2010 The VPAs with Cameroon and DRC, MEP Eva Joly gives her opinion

The European Commission is currently conducting negotiations on Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with both Cameroon and the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT). On behalf of the Development Committee within the European Parliament, MEP Eva Joly (Greens/EFA) wrote two opinions on the reports written by the International Trade committee. Read more »

11-10-2010 Raw Materials Round Tables with MEP Merkies (Update)

Fair Politics in cooperation with Member of Parliament Judith Merkies (S&D) is hosting a series of expert round tables in relation to raw materials. Raw materials, often found in developing countries, are running out because of the dramatic population growth and increase in use due to economic and technological development. This will have problematic consequences for the whole industry, whether at the beginning or the end of the production chain and on development in general. Read more »

07-10-2010 PCD is going global! MDG summit outcome refers to the importance of PCD!

Two weeks ago the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) summit took place in New York. The world leaders came together to discuss the progress made towards attaining the MDGs. It became clear that although some progress has been made, still a lot has to be done in order to achieve the goals by 2015. Fair Politics believes that a key issue is the fact that Western donors still give with one hand, but then take it back again with the other. That is why we have been advocating Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) for several years. We are happy to report that PCD was mentioned in the final outcome of the MDG summit. PCD is going global! Read more »

06-10-2010 The personal story of Mr. Akorli, a ghanaian poulty farmer

\[We visit Mr. Akorli at his house in Tamale, Northern Ghana. I know him through one of our partners that currently support local poultry production.  I explain him the objective of my visit and we start talking. Mr. Akorli is an old but vibrant man. He has just suffered from a stroke, but he clearly talks and explains his story.\]  Read more »

06-10-2010 MEP Stevenson asks Commission if cross-compliance will be introduced in CFP

MEP Struan Stevenson (ECR) asked the Commission, whether they will introduce a cross-compliance mechanism in the CFP, similar to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This because the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is structurally failing due to lack of compliance with existing rules. Read more »

06-10-2010 MEP Kriton Arsenis amends draft opinion FPA EU and Solomon Islands

MEP Kriton Arsenis (S&D) introduced an amendment on a opinion written on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the Solomon Islands and the EU. Arsenis raised concerns about the development and sustainability of the local fisheries and the involved industries on the Solomon Islands. Read more »

22-09-2010 MEP Liam Aylward asks Commission about child labour in small and medium size enterprises

Many European enterprises buy or have their goods manufactured in developing countries. Unfortunately, there are still factories there which use children as cheap labour. The European enterprises do either business with local factories themselves or there is a middleman involved. Sometimes these companies do not know under which working conditions their products are being made. However, sometimes they do know. MEP Liam Aylward (ALDE) asked the Commission what they are doing to ensure small and medium size enterprises do not get involved with forced child labour. Protecting childrens rights is a key goal of the EUs  external policy. If the Commission is lacking to act against companies using child labour, this would be an incoherence of European policy.   Read more »

22-09-2010 MEP Seán Kelly asks about the expiration of the GSP in trade

To end poverty; that is Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number one. The EU has committed itself to the MDGs. Moreover the Lisbon treaty states that the goal of the European development policy is to reduce and eventually eradicate poverty world wide. One of the ways the EU is trying to do this is through the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) in trade. 176 developing countries can export their products to the EU without import tariffs being enforced by the EU, and vice versa. Although we recognize this system is not the best optimum, free trade without restrictions, is important. Otherwise we will take with one hand, what has been giving, via aid, with the other. Read more »

22-09-2010 MEP concerned about biofuels and land grabbing

MEP Georgios Papastamkos (EPP) asked questions to the Commission about the future of the European policy on biofuels. Member states have indicated that there is a general reluctance to give strong backing to the use of biofuels. Also it is causing side effects in Africa like land grabbing issues. Food security is one of the Commissions priorities on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD), and this is being threatened in developing countries by foreign companies which are buying land to produce biofuels. European companies are the second largest investors in biofuels in Africa and European policies are encouraging this trend. Many local farmers are switching to these cashcrops as well. Article 208 of the Lisbon treaty states that the goal of development policy of the European Union is to reduce poverty world wide. Furthermore the EU has committed itself to the Millennium Development Goals. Switching from crops for human consumption to biofuels is not the way to end hunger. The EU should stop subsidizing biofuels on the African continent. Read more »

21-09-2010 MEP Proinsias De Rossa asks questions about the Resolution on PCD and ODA+

After the resolution of the European Parliament on The EU Policy Coherence for Development and the Official Development Assistance plus concept was approved, Member of European Parliament (MEP) Proinsias De Rossa (S&D) raised questions about this to both the Council and the Commission. First De Rossa asked the Council what the response will be in bilateral trade agreements and the emphasis that needs to be put on brain drain, as was stated in the resolution. Read more »

21-09-2010 MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher asks question about EU patent and its effects on development

Intellectual Property Rights are considered to be beneficial for producers, but when it comes to development, they often have a negative impact. One of the best examples is the availability of medicines in developing countries. For most diseases the cure is out there, but the patient simply cannot afford them, due to the patents on these medicines. There is little coherence in policies when the EUs development policy prioritises access to affordable medicines for developing countries, while at the same time, the EUs industrial and trade policy delays or complicates the access to developing countries markets of affordable medicines. Read more »

21-09-2010 MEP Michèle Striffler asks the Council about the link between the loss of biodiversity and poverty

Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Michèle Striffler (EPP) asked the Council, on behalf of the Committee on Development, what the policy responses will be to the loss of biodiversity as a new challenge to alleviate poverty in the light of the upcoming International Day for Biological Diversity. She specifically points towards Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) when it comes to poverty reduction and economic sectoral activities. Read more »

21-09-2010 MEP Griffin asks Commission about Mode 4 in trade negotiations with India

Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Nick Griffin (NI) asked a question to the European Commission whether in the trade negotiations with India the Mode 4 has been discussed. This is part of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and specifies the movement of persons across borders for the purpose of supplying services. This would create a new way for temporary labour migrants coming from third countries as part of trade agreements instead of immigration policies. Nick Griffin points out that if Mode 4 has been discussed, this has been done in secrecy and the question is raised why. Moreover, he asked what the consequences will be for the labourers and their rights under this new policy. Read more »

21-09-2010 MEP Georgios Papastamkos raises concerns about the impact of the GSP and EBA initiative on agricultural sectors in developing countries

MEP  Georgios Papastamkos (EPP) raised concerns in his question to the commission about the Generalized System for Preferences (GSP) and the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative to encourage trade with development countries. Papastamkos is worried about the effects of these policies on the agricultural sectors of the developing countries, since the EU is the largest importer of agricultural good. Food security is high on the political agendas, and moreover the EU should encourage the exporting countries to enforce an equal distribution of the revenue to the local producers. Read more »

08-09-2010 Who will be the Fair Politician in 2010-2011?

The summer is over and everybody has returned to Brussels. A new parliamentarian year has begun. For MEPs that means one thing: the competition for the ‘Fair Politician of the Year’ has started again. Last year Franziska Keller was the lucky winner. Also throughout this year, Fair Politics will monitor all parliamentary questions, reports, opinions and their amendments, in order to see whether Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) is being raised. The politician who pays the most attention to PCD will be rewarded with this prestigious title. We challenge all MEPs to renew their focus on PCD. This will not only benefit the EU policies, but also give development a real chance.  Read more »

30-06-2010 Ghana’s traders, lumberjacks and fortune hunters!

This is the title to our impact study on Ghana, presenting an analysis of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) in Practice: The impact of European policies on development in Ghana. Read more »

21-06-2010 EU Fisheries Still Problematic

The Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS) published an article on the 24th of May revealing that the EU subsidizes companies that are guilty of illegal fishing. In total European taxpayers see about a billion Euro of their tax money being spent on industrial fishing companies annually. These subsidies in itself are already problematic because, the fishermen in developing countries can simply not compete fairly for the market and for the ever declining fish stocks. What makes matters worse is that these subsidies go to European vessels violating international law. Read more »

17-06-2010 EU Policy Coherence for MDGs

The parliamentary report by MEP Michael Cashman (S&D) on progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): mid-term review in preparation of the UN high-level meeting in September 2010 was adopted in Plenary on the 15th of June, 2010. In this report the DEVE Committee highlights that policy coherence for development (PCD) is one of the tools for making progress towards the MDGs. Read more »

09-06-2010 Fair Politics in Senegal

On may the 18th and 19th Fair Politics was represented at a conference in Dakar, Senegal. The conference was organized by the Gabriel Peri Fondation of France in cooperation with the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung of Germany, on the theme; The Global Crisis in Africa: what are the changes? Tuesday morning on the 18th, the conference was opened by Amath Dansokho, General Secretary of PIT-Senegal. Suzan Cornelissen, policy officer Fair Politics of the Evert Vermeer Foundation delivered a speech during the first panel discussion, concerning Policy Coherence for Development in the light of the crises. Read more »

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

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

07-06-2010 Debating the Future of the CAP

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is momentarily under review because it will be reformed in 2013. The Civil Society, Member States, the Commission and the European Parliament therefore try to get as much of their opinions on the matter heard. MEP George Lyon (ALDE) member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development was responsible for drafting up an own initiative report on the Future of the Common Agricultural Policy. Although his draft was well written with concerns for growing world population, food security, financial crisis, growing oil prices, climate change and unfair trade, it was hardly critical on the negative effect the CAP has had on developing countries and their agricultural sectors. Many amendments on the other hand give hope that the report will lead to more EU Policy Coherence for Development. Read more »

31-05-2010 MEPs Concerned about Unfair Migration Policies

At the heart of both migration and development are human beings who are entitled to human rights. The right to emigrate is a fundamental right embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. MEPs Helene Flautre (Greens/EFA) Ana Gomes (S&D) Rui Tavares (GUE/NGL) Gabriele Zimmer (GUE/NGL) and Sonia Alfano (ALDE) are concerned for the human rights of migrants that are violated by and in Europe. Read more »

31-05-2010 Bio-fuels vs. Food: Concerns by MEP Tremopoulos

Member of European Parliament (MEP) Michail Tremopoulos is concerned about the predicted steep increase in food prices. This increase, predicted in the UN FAO report, will be due to the increase in oil prices pushing up the costs of imports and due to the growing demand for bio-fuels. Bio-fuels have been proven to be a more sustainable source of energy, but does use a lot of land and water. Bio-fuel production replaces food production in developing countries and is not more environmentally sustainable. Read more »

26-05-2010 PCD in Colombia FTA negotiations

With the adoption of the Report on EU Policy Coherence for Development in the plenary session mid may, the Parliament officially asks the Comission to include legally binding social and enviromental standards systematically in trade agreements negotiated by the EU, in order to promote the objective of trade working for development. In this context Marc Tarabella (S&D) asks the Council whether the social and enviromental standards have been assessed in the talks with Colombia concerning a free trade agreement.   The EU has dedicated itself to eradicating poverty in its Development Policy and therefore must ensure that other policies do not counteract any efforts to fight poverty. Trade agreements are notorious for being incoherent with the development policy, due to some side effects like unemployment, collapse of local industry and unfair competition.   Tarabella is aknowledged as a Fair Politician for bringing Policy Coherence for Development to the attention of the Council and for his efforts to make EU policies more fair. Read more »

26-05-2010 MEPs bring IPR to the Attention of the Commission this Spring

Thijs Berman (S&D), Maria Eleni Koppa (S&D), Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) and Joao Ferreira (GUE/NGL) all separately asked parliamentary questions concerning Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and access to affordable medicines. Read more »

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

On the 18th of May, at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the MEPs voted on Franziska Keller’s (Greens/EFA) report on PCD. The votes on the report as a whole and the separate articles were close calls, with only a few votes deciding the majority. The ECR and the EPP voted against the report, but in the end the report (motion for a Resolution) was adopted. Read more »

07-05-2010 MEP Meyer concerned with Spains Arms Export

According the Willy Meyers (GUE/NGL) sources, Spain is one of the leading arms-and heavy weaponry exporting countries in the world and the main purchasers include the United States, Israel and developing countries. This is problematic and incoherent with EU policy on different levels and therefore Meyer is right in raising his concerns on the matter. Read more »

27-04-2010 DEVE Submits Amendments on PCD Report

On the 26th of April the DEVE Committee came together to vote on the Amendments submitted by the different members of European Parliament (MEPs) to the Report on EU Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) and the 'Official Development Assistance plus (ODA+) Concept.' Although there were 120 amendments to the report that Franziska Keller drafted as rapporteur, most amendments concerned rephrasing and additional concrete examples of incoherence, making the report stronger. A long list of MEPs contributed to those improvement. Read more »

20-04-2010 MEP Tannock Concerned about E-Waste

Electronic waste, is a growing problem for developing countries. Computers, washing machines, televisions and other electronic equipment that can no longer be used in Europe are shipped to developing countries (mainly West Africa) as second hand technology or illegally. European e-waste finds its way to open ground dumpsites where people, including children, make a living by removing and selling the very small amounts of raw materials such as copper, without appropriate protection. As a result, hundreds of people experience dramatic health problems and the surrounding land contains highly toxic materials such as high concentrations of lead. Charles Tannock (ECR), on the basis of a BBC television report, is concerned for the populations in Ghana, a destination for large amounts of e-waste. Read more »

01-04-2010 MEP Neuser Raises Concern for Brain Drain at JPA

Norbert Neuser, from the Socialists & Democrats, asks the Commission what the EU is doing to mitigate the impacts of international migration of health personnel. He raises the concern for the shortage of health workers in ACP countries, due to the increased demand and competition for medical and nursing staff in the EU and other OECD countries. He points out that one in four doctors and one in twenty nurses trained in Africa are working in Europe, Canada and the USA. This lack of health workers is a key constraint for local health systems in poor countries are therefore something needs to done about it. Read more »

01-04-2010 MEP Martin asks about TRIPs at JPA

David Martin, from the Socialists & Democrats Group, asks the Commission to comment on the negotiations concerning TRIPs plus provisions within the bilateral trade agreements with ACP countries. He expresses his concerns for the access to medicines in developing countries. Read more »

01-04-2010 MEP Joly concerned about Migration

The EU recognizes migration as one of the nine prime areas to act in order to combat poverty. It is also one of the five priorities to tackle when it comes to Policy Coherence for Development. Despite this promised focus, illegal migration and brain-drain are usually the subjects of efforts. We praise Eva Joly (Greens/EFA) for seeing the bigger picture and looking beyond brain-drain for problems in this area. Read more »

01-04-2010 MEP Christensen concerned about Biofuels

Biofuels and Agrifuels are a relatively climate friendly source of energy. Therefore the EU has set targets for the use of biofuels in the transport sector. The problem with these new fuels is that they are not environmentally or socially sustainable due to the large amounts of water and land that needs to be rebuilt for the production. Ole Christensen (S&D) asks both the EU and the ACP Councils how they will ensure that there will be no displacement effect in the form of an increase in unsustainable cultivation of natural areas. Read more »

01-04-2010 MEP Arif Reminds Commission of Article 12 at JPA

Article 12 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement is an article on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD). It states that ACP countries can consult the European Commission if policies of the EU affect the development objectives or ACP countries or development policy of the EU itself. Although there are many examples where this incoherence is the case, there has only been one case of consultations. The promotion, explanation and transparency of this article is therefore necessary. Read more »

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. Read more »

23-03-2010 The Parliament Discusses Climate Change

In the post-Copenhagen months the European Parliament heavily discussed the White Paper on Adapting to Climate Change: Towards a European Framework for Action by the European Commission. The Environment, Public Health and Food Security (ENVI) committee was responsible for reporting on the reactions of the parliament with opinions from the committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Fisheries, Legal Affairs, Regional Development and Transport and Tourism. Although developing countries are and will be the biggest victims of climate change and have been the least responsible for its causes, little attention was given to them in the process. Read more »

23-03-2010 EU Trade Policy towards Developing Countries

On the 16th of March 2010, the Commissioner for International Trade; Karel de Gucht opened the conference on the European Union’s Trade Policy towards Developing Countries. The objective of this conference was to informally and publicly discuss how to EU’s trade policies, like the General System of Preferences (GSP), can promote further regional trade agreements with developing countries and encourage sustainable development. Fair Politics welcomed the initiative of DG trade to organise such a conference, however finds that civil society and the ACP countries were underrepresented. Read more »

10-03-2010 Who will become the Fair Politician of the Year?

Who will be the Fair Politician of the Year? Since the beginning of the parliamentary year a scoreboard has been kept of the contributions made by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), in relation to one of our cases or PCD in general. Thus far, the competition is incredibly exciting. The Greens/EFA political group has made the most effort up to now, with the S&D group not so far behind them. In June, at the end of the first parliamentary year of this term, the scoreboard will be checked again and the Fair Politician of the Year will be awarded during a ceremony at the European Parliament. Read more »

09-03-2010 MEPs Submit Amendments to INTA Opinion on PCD

On the 2nd of February the amendments on the INTA Draft Opinion on EU Policy Coherence for Development and the Official Development Assistance plus concept by Joe Higgins were due. On the 23rd of February, these amendments were voted on. All in all the amendments were a reflection of the never ending debate on neoliberalism and the international capitalist system within the committee on international trade; the EPP and the ECR versus the Greens and S&D. Some really good amendments were written, with references to incoherences that Fair Politics has also tackled like TRIPS and access to medicines, biofuels, agricultural subsidies, migration issues and partnership agreements with ACP countries. Despite this, some of these amendments were not adopted and amendments that were less progressive towards PCD, were. Read more »

08-03-2010 The Upcoming Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Spain

From the 27th of March to the 1st of April, 2010, the elected representatives of the European Community, the Members of the European Parliament (MEP), and the elected representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states will come together for the 19th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Tenerife, Spain. Topics like Haiti, southern Sudan, sustainable energy and water, migration, health care (Malaria, AIDS and tuberculosis) and the effects of climate change on ACP economies are on the agenda. Fair Politics hopes MEPs will ask relevant questions about incoherence between the EU policies and development objectives and that the JPA will result in progress toward a more Fair Political relationship between the ACP and EU countries. Read more »

01-03-2010 MEP Guerrero Salom Drafts Report on the Effects of the Financial Crisis

Developing countries are not the root or cause of the financial crisis, yet the effects of it have shown to be devastating for the poorer countries. It has become an economic, social, development and humanitarian crisis. Every field of activity has been effected. Unemployment levels have increased, there has been more migration and therefore brain drain, drop in prices of raw materials, decrease in development finance, greater debts and especially a drop in trade. The EU has increased its trade restrictions to protect its own market and has cut back on all development efforts. Within the Development Committee (DEVE) of the European Parliament, an own initiative report was taken up on this subject, with Enrique Guerrero Salom as rapporteur. Read more »

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! Read more »

19-02-2010 MEP Guerrero Salom asks about Illicit Financial Flows

MEP Enrique Guerrero Salom expresses his concerns for the illicit financial flows that come from developing countries. He quotes the World Bank, stating that about 500 to 800 billion dollars in illicit finances flow comes from developing countries, which drain hard currency reserves, increases inflation and reduces tax revenues that undercut the opportunities that developing countries have to develop. Read more »

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. Read more »

02-02-2010 ECON: Promoting Good Governance in Tax Matters

In February a Report on Promoting Good Governance in Tax Matters by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, was adopted. Improving tax governance is extremely important for development efforts. Tax revenue has proven to be the most predictable, sustainable and safe source of financing for development. Yet developing countries loose up to seven times the amount of the total development aid in illicit financial flows, tax evasion and avoidance. Leonardo Domenici (S&D), rapporteur of the report, introduces the sense of urgency to promote good governance in tax matters in his draft, but focuses on issues within the EU itself and fails to mention the effect of translucent banking and taxing systems have on developing countries. Read more »

27-01-2010 CFP in Review: Parliaments reactions to Commissions Green Paper

In January the Committee on Fisheries (PECH) adopted the report on the Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). There are serious flaws in the current CFP, many of which concern the external relations (Fisheries Partnership Agreements, FPAs) and effects on third countries. The Commission recognizes these flaws and therefore published a Green Report on which reactions were welcomed, in preparation for the necessary reform of the CFP in 2012. The PECH Committee in the Parliament therefore reported their reaction and appointed Maria do Céu Partrao Neves as rapporteur. Read more »

27-01-2010 A Special Day for PCD: INTA Draft Opinion

In the meeting of the European Parliaments Committee on International Trade (INTA) that took place Wednesday the 27th of January 2010, Policy Coherence for Development  was on the Agenda. This was without a doubt a special occasion for Fair Politics, because the INTA Committee had never discussed the subject this seriously before. Read more »

18-12-2009 ACP-EU JPA Question by MEP Rivasi on Subsidies

Although not part of one of the Fair Politics case studies, Michele Rivasi (Greens/EFA) raises a legitimate question concerning milk export subsidies and the incoherence between the alleviation of poverty and the commercial interest that is causing poverty in African Countries. Read more »

18-12-2009 ACP-EU JPA Question by MEP Martin on Access to Medicines

As one can read in the Fair Politics Case Study on TRIPS and Medicines, the access to medicines for developing countries is of often difficult. Although the medicines exist, patients in developing countries can commonly not afford them due to the patents on the drugs. The development efforts of the EU prioritize access to affordable medicines for developing countries, but trade, industry and enterprise policies delay and complicate the access because of beliefs in the innovative force of intellectual property rights. Read more »

18-12-2009 ACP-EU JPA Question by MEP Klass on Subsidies

Christa Klass (EPP) raises her concern on the future of the EU dairy sector as well as EU subsidies for European farmers obstructing the development of agricultural structures in the poorer countries. Read more »

18-12-2009 ACP-EU JPA Question by MEP Kader Arif on EPA

The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and ACP Countries were initially meant to merge development policy and trade policy into a comprehensive framework with the Cotonou agreement and in order to promote regional integration. Negotiations on regional agreements have been extremely difficult, and therefore interim EPAs have been signed with individual ACP countries, on the basis on regional negotiations. These interim EPAs only reinforce disintegration and trade policies that have had a strong priority over development policies in the agreements, creating incoherence between the two areas. Read more »

18-12-2009 ACP-EU JPA Question by MEP Joly on Illicit Financial Flow

The EUs policies on tax has made the taxes incredibly difficult to follow and transparency is hardly in place. Multinational corporations find loop wholes to avoid taxes and secrecies of banks make tax evasion a possibility. Not only are taxes escaping the EU or its member states because of this, but also illicit financial flows from developing countries are a reality. Tax income for developing countries are extremely important for the development, especially in terms of social welfare, security and the protection of human rights in general. Read more »

14-12-2009 The Second Revision of the Cotonou Agreement

The Cotonou Agreement which was signed in June 2000, between the African, Carribean and Pacific (ACP) Countries (most of them former colonies of Europe) introduced some radical changes in the past ACP-EU cooperation. The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) were one of those changes. Within these partnership agreements there are incoherencies with the EU development policy that are harming the development process of third countries (see case study). Article 95 of the Agreements states that the agreements itself needs to be reviewed every five years. Therefore the European institutions, including the parliament have been giving their opinions on the matter. Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Eva Joly, chairwoman of the Development Committee (DEVE), was responsible for drafting the report titled "the second revision of the Partnership Agreement ACP-EU." Read more »

17-11-2009 The Raw Materials Initiative and Policy Coherence for Development under discussion in our Expert Meeting

On Tuesday the 17th of November, in a room deep into the busy European Parliament, the Fair Politics Expert Meeting on the Raw Materials Initiative (RMI) and Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) took place. This meeting aimed to create awareness and debate on this potentially tricky initiative launched by the European Commission in November 2008 by bringing together policy makers from the European Commission, European Parliament Members, NGOs, business and experts from both Europe and Africa. The Fair Politics case study working paper on the issue was also to be launched. All this in order to prevent the RMI from being developed into an aggressive strategy in favour of European industries. Read more »

09-11-2009 PCD made it to the Parliament!

On Monday afternoon, as a last item on the agenda, over 1,5 hour of the DEVE Committee meeting was scheduled for discussing Policy Coherence for Development. The Committee is working on an own initiative report on the issue and presented the working document. Mrs. Keller, who is the rapporteur in this, explained the document that contains quite some critique to the Commission’s report that was said to be ‘vague’ and too positive. Read more »

28-10-2009 Green concerns on logging and climate change

MEP Raul Romeva I Rueda (Verts/ALE) quotes a Greenpeace reports that states that the EU is in favour of financing the timber industry through its donations as a mechanism for climate change mitigation. Read more »

26-10-2009 MEP Belet warns Commission for Jatropha oil

MEP Ivo Belet (PPE) questions the sustainability of Jatropha oil that was said to be the biofuel of the future. Considering the EU plans striving for 10% use of renewable energy sources (including biofuels) in their transport sector in 2020 and the uncertainty of the effects and sustainability of these, it is important to raise awareness and knowledge on this issue. Read more »

26-10-2009 Ehrenhauser asks critical questions concerning raw materials & development (funds)

MEP Martin Ehrenhauser (NI) asks the Commission for clarification of the use of European Development Funds in investment projects of the European Investment Bank in developing countries mining sector. Read more »

19-10-2009 Oxfam and HAI report critices EU for "trading away access to medicine"

On the 19th of October Oxfam International and Health Action International (HAI) have published a critical report on EU policies that undermine the the right to health in developing countries. The clear incoherence between the EU pursuing trade agendas in favor of its pharmaceutical industry on the one hand and the support to the DOHA declaration and other efforts of the EC in improving access to health care in developing countries on the other hand, is strongly emphasised. At the same time, the EU does not do enough to support the medical innovation needed. Read more »

16-10-2009 How coherent is the EU in the 'race for raw materials'? Find out on the 17th of November!

On the 17th of November 2009 Fair Politics is organising an Expert Meeting in the European Parliament on the Raw Materials Initiative. Because of the potential strong effects of this strategy paper on developing countries and incoherencies with EU development policies and commitment, we feel it is important to create awareness and debate on the issue with both our new case study and this meeting. Read more »

14-10-2009 Spotlight on Policy Coherence: Report launched by CONCORD

On Wednesday the 14th of October CONCORD organised a media launch to present its first report on Policy Coherence for Development. The report - to which Fair Politics has also contributed - explains how CONCORD has a different approach to PCD that involves a more Southern and rights-based perspective, a multi-dimensional approach with many interlinkages between the different policy areas (instead of the two-dimensional often used by the Commission) and the importance of looking at financial regulation and taxation. Read more »

14-10-2009 Patent demands of EU also a farmers and Greens concern

MEP Carl Schlyter (Verts/ALE) has written a question to the Commission in which he explains the issues with patents on seeds and hybrid plants that can negatively affect biodiversity. They are also a direct concern to small farmers, such as in Latin America, that use and trade these (traditional) seeds and now face limited access in an increasingly monopolised seed market. Read more »

01-10-2009 FPA with Guinea rejected by the European Parliament

With a small majority the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Guinea was rejected in the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament. Whereas Fair Politics and the Committee on Development both feel these agreements do not include enough of a development perspective, the reason for rejection from the Fisheries Committee was actually related to the violence used by the government towards its citizens. Read more »

25-09-2009 MEP Asa Westlund (S&D) concerned about EU demands in IPR in different Latin American negotiations

MEP Asa Westlund (S&D) asked the Commission whether it was true that they are negotiating an extension of patent terms and protection of data for medicine, as well as removing the Doha exception, in the negotiations with Peru and Colombia, but also with Central America. Read more »

21-09-2009 Is the battle in the EU-Andean process over?

Today is the start of what is likely to be the last negotiation round for a free trade agreement between the EU and the Andean countries of Peru and Colombia. What started off two years ago as a region-to-region partnership agreement including a political and a development cooperation pillar, has been reduced to a bilateral commercial agreement. Read more »

17-09-2009 A new approach to Policy Coherence for Development

(Please see further updates on the process below) Read more »

15-09-2009 Swedish presidency hopeful on coherence for development, but also on trade?

In the second half of 2009 it is Sweden who will preside the Council of the European Union. On their website and in the work programme for the Swedish Presidency of the EU they highlight several priority issues and discuss these further. Fair Politics took a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Swedish statements in relation to (the effects on) developing countries and policy coherence for development. Read more »

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. Read more »

03-09-2009 EP Development Committee concerned about FPA with the Republic of Guinea

Last December, the European Commission and the Republic of Guinea agreed upon a Fisheries Partnership Agreement. This controversial agreement was made without any parliamentary consultation. Only now - about 9 months after the agreement was reached - the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament is producing a report under the consultation procedure, with possible input from the Development Committee. Fair Politics was very pleased to read the critical opinion drafted by the rapporteur new chairperson of the Development Committee in the Parliament Eva Joly (Greens - EFA). Read more »

05-08-2009 True impact studies on EPAs: a myth?

When the EU signed the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Cameroon, as it has with other developing countries, its was claimed by the Commission that many impact studies had been done. Kader Arif (S&D) questions both this claim as studies are hard to find - and the fact that any impact study where available seriously proves the benefits of the agreement. Read more »

05-08-2009 Greens concerned about Zimbabwean diamonds

Whereas Zimbabwe - like the EU - is party in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) for rough diamonds that is to prevent trade in wrong diamonds, strong human rights violations in its diamond fields have been reported. Judith Sargentini (Greens/EFA) is asking the Commission whether they should not be pushing for suspension of Zimbabwe from the KCPS and/or halt trade in Zimbabwean diamonds in the EU. For raising this incoherent and unfair issue in her question, we hereby monitor Sargentini as Fair Politician. Read more »

29-07-2009 MEPs concerned about Uzbeki children

Different MEPs from parties such as the ECR, ALDE and S&D have raised the issue of forced child labour that is used by the Uzbeki government in order to provide for harvest of their cotton each year. While this led to a call for boycott by the World Fair Trade Organisation, the EU the biggest single destination for Uzbek cotton continued importing the product under the preferential system. Graham Watson (ALDE) particularly highlights the incoherence of this by referring to the commitments the Commission made to eradicating child labour at a global level. We would like to thank Bill Newton Dunn (ALDE), Roger Helmer (ECR), Graham Watson (ALDE), Claude Moraes (S&D) and Charles Tannock (ECR) for raising this issue. Read more »

14-07-2009 MEP Claude Moraes wants to be sure EPA's will serve development

Claude Moraes (S&D) rightly asks the Commission how they will safeguard development needs of West African states in the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. Read more »

25-06-2009 Seizure of generic medicines: problem solved? Not by far!

Earlier this year, in March, we reported on this website about questions asked by MEPs David Martin (PSE) and Corien Wortmann-Kool (EPP-DE) regarding the seizure of generic medicines, produced in India and on their way to Brazil and Nigeria, in the Netherlands. Seizing or even delaying the transhipment of medicines like these are harmful for people in developing countries, as their access to essential generic and thus cheaper medicines is severely hampered. This is an update on the current situation regarding the seizing of medicines in Europe. Problem solved, as the Commission said? Probably not. Read more »

24-06-2009 Restructuring the cotton industry: from four to an eight year plan.

Recently, on May 25^th 2009, the Council decided to prolong the period of restructuring of the cotton sector from four to eight years. A decision that the Parliament agreed with in a report by the parliamentary committee on Agriculture earlier this year in April. Restructuring the cotton sector primarily means that the aid that the EU has been given to farmers does not only depend on the amount of hectares anymore. This so-called uncoupling of sector aid can be very positive for cotton producers in developing countries since it eliminates a mechanism that distorts the cotton market. But through this amendment, that prolongs the restructuring process, the EU delays the partial uncoupling of sector aid, which means negative consequences of the cotton policy for developing countries will not reduce. Read more »

24-06-2009 Report puts policy coherence in the spotlight

Since Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) was made a policy making priority by the Council in 2005, the European Commission has put in place an ambitious framework for promoting the better fine-tuning of its policies with respect to their impact on developing countries. A first EU PCD report, assessing progress made since 2005 in both the EU institutions and the Member States, was published in September 2007. Now that the second one is due in 2009, CONCORD is presenting an alternative PCD Report.  Read more »

08-06-2009 Brains from developing countries through the European drain.

On May 25^th the Council adopted a directive aimed at facilitating conditions of entry and residence in the EU of third-country citizens for the purpose of highly qualified employment. In other words: the Council approved of the so-called Blue Card, an access card to the EU for highly skilled workers around the world. The Blue Card is expected to help tackle the aging problem and the shortage of highly qualified workers at the labour market. A possible positive development for EU member states, but what about the developing countries where the highly skilled workers are recruited? Read more »

05-06-2009 To sign or not to sign? ACP countries are doubtful about the EPAs.

The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) that the EU is trying to conclude with the seven regions that together cover the ACP (African Caribbean and Pacific) group of countries, continue to be newsworthy. When the EPA negotiation process started in 2002, one would not have imagined that by 2009 only one full EPA had been signed. However, this is actually the case. The Caribbean states, together also known as Cariforum-group, have signed a full EPA In October 2008 and the process of implementation has started. Only six more to go. The Commission has mentioned June 2009 as the new deadline for all interim agreements signed so far to be transposed into full, regional EPAs, but recent developments indicate that this date is too optimistic. Read more »

07-05-2009 EP adopts Commission proposal on illegally logged timber after substantially amending and improving it.

In October 2008, the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation that aims to prevent the placing of illegal harvested timber products on the European market. A good initiative, since legislation regarding the problem of trade in illegally logged timber has been long awaited. But, as MEP Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) put it: The good news is that we do finally have EU legislation; the bad news is that the Commission proposal is distressingly weak and will need comprehensive improvement in order to become meaningful and effective.(1) Luckily, the European Parliament took action: in one of the last plenary sessions and with the help of numerous amendments the proposal now has the potential to reach its goal: Operators shall ensure that only legally harvested timber and timber products are made available on the market.(2)  Read more »

08-04-2009 Louis Michel proposes to introduce PCD training for Commissioners

On 31 March 2009, one of the last meetings of the Development Committee of the European Parliament in its current composition took place. The Commissioner for development, Mr Louis Michel,  was present at the meeting to exchange views with the MEPs and together look back at the past five years of his term as Commissioner. Even though Mr. Michel will probably take a seat next to the MEPs after the elections for the EP in June, he still had some ideas for the future, especially for the next Commissioner for Development.          Read more »

26-03-2009 The European Parliament takes its chance to show commitment to development!

Yesterday, March 25^th 2009, MEPs voted for the final and improved resolution regarding the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Cariforum, 14 Caribbean states. MEPs showed their commitment to incorporating development firmly in the EPA. Fair Politics EU warmly welcomes the decision by the Parliament to do so, and encouraged it to do so only last week. Read more »

19-03-2009 Second chance for EPA resolution during EP Plenary

In October 2008, the 14 Caribbean states that together make up the Cariforum region, signed an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union. Haiti, the last state to sign, has until 2010 to join in. The process of ratification has not yet been completed, but until that time, the EU and the member states of Cariforum will provisionally apply the EPA. Read more »

11-03-2009 MEPs ask questions about seizures of generic medicines on their way to developing countries

Following a similar incident in December last year, recently there has been another seizure of generic medicines at the Dutch airport Schiphol. MEPs David Martin (PES) and Corien Wortmann-Kool (PPE#8209;DE) asked questions about this very delicate matter to the Council and the Commission. The consignment of medicines was produced in India and on its way to Nigeria. Read more »

23-02-2009 MEPs: We will do everything in our power to make sure IPR provisions do not hinder access to medicines in Andean countries!

On February 17th, the EU Coherence Programme and Health Action International (HAI) in cooperation with the GUE/NGL and PSE groups organised an expert meeting on those provisions in the EU CAN Association Agreements that intend to protect Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). Read more »

22-02-2009 Coherence star for MEPs Helmuth Markov and Thijs Berman

For their contribution as chairpersons' to the Expert meeting on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) which are included in the EU - CAN Association Agreement, Helmuth Markov (GUE-NGL) and Thijs Berman (PSE) have earned a coherence star on this website. Read more »

20-02-2009 Policy incoherence is costly for our tax payers and for the poor!

According to Mr Mario Amano, Deputy Secretary General of the OECD, during  a High-Level Conference on Policy Coherence for Development and Migration, the effects of policies that undermine development are felt by both developing countries and European tax payers. Incoherent polices are ineffective policies. Making sure that policies are mutually reinforcing, therefore, is in our own interest, too. Read more »

03-02-2009 EU reintroduces subsidies on dairy products

Just last week the European Commission decided to reintroduce export subsidies on dairy products. According to the EUs Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel, the current measures are being taken because European exporters are no longer able to compete. Moreover, Boel argues that this situation is aggravated by the already existing difficultiesas a result of the financial credit crisis.   Read more »

21-01-2009 Illegal logging: New proposal focusing on the EU market

Last October, the European Commission presented a new proposal aiming to establish new conditions for placing timber products from third countries on the European market. This new initiative places, once more, the issue of illegal logging on the agenda of the European Parliament.  Read more »

11-12-2008 The Coherence King 2009

On December 10th, 2008, the EU Coherence Programme - predecessor of Fair Politics -organized the EU Coherence Awards Ceremony, at the European Parliament. All MEPs who had earned a coherence star in the past few years were invited to come to the ceremony to receive their prize. As in every award ceremony, there can only be one winner, the winner of the EU Coherence Awards, MEP Thijs Berman, was proclaimed; Coherence King 2009. Read more »

03-12-2008 MEP Hannu Takkula addresses incoherencies in several EU policies.

03 December 2008 Read more »

01-12-2008 Common position on the control of exports of military technology and equipment

01 December 2008 Read more »

27-11-2008 The EU Coherence programme at the Development Days 2008

27 November 2008 Read more »

19-11-2008 The EU Blue Card supported by MEPs

19 November 2008 Read more »

06-11-2008 The EU and Intellectual Property Rights

06 November 2008 Read more »

23-10-2008 ALDE Seminar on arms trade puts the issue back on the EU’s agenda.

23 October 2008 Read more »

07-10-2008 Biofuels and the current food crisis

 07 October 2008 Read more »

02-10-2008 Written questions MEP David Martin: CARIFORUM and the EPAs

02 October 2008 Read more »

02-09-2008 EVF publishes an article on migration in the European Voice

2 September 2008 Read more »

22-08-2008 Written question MEP Muscardini: Prices of agricultural products and biofuels

22 August 2008 Read more »

10-07-2008 Are soaring oil prices the best thing that could have happened to the world's marine ecosystems?

10 July 2008 Read more »

09-07-2008 Adoption report MEP Frithjof Schmidt: policy coherence for development

09 July 2008 Read more »

26-06-2008 Written question MEP Karim : The influence of biofuels policy on soaring food prices

26 June 2008 Read more »

29-04-2008 ‘Rebranding’ of DG PECH into DG MARE: step up to a more coherent policy?

29 April 2008 Read more »

23-04-2008 MEP Corbey emphasizes policy incoherencies in biofuels and fisheries policy

23 April 2008 Read more »

23-04-2008 Debate on biofuels offers food for thought

23 April 2008 Read more »

22-04-2008 MEPs in action against deforestation and illegal logging

22 April 2008 Read more »

08-04-2008 Written question MEP Karim: biofuels and developing countries

08 April 2008 Read more »

08-04-2008 Oral question MEP van Hecke: EU code of conduct on arms exports

08 April 2008 Read more »

08-04-2008 Oral question for question time MEP Goudin: criticism levelled at the fisheries agreements

08 April 2008 Read more »

06-03-2008 Written Question MEPs Romeva i Rueda and Scheele: Arms trade

06 March 2008 Read more »

20-02-2008 Written question MEP Martin: Biofuels

20 February 2008 Read more »

20-02-2008 Written question MEP Corbey: Overfishing - the sustainability of European presence in African waters

20 February 2008  Read more »

05-02-2008 MEP Frithjof Schmidt calls for better Policy Coherence for Development on fisheries and illegal logging

05 February 2008 Read more »

14-07-2006 Oral question for question time MEP De Rossa: Small arms and light weapons and an International Arms Trade Treaty

14 July 2006 Read more »

27-01-2006 Written question MEPs: Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

27 January 2006 Read more »

04Fair Politics goes Rwanda!

In March we officially launched our impact study on the EU Raw Materials policy and mining in Rwanda in the European Parliament. With different EU institutions and civil society organisations present  the launch was an interesting and successful gathering! At the launch the findings of the research, Rwanda’s experiences with mineral certification and its efforts to add value to its mineral export were discussed. Mister Augustin Bida from the Rwandan federation of mining cooperatives was our special guest and gave us many interesting insights about the mining sector in Rwanda. During the debate it became clear that all participants had the same goal: develop a transparent and structured dialogue to create more Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) and make sure that African nations like Rwanda start benefiting from their raw materials. Fair Politics supports this goal and hopes that the launch increased awareness on PCD and in particular on the EU Raw Materials strategy and its importance for development! Read more »