EU development chief to probe 'passive' delegations

The European Union will evaluate its delegations’ outreach to local governments and civil society, with the bloc’s development commissioner saying some offices around the world have been too “passive” in preparing the 2021-2027 aid budget. “I think, and I want to be very honest, there is a bit of variety between the delegations,” Jutta Urpilainen told reporters Monday, adding that there had been clear instructions from Brussels for there to be extensive engagement with civil society and local authorities in partner countries. “We know that really, some of the delegations, they are very active, they have had plenty of different kinds of consultation meetings and events and discussions, and then you know there are delegations which are a bit more passive, to be honest,” the Finnish commissioner said. Facts on the ground: In response to the mixed performance so far, Urpilainen said she decided last week to do “an internal evaluation on this consultation process” to come away with data and facts. “[So] that we know how many different kinds of consultation rounds and discussions our delegations had organized and what is the outcome of that.” Early warning: By announcing the planned evaluation now, Brussels is also giving staff in EU offices around the world time to up their game. Urpilainen said she and EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell have provided feedback on delegations’ first draft for suggested priority areas, with the second drafts expected back “in the beginning of autumn.” Urpilainen said she hoped to decide on 98 so-called multi-annual indicative programs by the end of this year.