How can the European Union’s development policy support inclusive growth and sustainable development? The European Commission will adopt a green paper to try to find answers to this question.
The green paper, according to EU development chief Andris Piebalgs, will tackle four key issues including:
- Promoting a “high impact” development policy to ensure aid effectiveness.
High impact aid, Piebalgs said, focuses on projects where there is a “clear EU added value,” as well as ensures coherent EU development policies across various sectors. It also recognizes the role of governance in aid policy and the link between development and security.
- Supporting more inclusive economic growth in poor nations to help combat poverty.
“The Green Paper therefore questions whether and how the EU should consider new Joint Strategies for Inclusive Growth in partnership with the individual or regional groupings of developing countries, also involving private-sector stakeholders — businesses, foundations, academia and civil society organizations — all committed to the goal of making measurable progress on issues where they can act together. This is also a particular focus of the EU-Africa Communication, where real progress could be made through working together,” Piebalgs said Tuesday (Nov. 9), adding that trade and regional integration should be given emphasis.
- Fostering sustainable development.
Energy and climate concerns play a central role in this issue, Piebalgs said. Apart from financing, technical knowledge, education and training are also crucial in addressing energy issues, he added.
“Without a well-trained work force, renewable energy will never meet its potential, and maintenance will be an increasing problem. Job creation is a central benefit of any such development, but training and knowledge will require real efforts,” Piebalgs said.
- achieving lasting gains in agriculture and food security.
Piebalgs explained: “I believe therefore that the EU should make agriculture and food security a test case of its capacity to deliver high impact cooperation and promote inclusive and green growth. It must concentrate its efforts on ensuring that where assistance is granted, it delivers across the whole production chain. This might be done by focusing EU programs on the entire chain, or working better and more closely with partner countries and other donors to combine efforts.”
