MEPs vet new EU development commissioner

Neven Mimica sailed smoothly through his hearing as commissioner-designate this week before members of the European Parliament's influential development committee — known as DEVE — in Brussels. Setting out his stall and revealing some details about the European Union's development policy priorities for the next five years, Mimica remains firmly on course to take up the post of European commissioner for international cooperation and development. All week, members of the European Parliament in Brussels have been vetting prospective commissioners, ahead of a vote on Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's entire new team later this month. If accepted, the new Commission can finally start working on Nov. 1. The parliamentary hearings are critical for the new Commission. Although MEPs cannot vote out individual nominees, they can force them to retract if they are not convinced of their capacities or have concerns over their dealings. And on previous evidence they are not afraid to bare teeth: In 2009, Bulgarian nominee Rumiana Jeleva fell through when MEPs questioned her business dealings and competence for the humanitarian aid portfolio. The Bulgarian government withdrew her nomination and instead presented Kristalina Georgieva — who later became a well-respected humanitarian aid commissioner and who is now set to continue as budget commissioner and a vice president of the Commission. Able technocrat Mimica, who is set to replace Latvia’s Andris Piebalgs, gave a competent if not somewhat lackluster presentation, but pushed the right buttons when he answered questions from MEPs. He raised a wide range of development issues, showing that he had done his homework, without making too many concrete promises. The assembled MEPs didn’t press him too hard either, and seemed satisfied with his replies. Trained as an economist, the Croatian is a career diplomat who served as vice prime minister in a center-left government in Zagreb, where he was viewed as an able technocrat rather than a political player. In 2013, he joined the European Commission to take charge of the consumer affairs portfolio. As a negotiator, Mimica was closely involved in the process that led Croatia into the EU as a full-fledged member in 2013. He said this gives him a solid experience for the development job: “During the EU accession negotiations, Croatia went through the process of building a democratic society under the rule of law, combating corruption and establishing an independent judiciary. We can take advantage of this experience in our cooperation with developing countries.” “Development policy aims for partnerships based on mutual interests,” noted the prospective development commissioner. “When fragile states collapse or terrorists expand in Africa, it is a direct threat for Europe. When trade flows increase and the business environment improves, it is an opportunity for Europe as well.” Once confirmed, Mimica will be in charge of one of the largest development aid budgets in the world. Of the 55.2 billion euros ($69.76 billion) provided by the EU in official development assistance in 2013, one-fifth was disbursed through the Commission, with the remainder administered by the EU’s 28 member states. Priorities During the Sept. 29 hearing, Mimica stressed a number of key priorities that he would pursue in office: 1. New global development agenda The EU, Mimica said, should be more active in shaping global development policy. It should be “a player, not only a payer,” he explained during the hearing. “We should be proud of the results of the Millennium Development Goals, but let’s not be complacent. Hunger is still a shocking reality, and sub-Saharan Africa is still lagging behind with 120 million more people living in poverty than 20 years ago.” Mimica’s first goal will therefore be to push for a leading role for the EU in setting the post-2015 global development framework. “I will push for an ambitious outcome that aims for inclusive and sustainable development, and includes the social, economic and environmental dimensions.” One of the cornerstones of this new framework must be the reduction of persisting inequalities and a more effective fight against poverty. “My ambition would be to support countries in their endeavor to develop sustainable economies, offering jobs as well as robust social sustainability — encompassing social security as much as full respect of the human rights of all,” Mimica said. “A rights-based approach, including human rights, must be at the heart of our cooperation and development actions.” Asked how he would prioritize the targets he would set out for the post-2015 agenda, Mimica replied that these targets should be more specific. “We must reduce the number of goals, otherwise we will lose focus.” The post-2015 framework must include social, economic and environmental priorities, reinforce human rights and the fight against poverty, and bolster peace and security, the nominee said. He will also see to it that the EU fulfills its commitment to make at least 20 percent of the development budget climate-relevant. 2. Post-Cotonou framework Another crucial long-term strategy to be developed is the post-Cotonou framework — updating the existing agreement signed in 2000 by the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries. As it expires in 2020, the next five years will be crucial to draw up a blueprint for a new EU-ACP framework. Mimica announced that he will launch a broad consultation process on the architecture of a new agreement. The new commissioner will also be tasked by Commission President Juncker to strengthen the EU’s strategic partnership with Africa. 3. Policy coherence A third priority is to ensure coherence and coordination in the Commission’s policies, linking development policy with related fields: security, foreign affairs, trade, humanitarian aid, migration, environment and fisheries, climate action and energy, trade, and agriculture, among others. According to the nominee, it is the effectiveness of the Union's overall action that counts, not the difference between individual policies. “The present Ebola crisis offers an opportunity to think about a coherent linkage,” he said. “It calls for a coordinated common immediate response, but also reminds us of the need for integrated and coordinated mid- to long-term policies. This can make the EU stronger in building cohesive policies.” Policy coherence will require not only that the new development commissioner collaborates with colleagues responsible for related portfolios. He will also have to find an effective way of working under the Commission’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini. As one of the Commission’s vice presidents, Mogherini will oversee the executive arm’s international actions, including development cooperation. However, Mimica announced that he is also prepared to stand his ground whenever necessary. “My goal is to be a politically strong commissioner, not someone who will just accept something that has been defined by someone else.” The nominee dispelled fears from some MEPs that the development budget will be used to tackle the EU’s immigration problems. “Development money should not focus on building walls around Europe, but on demolishing walls in the countries of origin of immigrants that prevent them from getting involved in the economic life of their countries and regions.” The stress on policy coherence received a warm welcome from the NGO community. “This is a clear message that underlines that the EU and its member states have a legal obligation to make their policies coherent with development objectives,” said European NGO confederation Concord's head of policy Sabine Terlecki. Meanwhile, Oxfam Deputy Director of Advocacy and Campaigns Natalia Alonso noted how “in the next five years, Mimica can make a strong contribution in this area by supporting bold EU action against tax dodging, which is having a negative impact on poor countries.” 4. Donor coordination During the debate, Mimica argued in favor of better donor coordination among the EU-28. “We need a comprehensive agreement on financial and nonfinancial means of implementation by all actors.” This also implies that member states stick to the commitment to spend 0.7 percent of gross national income on ODA. “Financing for development is crucial, and it’s also a priority for the European Parliament's DEVE committee,” Terlecki noted. Mimica also said that he wants to “reach out” to other donor communities, especially emerging donor countries. Within the EU, visibility for the Union’s development work is crucial in order to maintain support from Europe's 500 million citizens. “We need to show that development cooperation works. That’s why I choose a results-oriented approach, whereby every euro is worth the investment. The European Year of Development that will be celebrated in 2015 will be an ideal opportunity to explain to citizens how development policy helps us all.” 5. Trade — and aid The next Commission will work closely to get the link between trade and development right, Mimica promised MEPs. “My contribution would be to really build more development aspects into these agreements. It's not enough to negotiate and agree to free access to Europe.” In this field, the nominee will be able to count on the support of commissioner-designate for foreign trade, Sweden’s Cecilia Malmström. During her hearing in Parliament earlier on Monday, Malmström, who is presently commissioner for home affairs, said that she will be working with her development colleague to make the EU’s trade policy more comprehensive by including development concerns in treaties with third countries. Malmström suggested strengthening the present Generalized Scheme of Preference system in trade agreements, which allows to lower trade tariffs for developing countries on a broad range of products. She wants to move more countries to the extended GSP+ system, that foresees full removal of tariffs for these products for countries that ratify and implement international conventions relating to human and social rights conventions, environment and good governance. 6. Engaging business Mimica said that development programs should be oriented toward facilitating investments by SMEs in developing countries. “Such a deepening of the programs could help to install better governance in these countries.” However, Oxfam is disappointed that Mimica did not provide any clarity on how to ensure that businesses become responsible actors in development cooperation. “The private sector has the potential to lift people out of poverty, but robust monitoring and accounting mechanisms need to be put in place,” said Natalia Alonso. NGO reactions Development NGOs were eager to hear about the prospective commissioner’s plans. Mimica disappointed some, but earned praise from others. Overall, for instance, the nominee made a quite good impression with Concord's Terlecki. “He did his homework and was well-prepared. Even if he doesn’t have a background in development issues, he seems to be a solid worker who should be able to catch up,” she said. While she cautioned that he did not shed any light on his thoughts on the role of civil society and what he wants to do to address the problem of fragile states, she welcomed Mimica’s positive attitude to the suggestion of using financial transaction tax as a leverage to ensure that that tax goes to cooperation and development. Health and education were unfortunately mostly lacking from the discussions, according to NGO network Action for Global Health. “Commissioner Mimica's responses were vague and, crucially, passion and enthusiasm from MEPs was lacking.” On the other hand, Neil Datta, secretary of the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development, praised Mimica’s support for prioritizing population and development issues in EU policy. “I was heartened to hear Mr. Mimica’s comments that gender equality and women’s rights must be a universal priority in the post-2015 development agenda.” Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung welcomed the commissioner-designate's comments in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights. "We look forward to seeing these commitments reflected in the upcoming final negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda, and in the current implementation plans for the EU's development cooperation instruments,” said DSW’s Head of EU Advocacy Cecile Vernant. ONE Campaign’s Brussels Director Tamira Gunzburg, meanwhile, praised the nominee’s support for a public register of beneficial ownership that will make ownership and controls of European companies public information. She called this “a highly innovative way to tackle some of the illicit financial outflows that are impeding poor countries’ development and the EU’s efforts to support them.” “Phantom firms are currently responsible for huge financial losses to developing countries. Mr. Mimica’s answer marks a step up in ambition in comparison to the current Commission,” Gunzburg said. The public register proposed by Mimica was also praised by Oxfam’s Natalia Alonso: “It is great news that he intends to help get developing countries to the negotiating table when leaders discuss global tax rules.” What do think about the commissioner-designate’s plans for EU development cooperation over the next five years? 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