The European Union remains the world’s biggest donor of official development assistance — collectively, the 28 EU member states and the European institutions provided 58.2 billion euros ($64.2 billion) in 2014. But is that enough for the bloc to keep its position as the pre-eminent player in global development efforts?
This was one area open for debate in Lisbon, Portugal this month at a conference titled “Is Global Development Achievable?” where speakers discussed the current and future role of the EU on the global stage.
While the contribution EU member states make on ODA is vital, policy is also important, said James Mackie, senior adviser on EU development policy at the European Center for Development Policy Management. On the sidelines of the event, Mackie told Devex that policymakers and practitioners alike need to think about the bigger picture.
About the author
Helen Morgan
Helen Morgan is a journalist and editor, primarily focusing on climate change, migration, humanitarian crises, and human rights. She was previously an Associate Editor at Devex, where she managed the op-eds section and led a project covering climate resilience in small island developing states. Helen was also features editor at World Politics Review, and editor and writer at the environmental think tank WRI, as well as editing for The New Humanitarian. She lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.
