Wednesday 1 April 2009

Study on Estonian MEPs and development cooperation

In March 2009 the Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation (AKÜ) and the European Movement Estonia (EME) organised a conference on Estonia’s achievements in the field of EU development cooperation and neighbourhood policy. The main showpiece was a study analysing the activities of Estonian MEPs with regard to development issues. The study was commissioned by the FEST project (Finland, Estonia and Sweden – Together for Development) and conducted by EuroCollege, University of Tartu. During the period under observation (2006-2008) Estonia was represented in the European Parliament with 6 delegates, including one MEP (Toomas Savi) in the Parliament’s Committee on Development (DEVE).

The study provides insight into the opinions of Estonian MEPs about the role of the European Parliament in development cooperation vis-à-vis other EU institutions. The personal contribution of Estonian MEPs registered mainly as work in various delegations as well as in the field of European Neighbourhood Policy. In addition, Estonian MEPs were involved in the preparation of the Budreikaite report on the challenge of the EU development cooperation policy for the new member states. The most important development issues listed by the MEPs were migration, human rights and democracy, whereas Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) were regarded as least important. With regard to aid recipients Estonian MEPs prefer cooperation with countries in transition and vulnerable states, whereas African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) and cooperation motivated by former colonial relations was deemed least preferable.

The study also analysed the collaboration of MEPs with the Estonian government and with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The MFA regards collaboration with Estonian MEPs as positive, but the role of the EP and DEVE is considered less important as compared to other EU institutions, especially the Commission and the Council. Collaboration between MEPs and CSOs has thus far been rather limited.

The study concludes with recommendations for the next parliamentary term. For the purposes of motivating future MEPs and keeping the electorate informed, the work of MEPs should be regularly monitored and evaluated both in the media as well as by more comprehensive analyses. In addition, cooperation must be enhanced between MEPs, the MFA and CSOs. The CSOs should provide regular feedback and thematic expertise and participate in the establishment of an effective cooperation model.

The new AKÜ team which now also includes a Policy Officer (Evelin Andrespok, evelin@terveilm.net) is ready to meet the challenges and reinforce advocacy work towards Estonian MEPs to make CSO concerns and expertise better heard on EU as well as national level.

The full study paper on Estonian MEPs will become available in Estonian language during April, an English summary in May. For further information, please contact AKÜ Information Officer Kaarin Piiskoppel at: kaarin@terveilm.net

Information provided by Kaarin Piiskoppel, AKÜ Information Officer

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