CONCORD launched Spotlight on Policy Coherence report

Responding to the Commission’s Communication and report on Policy Coherence for Development from September 2009, CONCORD released a report appealing for Europe to stop harming developing countries with its policies.

The “Spotlight on Policy Coherence” report was launched in Brussels on October 14, 2009 and looks at the damaging impact that EU policies such as trade and agriculture are having on developing countries, effectively undoing all of the potential achievements of its development aid.
Of particular concern to CONCORD is the new approach proposed by the Commission in its September 15th Communication entitled “Policy Coherence for Development – Establishing the policy framework for a Whole of the Union approach”. This document marks a clear departure from the Commission’s commitment to scrutinising the impact of its policies on the poor by dropping the focus of its ‘policy coherence for development’ framework, from twelve areas to just five. Vital policy areas such as trade, which has massive implications for the lives of millions of poor people, have suddenly been dropped.

For more information, the press-release and introduction to the report given by Rob van Drimmelen (CONCORD/APRODEV) visit the CONCORD website http://www.concordeurope.org/ or use the direct link to the full Spotlight on Policy Coherence report: http://www.concordeurope.org/Files/media/internetdocumentsENG/5_Press/1_Press_releases/00pressreleases2009/CONCORD_PCD-Spotlight-report_light.pdf.

Find the Commission’s Communication on Policy Coherence for Development at:
http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/COM_2009_458_part1_en.pdf

Information provided by Agnès Philippart, CONCORD