Annexes to COM(2013)594 - Annual Report 2013 on the EU's Development and external assistance policies and their implementation in 2012 - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2013)594 - Annual Report 2013 on the EU's Development and external assistance policies and their implementation in 2012. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2013)594  |
| date | August 21, 2013 |
Reform in Myanmar/Burma
The EU is supporting the remarkable political and economic transition taking place in Myanmar/Burma and suspended restrictive measures in May 2012. The Commission has now fully engaged with the government on development cooperation, which has more than doubled in value and expanded in scope. In February 2012, Commissioner Piebalgs visited Myanmar/Burma and announced a package of EUR 150 million over two years in support of the country's democratic reforms to help bring about sustainable growth and development for the whole population. This package, of which EUR 100 million has already been committed at the end of 2012, builds on existing support to health, education, livelihoods, displaced people and government capacity building. High Representative/Vice President Ashton formally opened the new EU office in Yangon during her visit in April and in September, the EU initiated procedures to reinstate the General System of Preferences that will help Myanmar/Burma to expand exports to Europe. Inaugurated by President Barroso in November 2012, the Myanmar Peace Centre - which plays a pivotal role in the ethnic peace process - received EU start-up funding.
Afghanistan continued to be a priority. In May, the Council reiterated the EU's long-term commitment to the country, pledging to at least maintain levels of assistance after troops withdraw in 2014 and to bolster Afghan efforts to strengthen civilian policing and the rule of law. These commitments formed the basis of the EU's undertakings at the international conferences held in Chicago, Kabul and Tokyo. During 2012, EU health and social protection support amounted to EUR 185 million. The EU continued its engagement in rule of law, with particular emphasis on policing. Afghanistan also benefits from thematic lines of support such as humans rights, civil society and food security.
Central Asia, which remains fragile and highly vulnerable, is an important region for the EU. EU development cooperation commitments totalled EUR 117 million in 2012. The EU-Central Asia Strategy, reviewed in 2012[15], remains effective and the Foreign Affairs Council welcomed the strengthening of relations with Central Asian states and confirmed the pertinence of the Strategy. All priority areas of the strategy remain important: human rights, the rule of law, good governance and democratisation; youth and education; economic development, trade and investment; energy and transport; environmental sustainability and water as well as combating common threats and challenges. In 2012, EU development cooperation emphasised education, public financial management and the Investment Facility for Central Asia (IFCA), as well as private sector development and regional level cross-border security.
Latin America as a whole has made significant progress towards the MDG targets. Bilateral EU cooperation with Latin American countries focussed on a broad range of sectors including good governance, fight against corruption, education, climate and biodiversity and support to the economy.
Relations with the Caribbean region during 2012 centred on following-up and finalising a number of initiatives launched in previous years. Pursuing and strengthening political dialogue with the region remained a priority, and a political dialogue between the EU and the Caribbean Forum of the African, Caribbean and Pacific states (Cariforum) took place. In 2012 the Caribbean Investment Facility was established, for official launch in early 2013.
With its impressive economic performance and increasingly solid and widespread commitment to democratic values and human rights, the Latin American and Caribbean region continued to increase its importance for the EU during 2012. At the same time, relations have also been marked by a worrying trend towards restrictive trading practices, such as Argentina's import licensing restrictions that have adversely affected trade relations.
2012 saw the adoption of the joint communication “Towards a renewed EU-Pacific Development Partnership”[16]. The EU sustained its engagement with the Pacific region, the highlight being its participation at the 43rd Pacific Island Forum in August in the Cook Islands. The event brought the region's state leaders together to identify priorities as well as to provide valuable input for more efficient development assistance. The second EU-Pacific Island Forum ministerial meeting in June covered security, governance, human rights, gender, development, climate change, and sustainable management of oceanic resources.
Despite continued and coordinated efforts, the Pacific remains off track for all MDGs. In 2012, several EU projects were approved in Pacific ACP countries to support progress on the goals, including financing from the MDG initiative.
In June the Commission proposed a draft Council decision on the association of the Overseas Countries and Territories with the EU[17]. The 10th OCT-EU Forum took place in Brussels in January with the participants from the OCTs and the four Member States to which they are linked (Denmark, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands). The Forum discussed the renewal of the association as well as programming and implementation of resources under the European Development Fund.
Looking ahead
2013 will be a key year for the shaping of discussions on the post-2015 framework, with the Commission due to adopt its Communication "A decent life for all: ending poverty in giving the world a sustainable future" in February 2013. Council conclusions on the document are expected to be adopted in June 2013, consolidating the EU’s common approach to the post-2015 framework discussions. This is particularly important in view of the UN Special Event to review progress on the MDGs in September 2013. The overall objective of this new post-2015 framework should be to ensure a "Decent Life for All" by 2030, ending poverty in all its dimensions (economic, social, environmental) and giving the world a sustainable future.
The Commission will complement this with major efforts to create a public debate around the theme: The 2013 European Report on Development, due out in April 2013 and entitled "Post-2015: global action for an inclusive and sustainable future"[18] will add further EU inputs into the global dialogue. The European Development Days in November 2013 will also focus on the future of development.
Negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-20 will continue in view of reaching an inter- institutional agreement leading to the adoption of the financial instruments’ regulations by 2013. The Commission will continue to implement the Agenda for Change which will also be at the core of the programming under the 2014-20 MFF.
While differentiation will only start with the new financing instruments, the Commission will already work towards ensuring that the transition to new partnerships is not disruptive. It will focus on long-term sustainability in implementing programmes under the current MFF.
[1] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/137320.pdf
[2] COM(2011) 637 final, 13.10.2011
[3] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/130243.pdf
[4] COM(2012) 446 final, 20.8.2012
[5] COM(2012) 492 final, 12.9.2012
[6] COM(2012) 586 final, 3.10.2012
[7] Commission press release IP-12-490, 18.5.2012
[8] JOIN(2012) 27 final, 3.10.2012
[9] http://www.un.org/en/sustainablefuture
[10] http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202012.pdf
[11] COM(2011) 886 final, 12.12.2011
[12] The EU’s evolving relationship with its partners in the Neighbourhood and the transition in the Southern Mediterranean were set out following a strategic review of the ENP in 2011. The 25.5.2011 joint communication of the Commission and HR/VP on “A New Response to a Changing Neighbourhood” outlined the new ENP vision and built on the joint communication, “A Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean”, adopted on 8.3.2011.
[13] Joint communication COM (2011) 0200, 8.3.2011
[14] JOIN(2012) 13 final, 15.5.2012
[15] 3179th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/131149.pdf
[16] JOIN/2012/06 final, 21.3.2012
[17] COM(2012) 362 final, 16.7.2012. The proposal was based on a careful analysis of the present decision, the outcome of numerous consultations, political statements of the Commission, Council, OCTs and Member States as well as external studies.
[18] http://www.erd-report.eu/erd/index.html