The European Parliament and Development Cooperation

by Silvia Tovar

from www.astral.edu.ar

The European Parliament constantly tackles the problematic of development and poverty worldwide. Proof of this is the existence of the Committee on Development (DEVE) between the 20 committees that are permanents in this institution. These structures are of particular importance in the legislative work of the EP and also maintain relationships with other actors involved in the issues analyzed, as for example the UN, and with other EU institutions, as the European Commission. 

For its last meeting, on November 3rd, DEVE has included some issues of major concern for public opinion and governments such as the humanitarian crises of Ebola and the Syrian refugees.

Another initiative, with significant impact on the development agendas that is being discussed within this committee is the post-2015 Development Agenda. This global initiative is a continuation of the so-called Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), human development goals agreed in the year 2000 between the Member States of the UN to be achieved by 2015. 

The European Union is a significant player in the current negotiation on the new objectives that need to be identified after the analysis of the achievements of the MDGs and the challenges that still remain in many countries. The DEVE Committee will analyse a report that contains the main EU priorities for these new development goals. The aim is to establish a coherent and consistent EU position in the negotiations of the Agenda-post 2015. The European Commission Communication called "Decent Life for All", later adopted by the Council and the EP, has defined the vision and principles of the EU about the post-2015 Agenda. The final position of the EU shall be adopted by the council in December 2014.

From the 1st to the 12th of December 2014, the UN Climate Change Conference will be held in Lima, Peru. This conference aims to be the agreement that replaces the Kyoto protocol and that addresses again the issue of emissions (and their reduction) of the greenhouse gases. DEVE will vote at the meeting of November 3rd the adoption of a motion for a resolution on the conference. In this document, the committee outlines the opportunity to address the climate change phenomenon and the need to relate this problem with the post-2015 agenda. This resolution also emphasizes the seriousness of the consequences of the climate change and exposes the weakness of the international response to this current challenge.