Development Policy
Bill and Melinda Gates to divorce, but charitable foundation to remain intact
Billionaire benefactors Bill and Melinda Gates, co-founders of one of the world’s largest private charitable foundations, filed for divorce on Monday (3 May) after 27 years of marriage but pledged to continue their philanthropic work together.
EU Parliament approves reform of civil protection mechanism
The European Parliament approved on Tuesday (27 April) a strengthened legal framework for the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to ensure that the EU is better prepared "to respond to future large-scale emergencies".OpinionPromoted content
Ensuring that no one and no place are left behind thanks to local governments
“Local and regional governments represent a key partner for the EU Delegations” writes Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), on behalf of PLATFORMA. He signed the foreword of a study on EU Delegations...
EU aid spending surges amid COVID pandemic
Development aid from the EU increased by more than 25% last year as funding for programmes to combat COVID-19 and support poorer countries surged, according to data published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on Tuesday (13 April).
G20 agrees ‘final extension’ to $10 billion debt service suspension scheme
Developing countries stand to benefit from up to $10 billion in savings after the G20 group of wealthy nations announced on Wednesday (7 April) that it would extend its debt service suspension initiative (DSSI) which launched last May until the end of this year.
Lawmakers call for green ‘due diligence’ in Europe’s supply chains
Lawmakers in the European Parliament passed a resolution to tackle environmental and human rights issues in the supply chains of EU businesses by 504 votes to 79 on Wednesday (10 March) ahead of the Commission’s proposal on corporate due diligence later this year.
EU unveils new humanitarian aid tools amid pressure on donors
The EU will set up a new European Humanitarian Response Capacity to intervene directly in humanitarian crises, as part of a revamp of its humanitarian aid policy, it announced on Wednesday (10 March).
Global agreement on corporate tax rates needed, UN report states
The international community should agree on the establishment of a global minimum corporate tax rate, according to a new UN report published on Thursday. The proposal is part of a package of reforms to combat tax evasion and money laundering and ensure that cash strapped governments can boost their public finances in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
First vaccines delivered under global Covax scheme
Ghana became the first country to receive India-made vaccines from the global Covax scheme, paving the way for poorer nations to catch up with inoculation drives in wealthier parts of the world to stamp out the coronavirus pandemic.
Scaling up vaccination to save lives worldwide
It is time for Europe to show real vaccination solidarity to ensure that COVID vaccines are available to the Global South and COVAX in the volumes required and at cost price, write Udo Bullmann and Conny Reuter.
WHO slams rich states for hogging vaccines
The World Health Organization on Monday (22 February) blasted wealthy countries for not only hogging Covid vaccines but in doing so, hindering the pathway for poorer nations to get them too.
EU envisages €1 billion aid to Ivory Coast to meet sustainable cocoa laws
The European Union envisages providing around one billion euros over six years to aid Ivory Coast's cocoa sector as it adapts to EU supply chain laws due to be introduced later this year, its envoy in Abidjan said.
France announces development aid boost
After international stakeholders came together on 9 February to discuss new solidarity-based development models, the French government presented a text on Wednesday (17 February) to increase development aid to 0.55% of the country's wealth by 2022. EURACTIV France reports.
Ebola re-emerges in West Africa with Guinea outbreak
West Africa faced its first known Ebola resurgence since the end of a devastating outbreak in 2016 on Sunday (14 February), with Guinea responding to what its health chief called an "epidemic" after seven cases were confirmed.
EU and India could partner in delivering COVID vaccines at the global scale
While Western vaccine nationalism condemns the world to a lose-lose situation, India, the pharmacy of the developing world, has clearly the potential to come to the rescue, writes Gauri Khandekar.
Renewal of international cooperation in a post-pandemic world
Over the past year, international cooperation has been facing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic repercussions, as well as by the push for a greener future.
‘Stars are aligned’ for EU-African relations
The EU’s plans to strike a ‘strategic partnership’ with Africa were one the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Portuguese government, which holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, is anxious to conclude the agenda by the summer.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
Without the Right Partnerships, EU Legislation is Dead on Arrival
Despite major progress towards new mandatory frameworks aimed at tackling sustainability and ethical issues in supply chains coming into Europe, the EU’s ambitious legislation will see little impact if not backed up by deep and long-lasting partnerships with producing countries....
Poorest countries can expect vaccines within weeks: WHO
The world's poorest countries can expect to start receiving their first Covid-19 vaccine doses between the end of January and mid-February, the World Health Organization said Thursday (7 January).
7 million children are suffering in Europe’s coffee supply chain
The coffee, tea and cocoa consumed in the European Union and even inside the European Commission buildings are produced with slave and child labour, writes Fernando Morales-de la Cruz.
African free trade bloc opens for business, but challenges remain
African countries began officially trading under a new continent-wide free trade area on Friday (1 January), after months of delays caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Borrell dreams of ‘making multilateralism great again’
In a strategic article published on Monday, the EU chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, depicts the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world affairs, warning of growing divergences between world players, backsliding in terms of global poverty and strengthening of the authoritarian regimes.
Poor countries seen missing out as rich nations hoard COVID-19 vaccines
Nine out of 10 people in dozens of poor nations could miss out on getting vaccinated against COVID-19 next year because rich countries have hoarded far more doses than they need, campaigners said on Wednesday (9 December).