Development Policy

Here’s what the Brussels conference can do for Syria’s children

The Brussels III Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the region kicks off today in Brussels. Delphine Moralis explains why education must be top of the agenda.

Trouble ahead as Tunisia eyes elections in autumn

As Tunisians go to the polls later this year to elect a new president and parliament, they are confronted by a confluence of factors that could seriously threaten the viability of their young democracy, writes Dnyanesh Kamat.

Five paradoxes EU must address to effectively respond to crises beyond its borders

There are five paradoxes the EU must address to effectively respond to crises and conflicts beyond its borders, argues Bård Drange.

France’s ‘Rana Plaza’ law delivers few results

France wants to be at the forefront of efforts to regulate multinationals’ responsibility towards workers in developing countries, but is having difficulty enforcing its own law on duty of care, according to a report published on 21 February. EURACTIV France reports.

Cotonou successor: EU-Africa relations at the crossroads

Negotiators are hoping to break the back on talks for the successor to the Cotonou Agreement, which expires in May 2020, between the EU and 79 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP).

Tanzanian opposition leader: EU is ‘finished’ with Magufuli

Nearly 18 months after falling under a shower of bullets outside his parliamentary residence in Dodoma, opposition leader Tundu Lissu, the most persistent thorn in the side of Tanzanian President John Magufuli plans to re-enter the political fray.

World Bank’s Georgieva: Venezuela needs tens of billions of dollars

As the Venezuelan crisis unfolds, the World Bank is ready to act as soon as its members give the green light, said the institution's new interim president, Kristalina Georgieva. In an interview with EURACTIV.com, she estimated that the financial needs to cover would be around tens of billions of dollars.

Workforce talent gap increases globally, Davos study finds

The gap between developed and developing countries in their capacities to attract and retain skilled workforces have increased over the last five years, business school executive told EURACTIV.

Pressure mounts on DR Congo over election outcome

Public and diplomatic pressure mounted Monday (8 January) on the Democratic Republic of Congo to announce the outcome of 30 December elections to replace long-term leader Joseph Kabila.

EU alarmed by Internet blackout in Congo after elections

On 31 December, the day after the presidential election, the Congolese government cut off internet access. The European Union has called for the situation to normalise while the preliminary results are still awaited, one week after the poll was held. EURACTIV France reports.

Who will speak for Africa with Brussels?

The African Union has ambitious plans to reconfigure its continent’s relations with the European Union. In 2018, led by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and the Chadian chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Addis Ababa-based AU moved...

European Court of Auditors calls for NGO definition

The EU delegates 1.7% of its budget to NGOs, while no common definition exists in Europe. This is a shortcoming which complicates the monitoring of projects. EURACTIV France reports.

Climate change and development aid: The economic case for prevention

Climate change affects developing countries more heavily, with broad impacts on the environment and the economy, insurers say, highlighting the need to act before damage is done.

EU and France ramp up €1.3bn support for G5 Sahel

The EU and France ramped up their funding for the G5 Sahel anti-terror alliance to €1.3bn at a two day donor summit in Mauritania on Thursday (6 December).

Donors fail to ‘stabilise’ Sahel

The EU and the international community are ramping up their funding for the G5 Sahel counter-terror mission, but are not providing the money needed for humanitarian relief in the region, argues Jan Egeland.

Sustainable agriculture must remain key priority in post-Cotonou negotiations 

Agriculture must be at the heart of the successor to the Cotonou Agreement between the EU and the ACP community, writes Michael Hailu  

Angela Merkel’s legacy in the Middle East

German Chancellor Merkel's momentous 2015 decision to accept asylum-seekers from the region fell flat: the Chancellor did not rise to the occasion and chart a new course for both Europe and the Middle East, writes Faisal Al Yafai

A new political momentum on water diplomacy in the EU?

The conclusions agreed by EU foreign ministers on the importance of water in foreign policy are welcome but must be backed by actions, says Sophie Aujean.

EU to ‘review’ support to Tanzania over rights concerns

The European Union is reviewing its financial support to Tanzania in response to recent moves undermining "human rights and the rule of law".

Universal electricity access goal set to be missed, new report reveals

The international community is falling well short of providing the cash needed to ensure universal access to electricity by 2030, according to a report released Monday (12 November).

Mogherini: Europe and Africa can change global politics in a ‘revolutionary’ way

A new model of collaboration between the EU and Africa can change today’s dangerous turn of international relations, which have moved from “win-win” solutions and are now based on “zero-sum” games, EU's top diplomat Federica Mogherini said.

S&D chief: ‘Political suicide’ for Europe to ignore Africa

Europe has to tackle the root causes of migration and better manage population flows by investing in people rather than walls, Udo Bullmann told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

A new EU-Africa partnership

A new EU-Africa partnership is needed in order to tackle common challenges and fight for sustainable development without leaving anyone behind, according to EU Socialists and Democrats.

EU lowers its ambitions on African migration control

EU leaders asked the Commission in June to study ways to set up “regional disembarkation platforms” in North African countries, for migrants rescued by European vessels in the Mediterranean. But the demand didn't last long and the EU seems to have quietly lowered its ambitions on migration-control deals with North Africa.