Development Policy

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

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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.

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).

UK aid cuts to be enshrined in law, ministers concede

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told UK lawmakers on Thursday (26 November) that new laws would be required to enshrine controversial plans to cut development and humanitarian aid by a third.

UK set to slash development aid budget

The UK government is expected to slash aid spending when Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils the government’s Spending Review on Wednesday (25 November).

European Green Deal needs to deliver on global challenges

Key elements of the EU’s foreign policy funding will be finalised during 'trilogue' talks this week. Raising the climate spending target there could make a vital difference to supporting partner countries to deliver green recovery plans, writes Rachel Simon.

EU countries urged to support ‘green recovery’ across the globe

European countries should use their influence as shareholders to encourage green investments in countries across the world, said Climate Envoy for the Netherlands, Marcel Beukeboom, as the High Ambition Coalition launched its Statement on a Resilient Recovery.

Development banks make landmark climate pledge, but no fossil fuel phase out

The world’s public development banks on Wednesday (11 November) pledged to align their financial firepower with the Paris Agreement on climate change, but avoided a firm commitment to phase out fossil fuel financing. As a source of funding for many...

EU criticised over surveillance aid in nations where privacy at risk

European Union aid has been used to pay for surveillance equipment and training in countries with inadequate safeguards against excessive state snooping, rights groups said on Wednesday (11 November), calling for an end to the "unacceptable" practice.

Tackling the hidden cost of Europe’s chocolate habit

Chocolate is a cheap treat in Europe, but beneath the wrapper, it is mired in the bitter issues of deforestation, biodiversity loss and child labour.

The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E – Wanted: One strong voice for Africa

A strategic partnership with Europe’s ‘sister continent’ was supposed to be this year’s prize. But the EU-African Union summit, originally due this week, was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.