Development Policy
EU relies on stability in the Sahel for its own security
“Europe’s security, and that of Spain, depend on security in the Sahel," said the EU Special Representative for the Sahel, Ángel Losada. EURACTIV’s partner Euroefe reports.
EU unlocks €800 million for African investment vehicle
The EU’s much vaunted private investment vehicle in Africa has moved a step closer to becoming reality after €800 million was unlocked to leverage multi-billion euro investments on the continent.
G20 countries risk falling short of achieving Sustainable Development Goals
High income countries are falling short of the goals set three years ago by the United Natons, with Scandinavian countries a notable exception. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Time to treat the root causes of migration, not only the symptoms
After a sleepless night, EU leaders clinched a deal on migration at their June summit. Yet, they seem overly focused on tackling the symptoms of migration, not its root cause – starting with poverty and unemployment, writes Tom Arnold.
Most ivory bought in Europe is illegal, investigation finds
Almost three-quarters of all ivory sold legally in Europe is in fact illicit and comes from tusks of elephants that were killed after the 1990 ban on ivory trade, according to an investigation released on Tuesday (10 July).
German firms promised ‘Marshall Plan’ tax breaks for African projects
Germany plans to use public money to support companies which invest in Africa, part of a new "Marshall Plan" with which it hopes to tackle the roots of the refugee crisis that has convulsed European politics since 2015.
The ‘migration problem’ could be the motor for new relations with Africa
Current proposals put forward by the EU won't solve the migration problem, particularly with predictions of Africa's population doubling by 2050. Africa and Europe would both benefit from resetting their relations, writes Karl Aiginger.
Building a fair and prosperous space on the two shores of Mediterranean
Economic development, migration flows, social justice and cohesion, radicalisation and terrorist threats, democratic transition, and rule of law - the challenges facing the Euro-Mediterranean region are numerous and growing, writes MEP Enrique Guerrero Salom.
France takes the lead on conflict prevention
While armed conflicts are on the rise around the world, Paris launched a new strategy for prevention, resilience and sustainable peace in developing countries, on 13 June. EURACTIV.fr reports.
EU to hike migration spending in development aid overhaul
The European Commission will set out its plans to dramatically increase spending on migration control on Thursday (14 June), as part of its overhaul of EU development spending between 2021 and 2027.
France asks for more coordination between European expertise agencies
European expertise agencies, the kingpins of solidarity policy, want to work more together in order to establish themselves as true competitors in the face of United Nations agencies, especially in the field of security. EURACTIV.fr reports.
‘Water, women and waste’ are our development priorities, says Coca-Cola SVP
In an interview at the European Development Days in Brussels, Perez underlined Coca-Cola's hopes to work with the EU on its flagship External Investment Plan that seeks to build partnerships between local communities, governments, and the private sector.
Women entrepreneurs ‘a vast untapped resource’, say development policy-makers
Women and girls are too often forgotten in development policy, despite being in the front-line. A mere 2% of total overseas development aid is spent on policies related to gender equality, panellists heard at the European Development Days in Brussels.
Liberia’s leader Weah looks abroad for help tackling poverty
After stoking expectations among Liberia’s voters for rolling back poverty, President George Weah is facing the twin pressures of time and money to carry out his promises. On 22 January, Weah became president of the one of the world’s poorest...
French aid lags behind on gender equality
Despite France’s commitments it is struggling to get its aid to the poorest countries as well as for gender-equality programmes, according to an assessment by the OECD. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Taking development finance private
The EU’s External Investment Plan (EIP) is the latest addition to the increasingly cluttered landscape of public-private development finance. The EIP's future shape and the role it can play was one of the hot topics at the European Development Days on 5-6 June.
Don’t leave women out of EU investment programme, Commission is told
The issue of how the EU's External Investment Plan can help empower women and girls dominated the agenda at the European Development Days on Tuesday (5 June), as some panellists voiced concern that it might be marginalised in the final big picture.
Everyone gains from investing in the health and gender equality of women and children
Five million women and children die every year from entirely preventable causes. The Global Financing Facility (GFF) supports the 50 countries with the greatest needs by investing in their health systems but that is not enough, writes Mariam Claeson.
European Development Days: Investing in women and girls
It is consequential that this year’s European Development Days, which start in Brussels today, are focused on women and girls. Gender equality is not only a moral imperative, but also key to progress for the economy, the environment, and social development, argues Melanne Verveer.
Building partnerships: international development and sustainable business
The European Development Days has established itself as a key fixture in the world's development calendar. The EU plans to revamp its development tools and financial investment instruments in the next seven-year budget, increasing the role of the private sector.
Finance, Cotonou and women set to dominate European Development Days
As far as global development goes, few events can match the reach of European Development Days, whose Brussels edition will gather 8,000 development policy professionals this week.
Negotiations on the post-Cotonou Agreement stumble on migration
Due to a lack of consensus on the issue of migration, member states cannot come to an agreement on a mandate to begin negotiations on the future partnership agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. EURACTIV.fr reports
Ending poverty in Africa is within our reach
On Africa Day (25 May) it is important to note that the continent is making important progress to end extreme poverty. With all the potential Africa holds it is important for the EU to support it, therefore, the next seven-year budget should secure more funds for aid, writes Dorine Nininahazwe.