Development Policy
Do smallholders need rights of their own, and if so, which ones?
Do farmers have and/or need different rights to other people? Michael Brüntrup argues that gaining the support of rural dwellers and ensuring they benefit from development should be the top priority.
EU ministers pledge more efforts for Africa partnership
EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg Monday (19 June) committed to working closely with their African partners for an “ambitious and successful” EU-Africa summit in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on 29 and 30 November, with “Investing in Youth” as the central theme.Faced with an unprecedented migration crisis, ministers devoted part of their time in an effort to …
The ‘Eurovision of inventors’ and new solutions for protecting the planet
Whether or not Donald Trump is taking part in efforts to protect the planet, inventions and technological progress are filling an important gap and the EU is playing a role bigger than generally assumed, writes Eli Hadzhieva.
Time to consider refugee protection in partnerships with third countries
On World Refugee Day and just before the European Council, we call on the EU and its member states to assess the impact of the Partnership Framework approach on the right to seek and enjoy asylum, writes Denis Haveaux.
EU considers Iraq security mission after Mosul falls
The European Union will consider sending a new security mission to help stabilise Iraq after the expected recapture of Mosul from Islamic State, EU foreign ministers said on Monday (19 June).
Mogherini confirms two EU staff killed in Mali attack
The two civilians killed in a jihadist attack on a Mali tourist resort were both working for the European Union, the bloc's foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said today (19 June).
EU moves to address major crisis in North-Eastern Nigeria
The Commission announced on Thursday (15 June) a €143 million support package for recovery and reconstruction needs in Nigeria's Borno State, which is suffering from a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Money from Europe a lifeline for Nigerian families
Grace and Sunday Otoide's house is the last one standing on Bata Road in Benin City, southern Nigeria. All the neighbours have left and the retired couple hope to do the same.
EU cultural diplomacy must be used as a peace-building and soft power tool
International cultural relations have an enormous and untapped potential within the current global context, in which freedom of expression, human rights and mutual cooperation are under threat, writes Luca Jahier.
World Bank: Africa’s cities can learn from EU experience
EURACTIV spoke to Somik Vinaj Lall, the lead author of the World Bank flagship report Africa’s cities: Opening doors to the world. Meeting with EU counterparts, Lall identified areas where the EU experience could be valuable in the urbanisation of the African continent.
New Ideas for Old Problems: How to Get Health Products to Remote Communities
Global health is a shared responsibility, and addressing today’s global health challenges requires us to go beyond the 20th-century model of donors and recipients, writes Christoph Benn.
‘Partnerships in development’: We can do it
EURACTIV invited Emma Marcegaglia, President of BusinessEurope, Jacqueline Mugo, Secretary General of Business Africa, Pierre Gattaz, President of Medef, the largest employer federation of France, and Klaus Rudischhauser, EU Commission Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation and Development , to discuss the role of public-private partnerships in development.
After Brexit, Europe must take the lead on development aid
The loss of the United Kingdom, one of Europe’s biggest aid donors, will force the EU to strengthen its development action. In France, the election of Emmanuel Macron could give development policy a much-needed boost, Rémy Rioux said in an interview with EURACTIV France.
Digital development plan promotes EU tech laws
A new European Commission aid plan promises to channel more development funds into building internet networks in Africa, in the hope that the bloc's fresh privacy and net neutrality rules could become a template for other countries.
Arancha González: ‘Fair’ is a bit of a difficult word
In an exclusive interview, the International Trade Centre's executive director managed expectations about fair trade, as well as broaching the subject of child labour and transparency in the value chain.
Tweets of the Week: UK election, Development Days, and EU defence
Good morning to all of you who had a sleepless night watching the UK General Election! As well as #GE2017, this week we also kept an eye on European Development Days and the future of European defence.
Burden faced by Africa’s small farmers masked by focus on migration and poverty
Some 70% of the world’s food is grown by smallholder farmers, the majority in the developing world, who will have to help output double by 2030 to keep up with population growth, a panel of experts at the European Development Days in Brussels heard on Thursday (8 June).
Commission is wrong to promote private sector in EU aid policy
The European Commission has engaged in a dangerously mistaken defence of the role of public private partnerships (PPPs) in EU development policy, warns Jan Willem Goudriaan.
Towards a tech future free from human rights abuses
Minerals are vital for many cutting edge technologies but often they leave a legacy of conflict and slavery. Responsible sourcing and human rights must be placed at the heart of modern business ethics, write Nele Meyer and Lucy Graham.
Lessons from Iraq and India on building ‘resilient’ recovery after disasters
Examples of how to rebuild resilient societies in the wake of natural disasters and man-made conflicts, from countries are varied as Iraq and India, were on offer during the second day of the EU Development Days conference in Brussels on Thursday (8 June).
European Development Days focus on private sector
The ‘European Development Days’, often called ‘the Davos of Development’ opened yesterday (7 June) in Brussels, with many of the VIP speakers stressing that in a difficult international context, the public sector cannot go it alone and therefore the role of the private sector is key.
Soft drink cold chain delivers vaccines to Africa’s most remote corners
A bright idea turned into reality: vaccines are getting to where they are needed, even in the most remote places in several African countries, thanks to specialised refrigeration support from Coca-Cola.
African states compete in TV-style ‘Dragon’s Den’ for foreign investment at Dev Days
Three developing African states copied the reality-TV format of Dragon’s Den to compete for foreign businesses from a panel of a nearly a dozen investors, at the EU’s Development Days conference on Wednesday (6 June).
Why development cooperation matters
Last week, Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw his country from the Paris Agreement. This follows previous announcements on reducing US support to development. These decisions are deeply worrying – but must not distract us from the immense task ahead, writes Neven Mimica.