About: Andris Piebalgs
Old Commissioners, new revolving doors
Only three months after the Barroso II Commission left office, some prominent members have already made moves in their professional careers which are putting to test the EU executive’s policy on revolving doors, writes Vicky Cann.
Gobi?š: The European Year for Development 2015 started in Latvia
A telephone conversation in 2010 launched the idea of designating 2015 as European Year for Development, Andris Gobi?š told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
No, development has not fallen off the EU’s radar
Alexandre Polack, Commission spokesperson for development, replies to an opinion article by Joren Verschaeve, a PhD student at Ghent University, who claims that the Commissioner nominations for Development and for Humanitarian aid indicate that those portfolios are not seen as important.![[Unicef]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/09/hope_is_life_unicef.jpeg)
EU calls for wider response to the Ebola epidemic
The EU will intensify its financial assistance to Western Africa, in order to contribute to the efforts in the fight against the Ebola outbreak. At a special meeting held yesterday (15 September) in Brussels, the bloc reiterated its willingness to work hard to stop the spread of the disease. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Piebalgs: Aid to conflict zones ‘becoming the rule, rather than the exception’
SPECIAL REPORT: Europe’s engagement with fragile and conflict-prone states is increasingly becoming the mainstay of its developmental work, the EU development commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, has told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
EU launches first-ever development fund for CAR
The European Commission has announced a fund to link relief, rehabilitation and development in the Central African Republic, an initiative which will be financed by France, Germany, the Netherlands and private donors. EURACTIV France reports.
Brussels seeks to raise €2.6 billion for basic education in developing world
A two-day fundraising conference beginning in Brussels tomorrow (25 June) aims at raising a minimum of €2.6 billion over the next three years to boost primary education in developing countries, the European Commission announced today (24 June).![Kristalina Georgieva explains the 'belt of crisis' [photo Georgi Gotev]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/01/kristalina_georgieva_belt_of_crisis.jpeg)
Georgieva: ‘Travelling trouble’ could reach us
The EU and the developed countries need to more forcefully direct their resources and attention to “the belt of crisis” stretching from Somalia to Mali, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.![An ecologic building in London, UK. [Giancarlo Liguori/Shutterstock].](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/eco_building_london._shutterstock.jpeg)
EU tables proposals to tackle ‘intertwined’ challenges in Europe, developing world
The European Commission tabled proposals on Monday (2 June) for tackling the “intertwined challenges of eliminating poverty” and “ensuring progress is sustainable”, in the EU's contribution to the post-2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).![Women filling buckets with water from a well. [F. Lefebvre/ UNICEF]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/05/Water_F Lefebvre_EuropeAid photo.jpeg)
EU pledges further work on ‘resilience’ to climate change
The EU commissioners dealing with development cooperation and humanitarian aid have pledged more work on “resilience”, defined as the ability of individuals and communities to recover from shocks and stresses.
Health for all : Another chance for EU-Africa leaders
The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Africa calls on European institutions to live up to their leadership role in development cooperation, by providing predictable and long-term funding for vaccination of the poorest children.![In Zambia 85% percent of population lives from agriculture. [Florence Devouard (CC BY-SA 2.0)]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/04/1024px-villagezambia3.jpeg)
Study: Public-private partnerships threaten smallholders
Collaboration between public and private agriculture investment was thought to be beneficial for development. But a recent study focusing on Zambia argues the opposite: most companies simply seek a quick profit, while local smallholders sink further into poverty. EURACTIV Germany reports.![Commissioner Andris Piebalgs in front of sign 'EuropeAid' [European Commission]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/04/andris_piebalgs_europeaid_development_credit_eucommissioin.jpeg)
Why we should stop talking about ‘European’ development aid
The EU commission is keen to mention that the EU "is to be the world’s largest donor" of development aid. But a recent study indicates that it makes little sense to talk about 'European' development financing, its researchers write.
France frustrated by Europe’s shortcomings in Central African Republic
During a foreign affairs council in Brussels, EU member states tried in vain to revitalise the planned EUFOR mission to the Central African Republic. France’s beckoning goes unheeded as it continues to play a critical role in the country. EURACTIV France reports. VideoPromoted content
Andris Piebalgs: ‘MDGs made the world a better place to live’
The UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have already had a "huge impact in the world" and made it "a better place to live", according to the EU's development commissioner, Andris Piebalgs. While the world has not met all the targets, which they were supposed to do by 2015, the MDGs have paved the way for a "far more ambitious" post-2015 development agenda, Pielbalgs told EURACTIV ahead of the European Development Days, a conference that will be held in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. VideoPromoted content
EU pressed to do more to combat AIDS in Eastern Europe
AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria are infectious diseases that together kill millions of people every year. Recent EU and international efforts have resulted in a dramatic decrease of the global mortality rate caused by these infections, especially in Africa. However, the situation is now heading in the wrong direction in Eastern Europe.
British Lords blast Commission over water aid to Africa
A House of Lords committee has sent a scathing letter to the European Commission, accusing it of "culpable waste" in its water and sanitation projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
Côte d’Ivoire cracks down on illegal wood bound for EU
Côte d'Ivoire is clearing tens of thousands of cocoa farmers from protected forests, threatening exports from the world's top grower and leading to complaints about human rights abuses. The European Union is the major export market for the wood.
EU and Gates Foundation sign disease research agreement
The European Union and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today (10 June) pledged to pool resources for research into HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, malaria and other poverty-related diseases.
EU plans new approach to tackle ‘worst form of poverty’
SPECIAL REPORT / The European Commission is calling for a more robust emphasis on the long-term nutritional needs of infants and mothers to address malnourishment, a leading cause of death in impoverished nations, a year after European auditors criticised the EU’s response to food insecurity in developing countries.
EU pushing ‘old 90s script’ on next UN aid agenda
An architect of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has warned that the European Union runs the risk of overreach as it tries to shape the future international anti-poverty agenda.
EU falters with UN targets as development aid drops 4.3%
Brussels has called on member states to honour their aid commitments as their contributions to the world’s poorest countries fell by €2.3 billion in 2012, according to an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report published yesterday (3 April).
Piebalgs: Development champions should speak up
Development aid contributes to economic success in both developing countries and in Europe, Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs tells EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.