EC communication on development policy

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Mid October 2011, European Commission published its communication "Increasing the impact of EU Development Policy : an Agenda for Change"

Beginning 2010, the European Commission published two Green Papers, one on the future of development policy and the other on the instrument of budget support, in order to debate the way ahead with stakeholders and interested parties. From the feedback received by global partners, governments, NGOs, the private sector and other actors, the EC drafted two Communications:

• - Increasing the impact of EU Development Policy: an Agenda for Change
• - The future approach to EU budget support to third countries

The main principles of the 12-point Agenda for Change will be progressively reflected in the remainder of the current programming cycles and then in future EU programming. In spring 2012, the Commission will ask EU Development Ministers to endorse the Agenda for Change as well as the new EU budget support approach which seeks to make budget support more effective and efficient in delivering development results and proposes more EU coordination.

The specific characteristics of the EC communication "Agenda for Change" are the following. The EC is working on the implementation modalities.

• - Budget support remains the prefered mecanism for the EC
• - The approach will defer depending the level of development of developing countries partners
• - A new focus is made on growth and private sector

The communication is available here.

For more information, contact Estelle Gallot from the secretariat or have a look to the EC dedicated webpage: EC Europaid - Agenda for change