Tag Archives: Millennium goals

European Water Facility for the ACP countries

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about European Water Facility for the ACP countries

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Development > African Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP)

European Water Facility for the ACP countries

Document or Iniciative

Communication of 26 January 2004 from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the future development of the EU Water Initiative and the modalities for the establishment of a Water Facility for ACP countries [COM(2004) 43 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

A WATER FACILITY FOR ACP COUNTRIES

The Water Facility for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, is intended to serve as a catalyst by supporting development and reform of the relevant sectoral policies and through flexible and innovative methods of financing water supply and sanitation projects and programmes.

Basic principles

The Facility is based on three key principles:

Governance: The Water Facility is to concentrate its activities on ACP countries which have a sound national water policy or which are strongly committed to developing one, and on countries that prioritise spending on social sectors. It will help those countries to establish the institutional and regulatory framework necessary to attract additional financial resources;
Ownership: The facility is entirely demand-driven. It will be an instrument for supporting and deepening the involvement of ACP actors in the design and implementation of water policies;
Innovation and flexibility: In order to achieve maximum impact a creative combination of grants and other sources are envisaged to fund basic infrastructure. The proposed grants could constitute the necessary seed capital to get projects off the ground and be a tool in forging the public-private partnerships needed to increase funding.

Activities funded

The Water Facility will mainly fund two types of activity: improving water management and governance, and cofinancing drinking water and sanitation infrastructure.

The activities relating to improved water management and governance are:

institution building and support for reforming the sector;
integrated management of water resources at national level and at that of ACP river basins.

For the second category of activities the Water Facility uses flexible and innovative methods to finance water and sanitation projects and programmes for low-income users and socially disadvantaged areas.

Management of the Facility

The organisational structure for the management of the Water Facility has been set up within the European Commission, staffed with EU officials. The officials on this team are responsible for establishing implementing procedures for the facility.

However, in the preparation and implementation of projects to be financed, maximum use should be made of the expertise available outside the Commission, in particular through expert groups and collaboration with the European Investment Bank and other development finance institutes, and, where appropriate, the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The projects are selected on the basis of a call for proposals open to most of the state and non-state actors concerned in the ACP and EU countries. Proposals are selected on the basis of criteria defined by the European Commission in the call for proposals, which must be consistent with the general objectives of sustainable development and the EU’s water management policy in the developing countries and with the integrated river basin water management programmes, and take account of factors such as the implementing capacity of the partners and the maturity of the project.

THE FUTURE OF THE EU WATER INITIATIVE

The Communication also assesses the outlook for the EU Water Initiative launched during the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

It finds that the Initiative has made considerable progress, noting that the drinking water and sanitation objectives will have to be achieved within the framework of integrated management of the river basins.

The Initiative concentrates on Africa, the countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, the Mediterranean and Latin America.

The Commission considers that the progress made is not sufficient to meet the Millennium Development Goals without a significant increase in financing and improved mechanisms to help development aid attract other resources (private sector, development banks); the creation of a European Water Facility will serve both these purposes.

BACKGROUND

The Communication follows up on the EU Water Initiative launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002. The summit confirmed the objective, set in the context of the Millennium Development Goals, of halving the number of people in the world who do not have access to drinking water or basic sanitation by 2015.

Unsafe water causes more deaths than war does. More than 1 100 million people in the world have no access to drinking water, and 2 400 million do not have access to adequate sanitation. In Africa more than 40 % of the population is without drinking water, and even more lack appropriate sanitation services.

Related Acts

Decision No 7/2005

of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers of 22 November 2005 concerning the use of a second allocation of EUR 250 million from the conditional EUR 1 billion under the ninth EDF to be used for the second instalment of the ACP-EU Water Facility [Official Journal L 48 of 18.2.2006].
The Decision officially authorises allocation of a second tranche of EUR 250 million to the ACP-EU Water Facility.

Decision 2004/632/EC

of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers of 6 May 2004 on the use of the reserve of the long-term development envelope as well as resources from the Investment Facility of the ninth European Development Fund for the establishment of an ACP-EU Water Facility [Official Journal L 289 of 10.9.2004].
The Decision officially authorises allocation of a first tranche of EUR 250 million to the ACP-EU Water Facility and provides for the release of a further EUR 250 million.

Council Decision of 26 April 2004 on the position to be adopted by the Community in the ACP-EC Council of Ministers concerning a Decision on the use of the reserve of the long-term development envelope as well as resources from the Investment Facility of the ninth European Development Fund (EDF) for the establishment of an ACP-EU Water Facility [Not published in the Official Journal].
The Council provides that the reserve of the long-term development envelope as well as resources from the Investment Facility of the ninth EDF are to be used for the establishment of the ACP-EU Water Facility.

Council Decision 2004/289/EC of 22 March 2004 concerning the partial release of the conditional amount of EUR 1 billion under the ninth European Development Fund for cooperation with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in order to establish a Water Facility [Official Journal L 94, 31.03.2004].
In this Decision the Council agrees to establish the Water Facility for ACP countries. In accordance with the provisions of the Financial Protocol to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, the Council notes that the level of commitments and disbursements at the end of 2003 in conjunction with forecasts for the period 2004 to 2007 allows the release of EUR 500 million from the ninth EDF out of the budget of EUR 1000 million for the establishment of the Water Facility. The Council approves the release an initial tranche of EUR 250 million. Decisions will be taken later on the remaining sum.

EU Strategy for Africa

Leave a reply

EU Strategy for Africa

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about EU Strategy for Africa

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Development > African Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP)

EU Strategy for Africa

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee of 12 October 2005 – EU Strategy for Europe: Towards a Euro-African pact to accelerate Africa’s development [COM(2005) 489 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The EU Strategy for Africa outlines a framework of action for all EU Member States aimed at supporting Africa’s efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In recent years considerable progress has been recorded in Africa, particularly as regards governance and economic growth. The African Union (AU), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and international organisations have equipped Africa with political and economic roadmaps and a vision for the future. Nevertheless, Africa’s road towards sustainable development remains long.

A very diverse reality

Africa comprises different political regimes, historical experience and cultural, religious, economic and geographical contexts. Furthermore, areas of insecurity and centres of stability coexist. Some African countries have experienced, or are experiencing, sustained periods of peace, security, economic and political stability and democratic participation, while others remain mired in long-term conflict. Heightened instability is linked to a rise in transnational organised crime, resulting in an increased threat of drugs trafficking and consumption, human trafficking, smuggling of natural resources and arms trafficking.

Nevertheless, there is no shortage of growth factors. Sustainable exploitation of natural resources, agricultural development and investment in human resources create a sound investment climate. A number of African countries possess considerable natural resources which permit genuine sustainable development. Commodity-dependent African economies can reduce their vulnerability by acting against the long-term downward trend in prices and against fluctuations in world prices.

A fundamental driver of growth is a reliable and attractive investment climate. A country’s stability and level of governance, transparency, dialogue with the national and international business community, and regional integration are all contributing factors in economic development. New external players, such as Brazil, India and China, are increasingly attracted by Africa’s economic potential, while Africa’s longer-established partners, such as the United States, Japan and Russia, are showing renewed interest in the continent.

In these regions, interconnection is crucial to allowing people easier market access and reducing the costs of doing business. A regional integration process must therefore be developed to strengthen Africa’s position in the world economy.

Social dynamics

Human development also presents a highly varied picture. While several African countries have recorded impressive economic growth, a highly unequal distribution of income often prevents this growth from having a positive impact on poverty levels.

Job creation remains one of the major challenges for poverty reduction and social development, in particular for women and ethnic minorities. The employment situation is closely linked to literacy rates, which are gradually improving. Individuals’ well-being is also dependent on health and hygiene conditions. In particular, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a heavy burden on many African countries.

Environmental dynamics

The African continent is environmentally very diverse. Climate change will further increase the strain on water resources, affect biodiversity and human health, worsen food security and increase desertification. Flooding and drought are common and are set to increase as a result of climate change, while early-warning systems are inadequate and disaster management is weak. Climate change adaptation is therefore an urgent necessity for Africa’s development.

The desertification process affects almost half of the African continent, the worst-affected areas being located along desert margins. Furthermore, Africa’s renewable water resources fall below the world average and several countries suffer water stress or scarcity. Africa also has 17% of the world’s forests, and deforestation, both for commercial timber and to make room for agriculture, is therefore a major concern.

The principles of the EU-Africa relations

Over the last few decades, the EU has concluded an increasing number of agreements with Africa, including the Lomé Conventions, entered into with the Member States of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP) Group and since replaced by the 2000 Cotonou Agreement, the South Africa Agreements and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and Association Agreement.

So now is the time to develop the basic principles that govern the relationship between Africa and the EU. This Communication envisages three principles:

equality, based on mutual recognition and respect for institutions and the definition of mutual collective interests;
partnership, i.e. developing links based on political and commercial cooperation;
ownership, i.e. strategies and development policies being country-owned and not imposed from the outside.

The EU should engage with Africa’s three levels of governance – national, regional and continental – on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity: only matters which would be dealt with less effectively at a lower level should be reserved for a higher level of governance. The EU should enhance intra-African solidarity between these three levels and raise dialogue with the African continent as a whole to the highest political level.

The EU’s response strategy

The EU should strengthen its support in the areas considered prerequisites for attaining the MDGs (peace, security, good governance), areas that create a favourable economic environment for growth, trade and interconnection and areas targeting social cohesion and environment.

The EU will step up its efforts to foster peace and security by means of a wide range of actions, ranging from the support for African peace operations to a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention addressing the root causes of violent conflict. These actions also target cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as support for regional and national strategies for disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and reinsertion in order to contribute to the reintegration of ex?combatants – including child soldiers – and stabilisation of post-conflict situations.

Despite the progress made in Africa, the road towards good governance remains long. With a view to reforming the State, the EU will work towards building effective and credible central institutions, to which end it will define a Governance Initiative in support of the African Peer Review Mechanism. It will reinforce respect for human rights and democracy, develop local capacity and encourage the decentralisation process, with the aim of promoting democracy and development. It will also encourage African countries to sign and implement the main international instruments of crime prevention.

In order to contribute to the effective reduction of poverty across Africa, the EU will stimulate rapid and broad-based economic growth by supporting macroeconomic stability and assisting in the creation of integrated regional markets. Limited access to transport and communication services, water and sanitation, and energy constrains economic growth. The Commission therefore proposes to establish an EU-Africa Partnership for Infrastructure. Transport policies must also be harmonised through support to the Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Programme and the energy infrastructure must be developed along with integrated water management for its improvement in trans-boundary river basins.

When we consider that 40% of all Africans survive on less than one dollar a day, the EU must contribute to the establishment of social safety for the most vulnerable. In this context, it will support education, access to knowledge and transfer of know-how as a lifelong process going beyond primary education, and promote access to water supply, sanitation and energy, as well as the improvement of health infrastructures and the provision of essential health services.

Particular attention will be paid to employment policies, the promotion of cultural diversity and turning migration into a positive force in the development process.

As regards the environment, the EU’s activities will include the management of environmental diversity, the improvement of sustainable land management to halt desertification, the conservation of biodiversity, limitation of the effects of climate change and support for the sound management of chemicals.

Despite being the main donor to Africa, the EU should increase its financing substantially. In June 2005 the EU committed itself collectively to increase official aid to 0.56% of gross national income (GNI) by 2010 and to 0.7% by 2015. In particular, some €4 billion will be available annually for Sub-Saharan Africa and this Strategy for Africa should constitute the reference framework for the programmes and action under the 10^th European Development Fund (EDF).

This Strategy was adopted by the European Council of 15 and 16 December 2005.

Related Acts

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council – From Cairo to Lisbon – The EU-Africa Strategic Partnership [COM(2007) 357 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Non-state Actors and Local Authorities

Leave a reply

Non-state Actors and Local Authorities

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Non-state Actors and Local Authorities

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Development > General development framework

Non-state Actors and Local Authorities

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – The Thematic Programme “Non-state Actors and Local Authorities in Development” [COM(2006) 19 – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

This programme succeeds both the NGO co-financing programmes and the decentralised cooperation programmes. By supporting the right of initiative of non-state actors and local authorities, it supplements the support provided by geographical and other sectoral thematic programmes, in particular the programme on democracy and human rights.

Ownership and participation are core principles of the European Union (EU) development policy as stated in the European consensus. This approach is also reflected in partnership and cooperation agreements, e.g. between the ACP countries and the EU and with Asia, South America and “neighbouring” countries.

The added value of associating various non-state actors lies in their independence from the State, their proximity to and understanding of defined constituencies, their capacity to articulate their specific interests and their ability to bridge a critical gap between strategic goals and their practical realisation.

This programme primarily targets interventions in the field. It is chiefly implemented in countries and regions where geographical programmes do not provide for any financial support for non-state actors or local authorities owing to weak political commitment, in subregions out of reach of the country programme or in situations of difficult partnerships, fragile States, post-conflict, political instability, etc.

All non-profit state actors from the EU and from partner countries can be eligible for funding under this programme. In addition, local authorities may receive financial support for activities in specific contexts where their added value can be established and where these activities cannot be carried out under geographical programmes. This actor-oriented approach will be refined in the multiannual thematic strategy paper.

Three types of action may be funded:

actions which strengthen participatory development, support capacity development processes for the actors concerned at country or regional level, and promote mutual understanding processes;
awareness raising and education for development in the EU and acceding countries;
coordination and communication between civil society and local authority networks, within their organisations and between different types of stakeholders active in the European public debate on development.

Interventions in all developing countries, as defined in the list of Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients, can be eligible for funding under this thematic programme. These countries are covered by the European neighbourhood and partnership policy (ENPI) and the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI). The multiannual thematic strategy paper will set the eligibility criteria.

As regards programming, a four-year (2007-2010) and, subsequently, a three-year (2011-2013) thematic strategy paper will be decided by the Commission. These will define in more detail the criteria for selecting priority countries and regions, together with priorities for action. On the basis of this multiannual programming, the Commission will produce annual action programmes that establish priority actions, specific objectives and indicative amounts.

Objectives and priorities

The primary objective of this programme is the eradication of poverty in the context of sustainable development, including pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Other major objectives include good governance and human rights, which are cross-cutting issues to be mainstreamed in interventions in partner countries.

Our priorities include supporting stakeholder participation in unfavourable contexts (e.g. difficult partnerships, instability, conflict), promoting cross-border and regional initiatives, fostering quality partnerships between different stakeholders from the EU and partner countries, strengthening the capacity of employer and worker organisations, and fostering coherence as regards development in the area of education by giving children and young people access to education for development.

The European Consensus on Development

Leave a reply

The European Consensus on Development

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about The European Consensus on Development

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Development > General development framework

The European Consensus on Development

Document or Iniciative

Joint declaration by the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on the development policy of the European Union entitled “The European Consensus” [Official Journal C 46 of 24.2.2006].

Summary

On 20 December 2005 the Presidents of the Commission, Parliament and the Council signed the new statement on EU development policy, the “European consensus”, which, for the first time in fifty years of cooperation, defines the framework of common principles within which the EU and its Member States will each implement their development policies in a spirit of complementarity.

Part One: the EU’s vision of development

This first part of the declaration sets out the objectives and principles on the basis of which the Member States and the Community commit themselves to a shared vision. Since the chief objective is to reduce poverty worldwide in the context of sustainable development, the EU is seeking to meet the Millennium Development Goals, to which all the UN member states subscribe, by 2015 namely. These goals are:

to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger;
to achieve universal primary education;
to promote gender equality and empower women;
to reduce child mortality;
to improve maternal health;
to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
to ensure environmental sustainability; and
to set up a global partnership for development.

It also takes the view that the fundamental objective of poverty reduction is closely associated with the complementary objectives of promotion of good governance and respect for human rights, these being shared values underpinning the EU. The fight against poverty also implies achieving a balance between activities aimed at human development, the protection of natural resources and economic growth and wealth creation to benefit the poor.

The common principles of development cooperation activities are ownership and partnership, in-depth political dialogue, participation of civil society, gender equality and an ongoing commitment to preventing state fragility. Developing countries bear the primary responsibility for their own development, but the EU accepts its share of responsibility and accountability for the joint efforts undertaken in partnership.

The EU has committed itself to increasing the aid budget to 0.7 % of gross national product by 2015, the shared interim goal being 0.56 % by 2010; half of the increase in aid will be earmarked for Africa. It will continue to prioritise support for the least-developed countries and the low- and medium-income countries. Resource allocation will be guided by objective and transparent criteria based on needs and performance. The principle of concentration will guide the Community in all its country and regional programming. This means selecting a limited number of priority areas for action.

The quality of aid will be of the utmost importance for the EU, which will ensure the monitoring of its commitments to maximise aid efficiency, notably by setting concrete targets for 2010. National ownership, donor coordination and harmonisation, starting at the field level, alignment on recipient-country systems, and results orientation are core principles in this respect. More predictable aid mechanisms will be strengthened so as to enable partner countries to plan efficiently.

The EU will promote better coordination and complementarity between donors by working towards joint multiannual programming based on partner-country strategies and processes, common implementation mechanisms and the use of co-financing arrangements. It will also foster consistency in development policy in a wide variety of areas.

Part Two: implementation of Community development policy

Community policy and the policies of the Member States in this field must complement each other. The added value of the Community’s policy comes from its presence worldwide, its expertise in dispensing aid, its role in promoting consistency between policies and best practice and in facilitating coordination and harmonisation, its support for democracy, human rights, good governance and respect for international law, and its role in promoting participation in civil society and North-South solidarity.

Development cooperation is a major component of a broader set of external measures which must be consistent and complementary. The programming documents – country, regional and thematic strategy papers – reflect this range of policies and ensure consistency between them.

To meet the needs stated by partner countries, the Community will concentrate its activities in the following areas:

trade and regional integration;
the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources; infrastructures;
water and energy;
rural development, agriculture, and food security;
governance, democracy, human rights and support for economic and institutional reforms;
prevention of conflicts and of state fragility;
human development; and social cohesion and employment.

The Community will strengthen mainstreaming in relation to certain issues involving general principles applicable to any initiative and which call for efforts in several sectors. These include democracy, good governance, human rights, the rights of children and indigenous peoples, gender equality, environmental sustainability and the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The type of aid provided will be tailored to the needs and context of each individual country, giving preference, where conditions allow, to budget aid. The Community’s approach will be based on results and performance indicators. Most Community aid will continue to be provided as non-repayable grants, which are particularly suitable for the poorest countries and for those with a limited ability to repay.

Community assistance and the quality of the aid provided have improved as a result of the reform of external aid initiated by the Commission in 2000. Further improvements will be made in areas such as information systems and there will be further devolution to the delegations. The Commission will take account of the lessons learned from the evaluation of European Community development policy adopted in 2000 and will ensure that the European Development Consensus is put into practice in Community development programmes in all the developing countries.

Related Acts

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament of 21 June 2007 – Annual Report 2007 on the European Community’s Development Policy and the Implementation of External Assistance in 2006 [COM(2007) 349 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

In 2006 the EU allocated EUR 9.8 billion to official development assistance (ODA). The year was marked by major changes in the way the EU manages its development cooperation, including the decision to pay particular attention to policy coherence for development, the adoption of regional strategies reflecting the EU’s main priorities, the simplification of the external aid instruments (in particular the creation of the financing instrument for development cooperation and the instrument for democracy and human rights), the setting up of a framework for increasing the effectiveness of aid and improvements to the way in which results are evaluated.

Commission Communication to the Council and the European Parliament of 22 June 2006 – Annual Report 2006 on the European Community’s development policy and the implementation of external assistance in 2005 [COM(2006) 326 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

In 2005 the EU committed itself to doubling its current level of ODA by 2010 and spent EUR 6.2 billion in terms of delivery of development aid. In its annual policy strategy for 2005, the Commission’s development objectives were to review and scale up the EU contribution to the Millennium Development Goals and to launch an EU water facility. The Community and the Member States also signed the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness (pdf) and a new tripartite development policy statement (the European Consensus on Development) was endorsed.

The particular priority for 2005 was Africa, with the revision of the Cotonou Agreement, the implementation of the peace facility and the drafting of an EU strategy for Africa.

Action Plan for more, better and faster aid

Leave a reply

Action Plan for more, better and faster aid

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Action Plan for more, better and faster aid

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Development > General development framework

Action Plan for more, better and faster aid

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission of 2 March 2006 – EU Aid: Delivering more, better and faster [COM(2006) 87 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The action plan set out in this Communication comprises nine time-bound measures (“deliverables”) to be implemented jointly by the Commission and Member States. Some of them, like the mapping of EU assistance through regional donor atlases, the support of local coordination processes and the development of a common framework for programming of assistance, may be launched immediately. Others, such as the proposed co-financing mechanism for EU funds, may be implemented within the next four years.

The action plan is divided into two parts. The first part summarises the nine measures on which the EU as a group has now to deliver, together with the relevant timetable, while the second part presents the first four deliverables that have already been developed and are ready for immediate adoption and implementation in a selected number of partner countries. The third part describes the five remaining deliverables that have to be developed during 2006 and implemented by 2010.

The EU’s commitments on aid effectiveness can be split into three inter-connected groups concerning:

transparent mapping and checks;
the implementation of collective commitments adopted by the Paris Declaration on harmonisation and alignment (pdf);
the execution of the aid effectiveness pillar of the new EU strategy framework, as defined by the New Development Policy Statement (the ” European consensus “) and the EU Strategy for Africa.

Part I: Monitoring of commitments

In the interests of better organisation and an improved division of labour, the EU Donor Atlas needs to be revised as the first edition revealed a concentration of aid in certain “attractive” countries and sectors, to the detriment of certain forgotten countries and sectors, and a fragmentation of activities, with a proliferation of actors and small-scale projects.

As regards EU development rules, it is useful to have an overview of the rules currently in force in all Member States; these will be collected in compendiums to facilitate the work of all operators. Another important objective is achieving, in the long term, joint programming. To this end, the multiannual Joint Programming Framework (JPF) aims to create a mechanism enabling the overlapping elements of Member States’ systems to be grouped together, thereby reducing the transaction costs of Community programming.

The Development Policy Statement (the “European consensus”) and the EU Strategy for Africa, both adopted in 2005, provide for a better division of labour with a view to achieving greater aid complementarity and effectiveness, more joint actions through more intensive use of co-financing, and strengthening of the EU input and impact.

Part II: Immediate action

The four objectives that could be achieved by 2006 are: the Donor Atlas, monitoring of the EU and the DAC processes, the roadmap and the Joint Programming Framework (JPF).

The revised EU Donor Atlas II will emphasise the regional dimension, and aid mapping will be carried out at state level, covering all the donors active in that country. Monitoring should be carried out in respect of the international objectives and targets agreed in Paris and the EU’s concrete operational deliverables, which from 2003 will be monitored through the Annual Report on the Follow-up of Monterrey.

The roadmap process needs to be upgraded and monitoring responsibilities should be strengthened and shared. They should be established by 2006 and all objectives should be reached by 2010. The Joint Programming Framework is due to be adopted by mid-2006 and should be implemented in a pragmatic, progressive and realistic manner. It should be introduced in countries where a donor joint assistance strategy has already been initiated (i.e. Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) and should be extended to all remaining ACP countries, as well as to all countries that have signed the Paris Declaration by 2010.

Part III: Completing the agenda

The five objectives to be developed by the end of 2006 are operational complementarity, increasing joint activities with an EU co-financing role, strengthening the EU vision, improving joint local arrangements and producing compendiums of Community development rules.

A set of pragmatic operational principles on the complementarity of actions should be adopted by the end of 2006. These principles could be applied in the field in connection with the future regional chapters of the revised Donor Atlas. Furthermore, all regulatory impediments to co-financing must be reviewed in order to develop a structured co-financing mechanism for EU funds by 2008.

In order to strengthen the EU vision on development assistance, a whole host of actions should be pursued, e.g. the creation of a network of development research centres, the introduction of European Development Days, and a European training map regrouping all vocational training programmes for development practitioners. Finally, compendiums of EU rules for programming, EU rules for procurement, and EU rules and principles for NGOs and assistance will be established by the end of 2006 and reviewed in 2008. They will take account of any harmonisation of rules occurring in the meantime.

Related Acts

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament – Financing for Development and Aid Effectiveness – The challenges of scaling up EU aid 2006-2010 – [COM(2006) 85 final – Official Journal C 130 of 3 June 2006]

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament – Increasing the impact of EU aid : a common framework for drafting country strategy papers and joint multiannual programming – [COM(2006) 88 final – Official Journal C 130 of 3 June 2006].