Newsletter – n°27 – October 2014
Headlines
Commissioner Mimica: “Yes! More civil society organisation and more local authorities are to be engaged into our own programmes…”In his hearing as International Cooperation and Development Commissioner-designate, Mr Mimica encouraged the contribution of local and regional governments (LRGs) in European development programmes and highlighted their importance in the management of sustainable urbanisation.
Answering a question raised by MEP Joachim Zeller, Mr. Mimica addressed the urban dimension of the European development policy and emphasized how, in Europe, cities and regions are who successfully deal with urbanisation-related issues. He underlined the need to transfer this know-how and local experiences to partner countries.
He also stressed that dealing directly with LRGs in partner countries represented a strategic opportunity and advocated to not only bring them into the debate but also to work with them.
A tough road ahead
The Commissioner, who took office on November 1st, has a tough road ahead and will have to jump straight away into the post-2015 development framework negotiations, making the voice of the European Commission count, in a process largely dominated by Member States.
Asked by the MEPs to spell out the top priorities of his mandate, the then Commissioner-designate pledged for an ambitious post-2015 development framework and highlighted the need to finance and implement development that is inclusive and sustainable.
Lastly, recalling that the Cotonou agreement is coming to an end in 2020, Mr. Mimica stressed that the future partnership with the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states “will have to adapt to new realities” and committed to launch a consultation and broad dialogue with the main stakeholders in the coming years.
The Croatian Commissioner is well acquainted with international negotiations; indeed as chief negotiator for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, he was at the heart of Croatia’s efforts to join the EU. Designated Deputy Prime Minister and responsible for Foreign Affairs and European policy in 2011, he ultimately became Croatia’s first European Commissioner in 2013, when he entered Commission Barroso II, in which he was assigned the Consumer protection portfolio.
