Newsletter – n°28 – November 2014

Headlines

The European Parliament has approved a resolution on “the EU and the global development framework after 2015” in which members of parliament recall the importance of focusing on the eradication of poverty and the defence of Human Rights.

As well as these two priorities, the resolution, approved in the plenary session on November 25, puts emphasis on the establishment of a truly participatory process for the elaboration and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – likewise supported by Davor Ivo Stier (EPP), the rapporteur for the DEVE Commission, inter alia during his intervention at the Mediterranean cooperation days.

After intense debate in the Committee, the Parliament ultimately recognised the essential role of local and regional governments (LRGs) in development planning and the role played by decentralised cooperation in the pursuit of the SDGs: to this end, Charles Goerens (ALDE) and Louis Michel (ALDE) introduced an amendment calling for the recognition and strengthening of decentralised public aid.

Through the adoption of this resolution, the European Parliament is contribution to the post-2015 development framework debate, already fuelled by a previous report, as well as the European Commission Communications “A Decent Life for All” (February 2013 and June 2014) and the Council Conclusion of June 2013.

Since the European Commission first issued the Communication in February 2013, in which local and regional governments were entirely omitted, local and regional representatives and their associations have embarked on a collective effort which, in turn, has significantly advanced this position in favour of LRGs.

The next step in the process leading up to the creation of a strong common position of the European institutions will be the adoption of the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions (the rapporteur of which is Hans Janssen, spokesperson of PLATFORMA), and the discussion of the Council on the means of implementation of the framework, due to take place this coming December.

The position adopted by the European Union, the world’s biggest aid donor, and the priorities, key stakeholders and means of implementation that are promoted by the EU could heavily influence UN negotiations, and are hence eagerly awaited.