Three Briefing Notes have been issued reflecting the main topics that has been raised in the WECA roundtable discussions. The Briefing Notes aim to raise awareness and inspire further analysis on the topics of Budget Support, Division of Labour, and the Lisbon Treaty and development.
These publications are also available in French
Budget Support
This Briefing Note aims to contribute to clarifying the main issues raised in our workshops around the potential benefits and risks of budget support as implemented by the EC. Budget support is increasingly used by donors to channel their development aid. The EC is leading this trend and further ahead that most other donors, in line with the European Consensus on Development and the Paris Declaration. Internally, the European Union has agreed to reach 50% of EU ODA through budget support by 2010. In part as a result of this commitment, the EC will use budget support under the 10th EDF. Significant European donors are also intensifying the use of budget support in their bilateral development aid. It is important to note however, that various forms of budget support still accounts for a relatively low proportion of global aid, and it is highly unlikely that European donors will reach their stated target of 50 % of their ODA through budget support. Read more
Division of Labour
Today’s development cooperation shows an ever expanding and diversifying picture of development donors and approaches, a situation that some describe as being out of control. The average developing country today has to deal with 30 donors, compared to only 12 in the 1960s. For governments of developing countries, managing these aid relationships is challenging and diverts time, energy and resources away from their core activities. For example, Vietnam alone received 791 missions in 2005, more than 3 per working day. About 2400 reports need to be submitted annually to donors by the Tanzanian government. Such figures illustrate how uncoordinated development cooperation negatively affects the effectiveness and ultimate impact in terms of economic development and poverty reduction, which is sought by all involved partners. Read more
The Lisbon Treaty and development
The Lisbon Treaty marks the latest phase of the gradual transformation of the European Union (EU) from a rather inward looking community to one with ambitions to be a global player. It is reflected in a significant expansion of the overall aims of the EU, including the eradication of global poverty. The Lisbon Treaty represents the EU shifting the emphasis from peace, well-being and prosperity within the EU to a concern with addressing global challenges.
The Lisbon Treaty was signed in December 2007. If ratified this year, it will bring about most of the changes proposed by the Constitution in 2004 to further European integration. Many new areas will be communitarised, co-decision will be the standard legislative procedure and as such qualified majority voting will be extended to more than 40 areas. As a consequence, the Treaty extends the role of the European Parliament. The Treaty has some provisions allowing for various speeds of integration and differentiated integration and institutional set-up adequate to progressive enlargement and increasing diversity of interests. Read more
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