EU News
GAERC approves EU Africa Strategy and DPS
22 November 2005
The General Affairs and External Relations Committee of the European Council has approved a Joint EU Development Policy Statement (DPS) and the new EU Strategy for Africa.
Part I of the DPS conclusions describe the EU's vision for development and affirms the importance of SRHR and the ICPD Cairo agenda as important in its own right as well as for achieving the MDGs. Part II of the DPS clarifies the roles of the European Commission, EU Member States and partner countries, and again affirms the importance of SRHR and the Cairo agenda. Weblink.
Conclusions on the Africa Strategy specified overall coherence with the MDGs and address Peace and Security, Human Rights, Governance, Trade and Financing of Development Assistance. It addresses the need to strengthen health systems, and calls for supporting countries to enhance sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Further details.
European Parliament Committee on Economics and Monetary Affairs Meeting
29 November 2005
The Committee on Economics and Monetary Affairs this week held a special hearing “Strategic Review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)” in the European Parliament. The meeting addressed the need for the IMF to move away from a “one size fits all” approach and put different scenarios in place for each country. It also criticized the lack of civil society input in IMF projects and called for increased transparency and participation.
“Rethinking Institutional Effectiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa”
23 November 2005
The Centre, a Brussels think tank, last week hosted a discussion round table with key representative from the European Commission and civil society entitled “Rethinking Institutional Effectiveness in Sub- Saharan Africa”. The meeting welcomed the EU Development Consensus and stated that the declaration presents the Union with a comprehensive framework for action. This was further stressed by the fact that the consensus covers the bilateral political action of Member States and EU institutions.
“Improving the Effectiveness of National AIDS Programs”
18 November 2005
The Directorate General for Development and the World Bank held a joint seminar on “Improving the effectiveness of national AIDS programs: Findings from an evaluation of the World Bank's HIV/AIDS assistance” in Brussels. The findings concluded that through anticipating political obstacles, increased strategic awareness and strengthening institutions the AIDS epidemic can be tackled more effectively.
European Parliament Committee on Budgetary Control Meeting
22 November 2005
The European Parliament Committee on Budgetary Control in their monthly meeting addressed the European Court of Auditors (ECA) “Special Report 2005 on The Commission's Management of Public Finance Risk in ACP Countries Receiving EDF Budget Aid”. The meeting concluded that their was an overall satisfaction with the ECA's report and that budget support in the future would continue to grow and is currently being received by 30 out of the 79 ACP states.
Irritation Spreads over UK Stance on Budget Talks
22 November 2005
At the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 21 November 2005, EU foreign ministers blamed the UK Presidency for its lack of action taken with regard to the Unions financial perspectives for 2007-2013. Weblink.
Unsure Future for EU Development Co-operation
14 November 2005
With the EU still unable to reach a budget deal on its financial perspective for 2007-2013, fears are quickly spreading that this will have serious implications for future development co-operation. Read article.
UNIFEM & EU Host Gender Equality Conference
14 November 2005
Gender experts recently gathered in Brussels for an international conference to look at how changing development policies affect efforts to support equality and women's rights. The conference entitled “Owning Development: Promoting Gender Equality in New Modalities and Partnerships” was jointly hosted by the United Nations Fund for Women (Unifem) and the European Commission (EC). It emphasized that Gender equality and women's empowerment are key to achieving all of the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
Gender Equality In Europe
21 – 22 November 2005 Committee of Regions, Brussels
The European Network of Women Resources Centers (WRC) held its final conference on gender equality in Europe. The conference also officially launched the WRC network and internet platform.
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