V CONCLUSION
65. European development assistance could make a
major contribution to the elimination of poverty; the current
reforms are an effort to realise this potential. Overall, we welcome
the reforms, and look forward to seeing their impact on the ground.
In respect of the management of European development assistance,
we are persuaded that the reforms are on track. As regards the
allocation of resources, we are concerned that there remains too
much of a focus on the "near-abroad", at the expense
of developing countries. Our key conclusions are that:
- The new procedures for the programming and implementation
of European development assistance - the Country Strategy Papers,
the Inter-service Quality Support Group, deconcentration to Delegations,
and efforts to improve evaluation and to reduce payment delays—are
extremely welcome and, whilst delays are still unacceptable, these
reforms seem to be broadly on track;
- The EC's ability to staff its Delegations adequately
and appropriately is crucial to the success of the reform programme
and must be addressed as a matter of urgency;
- The current allocation of roles and responsibilities
amongst DG Development, DG External Relations and EuropeAid is
confusing. Maintaining a strong institutional focus for development,
a single Directorate General and a single Commissioner should
have responsibility for development as regards both ACP and non-ACP
countries;
- The EC must work to maximise coherence between
its development policy and policies in other issue areas. In particular
the issue of agricultural export subsidies must be addressed if
the coming round of WTO trade negotiations is really to be a "development
round";
- The EC's development assistance and specifically
its ODA remains insufficiently focussed on low income countries
and the elimination of poverty; clear targets must be set to improve
the poverty focus of EC development assistance.
66. After too many years of disappointment and frustration
with the inefficiencies of European development assistance, we
have been pleased to see some progress. We hope that this predominantly
Brussels-based progress is translated quickly into on the ground
improvements in development practice. We remain concerned however
that too much EC development assistance is spent on the "near
abroad". Clare Short outlined to us her nightmare scenario;
a future in which the EC is an efficient channel for the disbursement
of aid—including an increasing share of UK aid—to
the EU's middle income neighbours.[132]
If we are to avoid this outcome, progress must now be made with
improving the poverty focus of European development assistance.
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