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This weblog shares information on key ACP-EU programmes and events
from Brussels relevant to agriculture and rural development in ACP countries.
Date : [DATE]
CTA Brussels Newsletter
Main events in the week
- Brussels Briefing on ACP nutrition security: the key role for agriculture
- Main ACP-EU events for the week from 13/06 to 17/06/2011
- Our video guest: Andris Piebalgs, EU Development Commissioner
- Commission announces an extra €10 million to provide vaccines
- Development cooperation: EU and US join forces on global health
- More south-south cooperation in developmental aid
- Cameroon: EU-funded FCFA 6.4 billion development programme launched
- Helping EU industries to speed up carbon efficiency
- 2014-2020 budget freeze not possible unless agreed policies are slashed
- EU/AU Commissions Discuss Climate, Biodiversity and Rio+20
- Europe's biggest bank courts Samoa
- Action plans set out the future of UK aid
- Farmers to receive compensation for the E. coli outbreak
- EU trade pact brings both setbacks and opportunities
- EU helps Pacific countries develop global role
- Developing countries pledge bigger climate emission cuts than rich ones
- Dutch ministry to scrutinise development organisations more closely
- AFD pledges nearly €459m in new support for development
- EU aid policy to target fewer states and good governance
- G8 and Africa: Shared values, shared responsibilities
- Fishery policy reform at centre of European Fish Week
- MEPs to vote on "beyond GDP initiative"
- EU Common Asylum System to be completed by 2012
- Germany to be non-nuclear by 2022
- Biofuels boom in Africa as British firms lead rush on land for plantations
- Brussels Briefing on ACP nutrition security: the key role for agriculture
2011-06-10
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Environment, Food Security, Archive
Hereby, we cordially invite you to a Brussels Development Policy Briefing on the topic of Nutrition security in ACP countries, to be held on 15th June 2011 from 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Borschette Conference Centre in Brussels (Rue Froissart 36). Given that malnutrition is either directly or indirectly responsible for approximately half of all deaths worldwide, the Briefing will discuss the key challenges and opportunities for achieving nutrition security, especially in the context of ACP countries, and the policies and actions to improve the linkages between agriculture and nutrition in future. It is organised by the Technical Centre on Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the European Commission (DG DEVCO), the ACP Secretariat and CONCORD. Among the speakers, we are pleased to receive Dr Jose Graziano da Silva, Assistant Director General of the FAO and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Boitshepo Giyose, Senior Food and Nutrition Security Advisor at NEPAD and others. To download the programme of the event and to register, please visit http://brusselsbriefings.net. If you are unable to join us, you can view follow discussions in a live webstream at this address: http://bit.ly/jNkd20 (or http://bit.ly/l2lrP8 if you are viewing from inside the European Commission). Participate by sending us your questions by email to brussels.briefings[AT]cta.int or by Twitter to @CTABrussels and we will bring them into the debate.
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Dr José Graziano da Silva
IFPRI
- Main ACP-EU events for the week from 13/06 to 17/06/2011
2011-06-10
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Environment, Archive, Regional Fisheries, Food Security
CTA
-15 June: Brussels Briefing “Nutrition security in ACP countries”
European Parliament
-14-16 June: Committee Meetings in the European Parliament (Strasbourg)
Council of Ministers
-16 June: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council
-17 June: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
European Commission
-7 June: Weekly meeting of the college
You can also read our newspaper “CTA Brussels Daily” (fed by our Twitter account), follow our new Facebook group CTABrussels and our Twitter account CTABrussels to receive up-to-date information on EU-ACP events.
CTA Brussels Briefing
European Parliament
Council of Ministers
- Our video guest: Andris Piebalgs, EU Development Commissioner
2011-06-10
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Archive, Food Security
At the Food for everyone-Conference organized by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs gave an interview to CTA. He talked about the Commission's efforts in global food security and explained why development cooperation targets smallholder farmers in particular.
Watch the video
Andris Piebalgs's blog
EESC: Food for everyone
- Commission announces an extra €10 million to provide vaccines
2011-06-10
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Archive
New funding to help immunize millions of people against preventable diseases will be pledged on Monday, 13 June, by EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs. During the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI) Conference in London, the Commissioner will announce the pledge towards the US$ 3.7 billion (or €2.6 billion) total which GAVI has said it needs to vaccinate nearly 250 million children over the next five years. This is expected to save almost 4 million lives. This new funding will add to the more than half a billion Euro that the Commission spends on health in developing countries every year. Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said: "It is shameful that in the 21st century, nearly 2 million children die each year from diseases which could be prevented by a simple vaccine. That's why I am pleased to announce our new commitment. We are also determined to support national health systems in the developing countries – this is the only way to create sustainable conditions for treating patients all over the world." The European Commission has already pledged 20 million euros for GAVI between 2011 and 2013. This builds on its previous commitment of €220 million to support immunization programmes; €53.4 million of which was spent through the alliance. The additional money pledged will go towards vaccines for the two biggest childhood killers; pneumonia and diarrhoea, as well as for areas where vaccines are new or currently underused such as rubella, typhoid and meningitis. On 5th April, Commissioner Piebalgs also met with Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to discuss how the Commission could work with the Gates Foundation to increase access to vaccines for some of the world's poorest people.
Source: European Commission
Read more
Further information
GAVI
- Development cooperation: EU and US join forces on global health
2011-06-10
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Environment, Food Security, Archive
On Monday, 13 June, European Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and USAID Administrator Dr Rajiv Shah will meet in London as part of the EU-US Development Dialogue which has been resumed last year. The EU and the US, the world's two largest aid donors will intensify their cooperation on global health, climate change, food security and aid effectiveness. Responsible for a total of 90 percent of official development assistance in the area of health, they are expected to agree on setting up a task force of health experts to explore options of future joint work within the framework of the EU's policy on Global Health and the US Global Health Initiative. Ahead of the meeting, Commissioner Piebalgs said: "The EU and the US represent 80% of global aid. Our cooperation on strategic areas can make a real difference. The EU-US Development Dialogue is an excellent forum for debate and cooperation in development aid and we need to use it to its full potential. Our work on health is particularly pertinent. Maternal and infant health are still among the most off-track Millennium Development Goals, which reflects the weakness of many health systems and their need for support ". At their meeting, Commissioner Piebalgs and USAID Administrator Shah will also discuss the EU-US work plan on aid effectiveness and how it can contribute at the outcome of the 4th High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan which will take in November 2011. EU-US will focus on transparency, accountability and the division of labour which are preconditions for a stronger impact and legitimacy of development aid. They two parties will further review the progress made in the enhanced cooperation on food security and climate change, which envisages joint work in a number of pilot partner countries. Finally, EU and US partners will have an exchange of views on how to advance their dialogue and cooperation on security and development issues.
Source: European Commission
Read more
EU Delegation to the US
CTA video interview with Commissioner Piebalgs
- More south-south cooperation in developmental aid
2011-06-10
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development
At a high-level conference in the European Parliament, south-south cooperation was promoted as a more efficient alternative to north-south bilateral aid which has been used in the past. In south-south cooperation, organizations from developing countries work together with funding from the developed world to solve the problems that their countries face. It is seen as more efficient because both parties have experience with problems in the developing world.
Source: New Europe
Read more
European Parliament
MEP Thijs Berman
- Cameroon: EU-funded FCFA 6.4 billion development programme launched
2011-06-10
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, Archive
The Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development Minister, Louis Paul Motaze and the European Union Head of Delegation, Raul Mateus Paula on Monday May 30 in Mbengwi, Momo Division of the North West Region launched the FCFA 6.4 billion North West Development Programme that aims at strengthening socio-economic infrastructure, providing long lasting support to the economy and improving capacities and incomes. Based on a May 6, 2010 agreement between the two sides, the programme is expected to provide solutions to major problems such as poor access to basic services, low incomes, financing of income-generation micro-projects, construction of rural roads and schools, improvement of potable water schemes and public health facilities, etc. Funded by the European Union and intended to last four years, the programme covers 15 North West communities in the Momo, Donga Mantung and Menchum Divisions and Akwaya Subdivision of the South West Region.
Source: AllAfrica/Cameroun tribune
Read more
EU Delegation to Cameroun
An electricity project in Cameroun
- Helping EU industries to speed up carbon efficiency
2011-06-09
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
Energy-intensive manufacturing industries are facing significant additional costs for their green house gas (GHG) emissions with the entry into force of the revised EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) as of 1 January 2013. To help GHG intensive installations to cut ETS costs by reducing emissions the European Commission has launched a call for proposals in the context of the new Sustainable Industry Low Carbon initiative. It consists of a set of sector-specific industrial projects aiming to find innovation measures to reduce the carbon-intensity industries. Each project will be carried out by a consortium of industrial stakeholders. The EU will provide co-financing up to 75% in form of grant agreements. European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship said: “We need to tackle the problem of Climate Change, but we cannot renounce on industrial production in Europe. Therefore, our initiative intends to help industry to adapt and modernise becoming more energy efficient and competitive on the global markets and to keep employment in the EU.”
Source: European Commission
Read more
See the tender
France urges EU rapid action in air carbon row
- 2014-2020 budget freeze not possible unless agreed policies are slashed
2011-06-09
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Environment, Archive, Regional Fisheries, Food Security
The European Parliament has issued a challenge to the Member States who want to freeze the EU's next long-term budget covering the period 2014-2020. These countries should spell out which priorities they would drop as a consequence of the freeze, say MEPs. If all the objectives and policies agreed for the EU are to be completed, a minimum increase of 5% is needed compared to the 2013 budget, says Parliament. "We have to put an end to this bad habit of entering into a political commitment without having enough funding to back this... Reducing the EU budget is not a viable option for those of us who believe in a competitive Europe" said Salvador Garriga Polledo (EPP, ES), the MEP responsible for the report on the seven-year budget, known as the multiannual financial framework (MFF) or financial perspective. "The MFF needs to reflect the EU 2020 strategy and other agreed policies. When we are asking for increases, it is not because we are inventing things. We just want a realistic and implementable budget", added Jutta Haug (S&D, DE), chair of Parliament's Special Committee on Policy Challenges, which had worked for a year to produce the report. The resolution embodying the committee's conclusions was adopted on Wednesday by 468 votes to 134, with 54 abstentions.
Source: European Parliament
Read more
Further information
Resolution text
- EU/AU Commissions Discuss Climate, Biodiversity and Rio+20
2011-06-09
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Environment
The fifth College-to-College meeting of the European Commission and the African Union (AU) Commission was held on 31 May-1 June 2011, in Brussels, Belgium, to develop shared policy agendas. During the meeting, participants discussed ways to enhance cooperation both on short-term challenges and on the long-term structural changes, such as green growth, climate change and biodiversity. In the joint declaration adopted at the conclusion of the meeting, the representatives remain firmly committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a matter of priority, emphasizing the promotion of inclusive and sustainable growth and generalized access to energy. They consider the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20), with its focus on green economy and link to poverty reduction, as a unique opportunity for the world to advance it commitments to sustainable development and address current environmental and social challenges. On climate change, they welcome the results of the Cancun Climate Conference as a balanced package, stressing the need to continue negotiations to fully operationalize the Cancun Agreements focusing on the implementation of the adaptation framework, namely the establishment of the Adaptation Committee and further progress on the work programme on loss and damage. They welcome progress on the Green Development Fund, and, noting that African States account for most of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreements with the EU, commit to maximize the synergies between FLEGT and strategies for REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, as well as conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks). On biodiversity, they recognize that biodiversity loss is one of the major challenges of the 21st century for both the African continent and the EU, and agree to strengthen cooperation to ensure that healthy ecosystems and biodiversity continue to provide essential goods and services. They also commit to continue joint efforts in the fields of agriculture, food safety and food security and acknowledge their potential for promoting economic growth and sustainable development. They support: establishing international guidelines on access to land and other natural resources; continuing and scaling up EU support to African Farmers Organizations; and building on the process to establish an African organic farming platform.
Source: European Commission
Read more
African Union
Analysis of EU-AU cooperation
- Europe's biggest bank courts Samoa
2011-06-09
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness
When New Zealand journalist John Campbell broke his tsunami story internationally, many commentators theorised that overseas donors and financiers would stonewall Samoa. Those commentators’ theories were thrown in the rubbish as Vice President for the European Investment Bank (EIB) came to Apia essentially with an open and blank cheque book. Plutarchos Sakellaris confirmed to a media conference that EIB will continue a bigger and better partnership with the Development Bank of Samoa (DBS) and will discuss with government, “projects on infrastructure, ports, airports, renewable energy generation and other telecommunications needs” to increase economic growth. At the same time, they are looking at ways to increase their lateral engagement in Samoa’s economy. What form that takes was to be determined in a meeting with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi late yesterday.
Source: Samoa Observer
Read more
EIB
EU Relations with Samoa
- Action plans set out the future of UK aid
2011-06-09
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Aid effectiveness
The British Government set out in detail how it will change the lives of millions of poor people around the world. The full release of the operational plans – available to download here – map out the results UK aid will achieve over the next four years in every country DFID works in.
The set of plans show exactly how Britain's aid programmes will deliver results and measure progress up to 2015, including:
- In Ethiopia, providing basic healthcare for 7.5 million people
- In Pakistan, getting more than 4 million more children into school
- In Democratic Republic of Congo, protecting 15 million people from malaria
- In Uganda, getting access to contraception for 1.35 million more women
- In Zambia, supporting more than 3 million people to vote in the next elections
- In Sierra Leone, ensuring 1 million people get access to drinking water
The plans follow a series of comprehensive aid reviews undertaken earlier this year to make sure Britain’s aid budget is as focused and effective as possible.
Source: DFID
Read more
Download the reports
DFID
- Farmers to receive compensation for the E. coli outbreak
2011-06-08
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Food Security, Archive
The EU will pay an aid amounting to at least 150 million euro to farmers who suffered losses due to the E. coli outbreak. This was proposed by the Commission at the Agriculture Council’s extraordinary meeting, on 7 June 2011 in Luxembourg. The European Commission’s proposal was presented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Cioloş.In the press conference after the extraordinary meeting, Mr Cioloş said in detail that under Article 191 (emergency measures) of the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007, on the Single Common Market Organisation, compensation will be paid out by means of a Commission Regulation, for the losses having occurred between the end of May and the end of June.The proposal of Mr Cioloş mentioned 150 million euro, which is estimated to cover 30 percent of the actual damages.At the same time, many Member States have urged for 100 percent compensation.To this end, Mr Cioloş has promised a rapid revision of the text and to increase the amount of compensation.
Source: Hungarian Presidency
Read more
Killer cucumber, a European panic attack
EP: lessons to be learnt for the future
- EU trade pact brings both setbacks and opportunities
2011-06-08
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Regional Fisheries
In his first address to the board of governors of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Warren Smith, the new president of the region's premier lending financial institution, warned of insecurities engulfing Caribbean economies. He told the governors meeting here last week that the situation has been worsened by structural weaknesses and extreme vulnerability linked to Caribbean countries' small size, openness, narrowness of the production base and proneness to potentially devastating natural disasters. "The economic structure has been further undermined and industry competitiveness challenged by volatile oil prices since the 1970s and the deeper integration of Caribbean economies into the international financial and economic systems through globalisation," he said.
Source: ipsnews.net
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Caribbean Development Bank
EIB projects in ACP countries
- EU helps Pacific countries develop global role
2011-06-08
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade
The European Union (EU) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) have inked a Contribution Agreement for a project aiming to boost Pacific African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) countries’ ability to benefit from global trade and regional economic integration. The project, Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT), is funded by the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) and falls under the EUR 30 million EU programme, Strengthening Economic Integration Through Trade (SPEITT). SPC will be the implementing agency for IACT. IACT will start mid-year. It is a four-year project that will be implemented by SPC through its Land Resources and Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Divisions. Ritva Sallmén, Chargée d'Affaires of the Delegation of the EU for the Pacific, noted that Pacific ACP countries are hindered by challenges that limit their ability to participate and profit from the global economic market despite the potential of, for example, their aquaculture sectors. “The IACT project will work with the private sector and government agencies to address these and other constraints to trade, thereby contributing to the goal of greater economic integration in the Pacific region,” she stated.
Source: SPC
Read more
EU trade with PNG in trouble
SPC
- Developing countries pledge bigger climate emission cuts than rich ones
2011-06-08
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
A new study for Oxfam reveals that developing countries are pledging to cut their emissions of greenhouse gasses by more than developed countries. Oxfam estimates that over 60 per cent of emissions cuts by 2020 are likely to be made by developing countries. From Monday delegates from 195 countries are gathering in Bonn, Germany to resume negotiations on a global deal to tackle climate change. At last December’s climate conference in Cancun, countries recorded their pledges to cut emissions of greenhouse gases, but making comparisons between them has proved difficult because every country calculates and records their pledges in different ways. The new analysis by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), commissioned as part of Oxfam's new global GROW campaign, compares four of the most widely respected studies of these pledges. All the studies show that developing countries have pledged to make bigger cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions than industrialised countries, compared to a business as usual scenario.
Source: Oxfam
Read more
UNFCCC
Read the report
- Dutch ministry to scrutinise development organisations more closely
2011-06-08
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Aid effectiveness
“Society and politics justifiably demand that we know exactly how development agencies spend aid money. This requires clear rules on evaluation and accountability. But strict rules can also lead to unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy. Therefore, the right balance between less red tape and good accountability is always necessary.” Ben Knapen, Dutch state secretary for development, said this in response to a survey conducted by Actal to control pressure inside the MSF II grant program. “It is important to reduce red tape in development. This report makes a contribution. I therefore welcome the report and I will examine it closely,” said Knapp. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will soon send a detailed response to Actal. In order to reduce the regulatory burden, Knapp recently gave the administrative department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the task to critically examine development organisations’ work. MSF II is a framework that grants 1.885 billion euros to cover a period of 5 years.
Source: Dutch Foreign Ministry
Read more [NL]
Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry
Read the report [NL]
- AFD pledges nearly €459m in new support for development
2011-06-07
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Aid effectiveness, ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Archive
AFD’s Board of Directors approved funding totaling nearly €459m for 10 projects to support development at its meeting on 26 May 2011. Kenya is to receive €70m in funding (two €35m loans) for its national programs to upgrade informal neighborhoods in urban municipalities and support municipalities. Senegal will benefit from €23.5m in funding (€22.5m loan and €1m grant) and two grants for trade capacity building (€725,000 to the Republic of Senegal and €280,000 to the Saint Louis Tourist Office) to develop tourism in Saint-Louis and its region, as well as €60.6m in funding (€60m loan and €600,000 grant) to help rehabilitate the country’s power sector. Tanzania is to receive a €40m loan to improve access to drinking water and sanitation in the cities of Bukoba and Musoma.
Source: AFD/CTA
Read more
AFD
French foreign ministry
- EU aid policy to target fewer states and good governance
2011-06-07
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Aid effectiveness
EU aid should no longer be granted automatically but on account of “country needs, capacities, resources and commitments”, says a draft of the new European Commission strategy paper, a copy of which has been seen by the EUobserver. In it, the Commission wants to give a higher importance to democracy and human rights than before. “Democratisation, enhancing the role of parliaments, civil society participation, [and] scrutiny of public action […] should all be placed at the heart of the cooperation strategies with third countries,” says the paper. In some cases, the paper warns, aid to emerging economies like South Africa will be scaled back or stopped. In April, the Commission decided to allocate 70.7 € million less to development projects in 2012 after a thorough assessment of their performance.
Read more
Commission: DEVCO
EP: Need to focus more on human rights
- G8 and Africa: Shared values, shared responsibilities
2011-06-07
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Environment, Archive, Food Security
The Group of 8 (G8) and Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and the African Union (AU) Commission have adopted a joint declaration on “Shared Values, Shared Responsibilities,” addressing sustainable development, energy access, investment and agriculture. The leaders met in Deauville, France, from 26-27 May 2011, where they highlighted the importance of an enhanced partnership between the G8 and Africa. In the resulting joint declaration, the G8 and Africa: express determination to further promote together shared values, notably peace and human rights, democratic governance and sustainable development; and endorse their respective and shared responsibilities in this regard, in a spirit of mutual accountability. In the section on Economic Development and Environment, the G8 and Africa express concern at limited access to energy, particularly electricity and cooking fuels, as a key bottleneck for economic development and poverty reduction in Africa, emphasizing the need to ensure access to sustainable energy services, with a particular focus on renewable energy sources. The G8 express willingness to continue to support projects for access to energy, both decentralized and centralized, especially those with a regional dimension and a sustainable development perspective, as well as cross-border trade and capacity-building initiatives on energy. Leaders note that the Action Plan of the AU and New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) constitute appropriate frameworks to mobilize foreign direct investment, and they stress the need for institutional and regulatory reforms to attract increased investment, particularly from the private sector. Noting that agriculture in Africa can serve as an important driver of broad-based sustainable economic growth and development, and that sustainable increases in agricultural productivity and production offer ample opportunities to attract private-sector investment and leverage private sources of capital, create jobs, raise income of farmers and stimulate inclusive growth in rural Africa, the leaders commit to improving food security in Africa by enhancing cooperation among the G8 and Africa through the L'Aquila Food Security Initiative and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.
Source: French G8 Presidency
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French G20-G8 Presidency
NEPAD
- Fishery policy reform at centre of European Fish Week
2011-06-07
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Regional Fisheries
During the second annual European Fish Week (June 4th - 12th 2011), more than 40 events throughout Europe and one in Africa engage the public in calling for an effective reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This collective action coincides with World Oceans Day on June 8 and the anticipated publication of the European Commission's proposal for a reformed CFP in mid-July. Most EU fish stocks are now overfished, many of them below safe biological limits. It was not always like this. In the recent past, stocks were healthier and fishing communities were wealthier, with more fish, boats, fishers and communities dependent on fisheries in Europe.
Source: ocean2012.eu
Read more
Damanaki: No increase in fuel aid
Commission: DG Fisheries
- MEPs to vote on "beyond GDP initiative"
2011-06-07
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, Aid effectiveness
Gross domestic product has been used as a measure of macro-economic activity since the 1930s and is often used as an indicator for development in general, but for some GDP has clear limitations - for example, it doesn't measure the environmental and social aspects of progress. The "Beyond GDP initiative" aims to develop indicators that are as clear as GDP but include other measurements of progress. Danish Conservative Anna Rosbach has drafted a report on the initiative, which will be voted in plenary Tuesday. She told gave an interview to the European Parliament web editors.
Source: European Parliament
Read more
Read the draft report
Lamy: “trade in value-added” as trade measurement
- EU Common Asylum System to be completed by 2012
2011-06-06
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Archive
The Commission pursues the completion of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) by 2012. The modified proposals on the Reception Conditions and the Asylum Procedures Directives will ensure faster, fairer and more efficient rules to the benefit of Member States and people seeking international protection. They take account of the lessons learnt from several years of negotiations in the Council of Ministers and in the European Parliament, as well as from consultations with refugee associations and the UNHCR. Negotiations must now move ahead on the remaining elements of the 'asylum legislative package'. "The consolidation of a genuine common immigration and asylum policy is one of my top priorities. Today the level of treatment and guarantees for asylum seekers varies widely across the EU, and the chances of obtaining protection are radically different depending on which Member State examines the asylum request. This must change. We need efficient and fair asylum procedures and adequate and comparable reception conditions for asylum seekers throughout the EU. At the same time, the standards we agree at the European level should be simple, clear, and cost-efficient. The EU must stand up for its values and provide protection for those coming here to seek refuge from persecution and conflict - that is why we must respect our commitment to establish a Common European Asylum System by 2012. Today's proposals offer high level standards for people genuinely in need of protection, and will help to reduce unnecessary burdens on national authorities. They will also contribute to building more trust between the Member States", said Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs.
Source: European Commission
Read more
More information
ACP-EU: Stronger cooperation on migration!
- Germany to be non-nuclear by 2022
2011-06-06
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
Germany will shut all its nuclear reactors by 2022, parties in Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government agreed on 30 May, in a reaction to Japan's Fukushima disaster that marks a drastic policy reversal. As expected, the coalition wants to keep the eight oldest of Germany's 17 nuclear reactors permanently shut. Seven were closed temporarily in March, just after the earthquake and tsunami hit Fukushima. One has been off the grid for years.
Source: Euractiv
Read more
Commission: Nuclear energy
France to continue producing nuclear power
- Biofuels boom in Africa as British firms lead rush on land for plantations
2011-06-06
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Environment, Food Security
British firms have acquired more land in Africa for controversial biofuel plantations than companies from any other country, a Guardian investigation has revealed. Half of the 3.2m hectares (ha) of biofuel land identified – in countries from Mozambique to Senegal – is linked to 11 British companies, more than any other country.
Source: Guardian
Read more
EU biofuels strategy
Growing pressure to change EU biofuel policy
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