The next Brussels Development Briefing n.41 on the subject of “Improving nutrition through accountability, ownership and partnerships” will be held in Brussels on 20th May 2015 at 09.00-13.00 (followed by lunch from 13.00) at the ACP Secretariat (451 Avenue Georges Henri, 1200 Bruxelles, Room C). Key speakers include the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, the European Commission, succesfull African cases, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and more to be confirmed shortly. Online registration required : http://brusselsbriefings.net/

European Parliament

27- 30 April: Plenary session, Strasbourg

ACP Secrétariat

28 April: Expo Milan 2015, Nutrition and Sustainable Development

The CTA Brussels News Service is providing EU-ACP policy news since 2004, on various key thematic areas. In addition to this news service, we also provide news on ACP intra-regional trade, and south-south cooperation (investments of emerging countries' in agriculture in the ACP regions). The main stories for the week are featured in our newsletter and all stories can be found in our Regional Trade and the South-South cooperation sections.

According to a leaked internal document of the European Commission (EC), EU member states shall be allowed to import genetically modified (GM) food imports for both human and animal consumption. This model correlates with the recent GM cultivation rules, which is also an à la carte system. Environmentalists are not happy with this outcome, as in their opinion, GM crops will propagate and circulate freely within the EU market regardless of each member states preference. Currently, 48 GM crops are imported, but this figure is expected to increase with the adoption of the new legal framework on GM crops.

On Thursday 16th April, the European Commission’s External Cooperation Infopoint presented The Development of Aid : Historical development of aid practices. In his presentation, Gerard van Bilzen spoke about the origins of DG DEVCO whose roots are in the Treaty of Rome. Development of aid was possible true following a French proposal, supported by Belgium, in order to address the situation in colonies. Despite German and Dutch opposition, an agreement could be reached and thus, the European Fund for Development (the first fund for development) created.