Diakonia ia an active member of the CONCORD network. We often work closely togehter with CONCORD and its member organisations. In the narrative "EU responsibilities for a just and sustainable world" we have studied how the EU can fight poverty in a more efficent way than today:

Fighting inequality and discrimination

• The eradication of poverty is the main objective of EU development cooperation and policies. These are more than noble ambitions; the Lisbon Treaty provisions on development are binding and enforceable.

Policy Coherence for Development

• All European policies should be coherent with development objectives, especialy trade, energy, environment, migration, agriculture, fisheries and foreign policy. The President of the European Commission should be responsible and accountable to ensure Policy Coherence for Development.

Pro-poor growth

• Economic growth alone does not reduce poverty and inequality. Pro-poor growth is based on decent job creation, functioning health services, universal access to education, a productive agriculture, and good governance. If inclusive growth is to be a foundation of EU Development policy then it must address how to make it inclusive rather than how to generate growth.

Resources

• EU Member States need to adopt binding national legislation or action plans setting out
  how they will meet their promises to allocate 0.7 % GNP to ODA by 2015. Other resources must be
  delivered immediately such as financial transaction taxes or fast-start finance. An impact-driven versus disbursement-driven aid approach is needed as well.

Food Security and Agriculture:

• It is essential that the future Common Agricultural Policy regime promotes European food security and sustainable farming in a globally responsible manner and does not violate the right to food of the world’s poorest. The growing global demand for food does not legitimise subsidising European exports.

Gender and Human Rights

• All Development policy and programmes must begin from a Human Right Based Approach. Only by securing women’s rights can the MDGs be met. All governments should respect, promote and fulfil these rights and empower poor communities to lead their own development efforts.

Transparency and Accountability

• These are two conditions for aid-effectiveness. Citizens, parliaments and populations have the right to know and to engage on decisions that impact on their lives.

Political dialogue

• Global challenges and real cooperation can not be addressed without a genuine political dialogue on equal terms. Today, governance structures and agreements do not allow all actors to come to the table as equal partners.

Support from citizens

• Any development process will only be sustainable and people driven with the strong support and engagement of local communities and citizens. Development education and awareness raising are key to achieve this ambition.

Download the report EU responsibilities for a just and sustainable world

 

For more information: