How can Europe ensure that its aid does not damage developing nations’ interests?

Q&A: Lasting development

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15382402/I001-0024-EN.srt

In Africa, South- South cooperation  between African countries and China,

India and Brazil  has increased a lot recently.

The development agenda of Europe  based on the promotion of human rights,

good governance, corruption  and environmental issues

is not exactly a core feature of  China’s development agenda.

How can Europe survive  in this new playing field?

The Congolese government have been  complaining that it takes us three years

to go from talking about matters  to starting to do something about them.

These African nations  are not going to wait three years

if other people are going to do things  quickly, finish the job in six months.

China does straightforward deals  with these African countries

in return for long term contracts for  minerals and natural resources.

We have noted that  certain EU policies,

like the farm policy and especially  the provisions for export subsidies

have negative effects on developing  countries and their people.

I would like to ask MEPs how they intend  to ensure better policy coherence

so that developing countries' interests  and poverty eradication always prevail.

There are many opinions.  Some want to abolish export subsidies.

Others propose - as in the case of  the dairy sector in 1992

when our agricultural system  and industry faced crisis -

the reintroduction of  temporary export subsidies.

There are many opinions in the EP,  but the prevailing trend is to cut grants.

When we decide  which choices take priority,

for example if we decide to finance  infrastructure like harbours or airports

or to prioritise social security systems,

we must decide if we want to take into  account the long-term consequences

or if our response is limited to  emergency measures.

A project is chosen for financial support  if we think that it is useful

and helps to reach  the Millennium Development Goals.

So each project is evaluated  according to that.

We always look at  what is helpful for countries.

So you might say that infrastructure  like streets and hospitals is important,

while elsewhere a social security system  is more important.

is fundamental to bringing people  out of poverty even in a crisis.

My question to parliamentarians  refers to

what those of us on the ground feel  as Europe's absence when crisis hits.

What can MEPs do to support  better coordination among NGOs?

It's not about sending people  simply because they want to help.

Operations must be  well structured and coordinated.

which relates to  the humanitarian and health aspects.

But in Haiti for example,  we need builders, foremen, etc.

That's also part of the civil protection  service that we want to set up.