Policy Coherence for Development (PCD)

The EU concept of Policy Coherence for Development, enshrined in the Treaty (Art. 178) and reinforced by the European Consensus on Development, identifies priority areas where the challenge of attaining synergies with development policy objectives is considered particularly relevant. All these areas have a direct relationship with one or more MDGs.

These priorities are listed below:

• Trade: The EU is strongly committed to ensuring a development-friendly and sustainable outcome of the Doha Development Agenda and EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The EU will further improve its Generalised System of Preferences, with a view to effectively enhancing developing countries’ exports to the EU. The EU will continue to work towards integrating trade into development strategies and will assist developing countries in carrying out domestic reforms where necessary.

• Environment: The EU will lead global efforts to curb unsustainable consumption and production patterns. The EU will assist developing countries in implementing the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), and will work to ensure that the capacities of developing countries are taken into account during MEA negotiations. The EU will continue to promote pro-poor environment-related initiatives and policies.

• Security: The EU will treat security and development as complementary agendas, with the common aim of creating a secure environment and of breaking the vicious circle of poverty, war, environmental degradation and failing economic, social and political structures. The EU will enhance its policies in support of good and effective governance and the prevention of state fragility and conflict, including by strengthening its response to difficult partnerships/failing states. The EU will strengthen the control of its arms exports, with the aim of avoiding that EU-manufactured weaponry be used against civilian populations or aggravate existing tensions or conflicts in developing countries. The EU will promote cooperation in fighting corruption, organised crime and terrorism.

• Agriculture: The EU will continue its efforts to minimise the level of trade distortion related to its support measures to the agricultural sector, and to facilitate developing countries’ agricultural development.

• Fisheries: The EC will continue to pay particular attention to the development objectives of the countries with which the Union will engage into bilateral fisheries agreements. Within the context of the new EC policy on fisheries partnership agreements with third countries which is being implemented since 2003, the EC will continue to encourage the conclusion of fisheries agreements in order to contribute towards rational and sustainable exploitation of the surplus of coastal States’ marine resources to the mutual benefit of both parties.

• Social dimension of globalisation, employment and decent work: The EU will contribute to strengthening the Social Dimension of Globalisation with a view to ensure maximum benefits for all, both men and women. The EU will promote employment and decent work for all as a global goal.

• Migration: The EU will promote the synergies between migration and development, to make migration a positive factor for development.

• Research and innovation: The EU will promote the integration of development objectives, where appropriate, into its RTD and Innovation policies, and will continue to assist developing countries in enhancing their domestic capacities in this area.

• Information society: The EU will address the digital divide by exploiting the potential of Information and Communication Technologies as a development tool and as a significant resource for attaining the MDGs.

• Transport: The EU will address the special needs of both land-locked and coastal developing countries by promoting the intermodality issues for achieving network interconnectivity as well as security and safety issues

In 2007 the EC issued the first “EU Report on Policy Coherence for Development”. The report reviews progress made in strengthening coherence between twelve policies that affect developing countries and EU development policy objectives, highlighting outstanding issues. The Report shows indeed that policies other than development cooperation have a strong impact on developing countries.



Sources and useful links:

• EC Policy Coherence for Development
• EC Report on Policy Coherence for Development
• EU Coherence