RED CROSS/EU OFFICE BUREAU CROIX-ROUGE/UE

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1 RED CROSS/EU OFFICE BUREAU CROIX-ROUGE/UE Brussels 19 March 2005 Consultation on the Future of EC Development Policy Comments by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Red Cross National Societies of the EU Members States on the European Union Development Policy Issue Paper The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation) and the National Red Cross Societies of the EU Member States 1 (EUNS) welcome the initiative of the European Commission to open the debate and to review the EU Development Policy in order to bring it in line with recent developments and commitments taken over the last 5 years. The International Federation s mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity. Vulnerable people are those who are at greatest risk from situations that threaten their survival, or their capacity to live with an acceptable level of social and economic security and human dignity. The comments below follow the structure of the Issue Paper and the headings of the paper have been kept. The International Federation and the EUNSs have chosen to respond to the Issue 1, 2, 4 and 11. For further clarification and more extensive input from the side of the International Federation and the EUNSs, we seek to enter into dialogue with the European Commission. Issue 1. The objective of the Community/EU development policy. The Issue Paper raises the question, if reducing and eradicating world poverty should still remain the number one goal of the development policy. The International Federation takes the position that eradicating poverty should remain the overarching objective of the EU development policy and the main vehicle to eliminate the major cause of vulnerability for individuals and communities in developing countries. As suggested in the paper, it is evident and valuable that the EU Development Policy should work in synergy with other EU external actions, but this cannot be a goal in itself. The International Federation and the EUNSs strongly support the commitments made in Monterrey on financing for development, especially the target that developed countries 1 National Red Cross Societies of Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. 1

2 should dedicate 0.7% of their gross national product as Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries. The International Federation and the EUNSs emphasise that the EU Development Policy must be in line with the UN Millennium Declaration, and its results oriented Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As further important elements for achieving success in the reduction of poverty we would like to underline the following: 1. An enabling environment is one that fosters tolerance, respect and nondiscrimination. It is difficult to envisage a successful campaign to eliminate poverty within a culture of intolerance and discrimination. More attention needs to be paid to the affirmation of shared ethical values. Development programmes should always be based on humanitarian principles and values. 2. A community-focused approach to development should enhance the role of volunteerism and reduce institutional or legislative barriers to volunteer activities. 3. An enabling environment is one where risk reduction programs are fostered. We know that natural disasters hit the least developed countries harder than other countries. That is why the focus should be on capacity building and strengthening the resilience of local communities and their individuals in those most vulnerable areas. 4. An enabling environment is one which seriously addresses public health issues and in particular, the scourge of HIV/AIDS. The enhancement and utilization of local capacities to address the special problems of stigma and treatment are essential to success in this area. Human Rights and the UN Millennium Declaration The EU development policy should have as its basic objective the implementation of Human Rights for individuals and groups in developing countries. The International Federation and the EUNSs underline the importance of the promotion of Humanitarian Values and Human Rights (HR) which guarantee to every individual a certain minimum level of living condition and freedom and leads to reduced vulnerability. Anchoring the main frame of reference for the EU s Development Policy with the UN s Millennium Declaration provides a framework, which includes areas, such as HR, commitments to core values, peace and security as well as the result-oriented MDGs. To the International Federation and the EUNSs the MDGs are seen as central and we believe that the EU is well placed to make a strong contribution to this process by incorporating it into the Development Policy. Involving and strengthening Civil Society The achievement of the MDGs will depend on the willingness of governments to design and implement programmes in consultation with people directly affected. Involving civil society, such as the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, is crucial as government and 2

3 international bodies alone will not be able to tackle the MDGs without the strong commitment and participation of local communities and volunteers. Vulnerability is best assessed and addressed in concert with people who experience vulnerability. This means that governments at all levels must work with community representatives if development programmes are to be successful in an MDG context. The International Federation and the EUNSs therefore stress the importance of broader participation both of civil society and vulnerable communities at national and local level. This empowering approach should be incorporated in all EU development cooperation activities. The principles of partnership, as stated in the Cotonou Agreement, should be extended to all relations between the EU and developing countries. Furthermore the paper considers "priority setting" and "ownership" as two main elements for the participation of local communities and national governments in development programmes. The International Federation believes that the paper should consider a conceptual and attitude shift from "donor-recipient" relation to "equal partnership" relation. Local and national institutions should be empowered and recognised as equal and participate in the assessment of vulnerability and capacities. They should be involved in the identification of needs, the planning and prioritisation process, as well as in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Issue 2: Development and Security The International Federation and the EUNSs agree that Sustainable Development requires and contributes to peace and security. However, an integrated approach to conflict prevention and crisis management with a combination of civilian and military instruments calls for clear definitions and a division of labour, which is already well developed through the UN coordination mechanisms. Without clear roles and definitions the integrated approach could give space for interpretations, which could be used for political aims if not treated with care. Furthermore, this could open the door for military costs to be included in ODA. We ask for clarification on what the EU is expecting to achieve with the appropriate instrument mix' and 'security expenditures legitimate for development. The International Federation and the EUNSs want to stress that development funds should never be used for military costs of any nature, not even for logistics support of humanitarian action and for peacekeeping missions. Issue 4: Migration and Development The Issue Paper needs to further discuss the relation between a growing global economy, development and migration. Globalisation has created new opportunities for countries and people. The willingness of states to commit to binding trade agreements and companies to establish multinational entities has increased the integration of economies. These commitments have enabled a free flow of goods and capital, but have left out the free flow 3

4 of labour. Migration has to be viewed through the growing integration between different economic markets and regions. The relation between globalisation and migration is complex and to a large extent almost symbiotic. However, much of the harmonisation sought through international cooperation is limited to restriction and management of migration; focusing on combating illegal immigration. It is important that the EU and its Member States recognise migration as a crucial part of a global economy. Brain drain is a central problem for development countries and it is a distinct example of the governments paradoxical relationship with migration and the preoccupation with reducing the compulsion to emigrate. Well-educated people from economically deprived countries are recruited to fill gaps in the labour market of the developed world. This adds to the brain drain of poor countries and damages their social sectors and deepens the socioeconomic problems in the countries of origin, making it even harder to maintain tolerable living conditions. This situation further encourages migration. A main factor explaining emigration pressures in many development countries is poverty. A further important factor is the lack of economic development in these countries which are often unable to generate sufficient jobs to keep pace with the demand for employment. It is therefore of importance that the Development Policy addresses the need to implement measures to create an appropriate economic environment which leads to the creation of new job opportunities in developing countries, especially for young people. Remittances constitute one of the principal benefits of migration for the country of origin, exceeding by a substantial margin, the total ODA. However, remittances are an unpredictable and unreliable economic source for a country and it is a weak source of national income, since it is interlinked with other countries willingness to receive migrants and remunerate services provided by them. The International Federation and the EUNSs welcome the proposal to increase support for international protection, including by assisting developing countries to better manage asylum, while rejecting proposals to give these developing countries the responsibility for asylum claims of people seeking refuge in the EU 2. Issue 11: Transition situations - Linking Relief, Rehabilitation, and Development The International Federation and the EUNSs welcome the EC proposal to continue to put focus on Linking Relief Rehabilitation and Development. We find that the following should be regarded in relation to LRRD: 1. There is a need to review the term and to broaden its scope to include Risk Reduction. Risk Reduction is a development issue that involves reducing the vulnerabilities of households and communities in disaster prone areas and improving their ability to cope with the effects of disasters before and after it 2 European Union Development Policy Issue Paper. Issue 4. Migration and Development, (5), page 7. 4

5 has occurred. Approaches to Risk Reduction should address both underlying sources of vulnerability; notably by addressing poverty and poverty-related issues that render people vulnerable, as well as issues, such as climate change, which increases the occurrence and frequency of extreme weather and are an extra stress factor (hazard). Early warning is an important aspect of Risk Reduction, but only if the local communities at risk have sufficient coping mechanisms to face disasters. The International Federation and the EUNSs stress the need for Risk Reduction measures to be included in the development strategy. 2. A balance between Disaster Prevention, Risk Reduction and Disaster Response should be considered as important parts of development policies at national and international levels. The reality of development programmes in developing countries and LDCs shows that these countries, due to weak economies and the growing impact of disasters have not been and will not be able to allocate enough resources and investment to achieve complete disaster prevention and risk reduction. Therefore, within the development policy a concept of "balance between prevention, risk reduction and response" is essential, so that the preparedness and response capacity both on national and international levels can be achieved. Climate change and extreme weather conditions. The increase of global temperatures and the risk of extreme weather conditions combined with unsustainable practices like deforestation and unsustainable land use have made many communities more vulnerable to disasters. Poverty increases vulnerability and people affected by these events are often plunged into further poverty. It is therefore crucial to strengthen community resilience and preparedness in enabling communities to help themselves to reduce risks and withstand disasters. Addressing environmental risks is an essential strategy, which contributes directly to the reduction of poverty and should therefore be treated as an immediate pressing issue both inside and outside the EU. This opinion has been prepared by the Red Cross/European Union Office, which represents the National Red Cross Societies of the EU Member States and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to the EU Institutions. For any further information and clarification please contact Mr. Luc Henskens, Director RC/EU Office, Rue Belliard 65, bte 7, 1040 Brussels. Tel.: +32 (0) Luc.Henskens@redcross-eu.net. 5