EU member states on the road towards more policy coherence for development

PCD still remains a somewhat distant and unclear target in the EU. However, certain progress has undoubtedly been made over the last two decades since the Maastricht Treaty called on the European Union to improve the coherence of European policies for development.  

Critical to the evolving path of PCD in EU foreign policy were commitments to international agendas on aid effectiveness and to the principle of ‘do no harm‘. The pressure and awareness role played by many Non-Governmental Organisations and research institutions also played an important role to advance PCD in the EU.

Much more is now known about the impact in developing countries of different policy areas (e.g. trade, security, environment, migration, agriculture or fisheries, among others). Many Member States have made explicit policy commitments to PCD in their national strategies, nevertheless, many of those responsible for policy-making and implementation in the EU still struggle with the clarity and reach of the concept of PCD.

The publication released by Glopolis’ partner organisation Instituto Marquęs de Valle Flôr presents the efforts being made by some EU Member States on the field of PCD. It is also a good reminder of how much progress is yet to be accomplished if policy coherence is to become an effective target in the decision-making and implementation of European development policies. The publication can be downloaded here