OPINION:Lisbon puts the fight against poverty at the heart of EU aid, but this must be given substance by development policies, writes JUSTIN KILCULLEN.
AS A bloc, the European Union has huge potential to be a positive influence in the developing world, giving the lion's share of world aid, amounting to a mammoth €46.1 billion last year. This figure is also due to rise dramatically with agreement among the member states that by 2015 overall aid should increase to 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income for the 15 old states and 0.33 per cent for new ones.
The Lisbon Treaty takes a step forward on EU development co-operation by making poverty reduction unequivocally the "primary objective" of European aid, thus putting aid alongside and not subservient to other economic and foreign policy objectives. The treaty also confirms the important principle of coherence - that the EU must not let other areas such as trade policy, farm policy or security undermine development.
These provisions provide a positive basis on which to continue expanding and implementing the EU's programme of development co-operation. But a lot will depend on how seriously they are taken in the roll-out of the treaty. We have seen from recent controversy over the EU's trade agreements with African states that development is not always protected when other EU interests are at stake. And, on trade, the treaty expands the powers of the EU while doing little to strengthen the democratic oversight of the European Parliament.
Recent OECD figures show that many EU member states are faltering on meeting their aid targets. And the EU must come good on making sure its aid reaches those in need. This means making EU aid money more accessible to civil society in developing countries, simplifying procedures and, above all, making sure EU aid responds to priorities identified by developing countries themselves rather than those imposed by Europe or the World Bank.
Therefore, even if Lisbon is ratified, we will still need to keep reminding politicians at home and abroad of what they have committed to in terms of development.
Central to the ability of the EU to strengthen its development policy will be the new post of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, which is created under the treaty. This person will co-ordinate all areas of external policy, including common foreign and security policy, trade, development and humanitarian action.
They are charged with bringing consistency to all these aspects of policy and will have one foot in the European Commission as vice-president and another in the council as chair of the foreign affairs council. While this new post should bring greater synergy between development and the other areas of external relations, there is a danger it will reduce the political space for development and its autonomy from other aspects of external policy.
It is therefore important that the development sector retain a strong independent voice within the European Union. Two issues are critical to this and should be supported by Ireland in the working out of the new treaty. First, under the treaty the number of commissioners is to be reduced from 27 to 18 from 2014. Therefore, in this reduced commission, it is vital that the development portfolio retain a commissioner so that issues of world poverty are not overcome by other priorities.
Second, a strong political voice for development must also be guaranteed in the EU's Council of Ministers by establishing a forum separate from the foreign affairs council in which development ministers can meet to discuss and prioritise development issues.
The world of development aid is changing rapidly with new players entering the sector. The arrival in particular of China has challenged the status quo as it changes the dynamic, particularly around the principles of a rights-based approach and the poverty focus. The US continues to lag behind the EU in terms of its commitment to the UN targets and the millennium development goals. It is therefore vital that the EU show global leadership in the battle against poverty.
There is an opportunity for Ireland to show leadership. Our commitment to human rights and the fight against poverty gives us credibility in these debates.
Ireland should be a strong advocate for a poverty-focused development policy within the EU. Indeed, when the European Commission portfolios are next reshuffled in 2009, Ireland could consider seeking the position of Commissioner for Development.
There are many aspects of the treaty that will influence the Irish people's decision on Lisbon. If the eradication of world poverty is one which will help people to make up their minds, they can rest assured the treaty provides ample reinforcement to the legal foundation for EU development policy. It also puts in place vital improvements to decision-making in the EU which should help the enlarged and enlarging union to be more effective.
Whether or not Lisbon is passed, sustained efforts will be warranted to ensure the hand of development is strong in the EU.
Justin Kilcullen is director of Trócaire