#GlobalGoals: New EU Development Consensus must avoid politicizing use of overseas aid to promote European interests says World Vision

The international aid agency World Vision has responded to a recent public consultation on a new European Consensus on Development by calling on the European Commission to avoid politicizing the future use of overseas aid in order to further European interests abroad. 

The EU Consensus on Development is adopted jointly by the three main EU institutions - Commission, Parliament and Council - and identifies shared values, goals, principles and commitments which the Commission and EU Member States implement in their development policies.

World Vision’s Brussels Office Executive Director Justin Byworth said:” The EU and its member states must not intentionally use overseas aid in the future for the purpose of promoting EU interests, whether in the areas of migration management, security or foreign policy. EU development cooperation must focus solely on the eradication of poverty, inequality, injustice and promotion of human rights. This must not be compromised or diluted for the sake of other political objectives.”

In its formal submission the child-focused development and humanitarian agency insists that the new EU Consensus on Development must reflect three core commitments if the universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which succeed the Millennium Development Goals are to be reached by 2030 – firstly that development aid should be used purely for development purposes, secondly that a principle of “leaving no one behind” should inform all development policy and practice and thirdly that there should be a greater openness to involving  new development partners.

“Children must also be kept at the heart of the EU’s development vision for the next 15 years,” added Byworth. “Children and young people make up a majority of the populations of many developing countries. They will have to live with the outcomes of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and therefore must be fully involved.”

World Vision’s submission also calls for a combined effort from many different development actors and from donors such as the EU and its member states in order to fully implement the SDGs.

“There must be openness to non-traditional actors such as the private sector in development activities in the future,” added Byworth. “Businesses will be key contributors to the achievement of the SDGs. The EU and its member states can foster their participation by promoting and supporting cross-sector partnerships involving governments, businesses, civil society and other actors.”

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