Policy Coherence for Development and the CAP

In conformity with Article 178 of the EC Treaty (and Article 208 of the TFEU), the Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Council, set out on 20 December 2005 a common EU vision of development policy in the framework of the European Consensus on Development. The EU agreed to PCD commitments in twelve policy areas: trade, environment, climate change, security, agriculture, fisheries, social dimension of globalisation, employment and decent work, migration, research and innovation, information society, and transport and energy.

Two biennial reports on PCD: one in 2007 and one in 2009 , which highlighted the interactions and complementarities between development policy and the twelve other internal and external EU policies that have an impact on developing countries. In September 2009, the Commission adopted a Communication presenting a new PCD approach, which focuses on five thematic global development challenges, including global food security. The Council endorsed this new approach in November 2009. The work continues on follow up of the Council Conclusions of 17 November 2009.

The EU takes into consideration the objectives of development cooperation when implementing the Common Agricultural Policy. The CAP reform has looked into development aspects even before the implementation of PCD. Hence, the major reforms of 2003 and 2004 signified a strong contribution to reducing trade-distorting effects of EU support to agriculture and enhancing positive social and environmental effects. Adjustment support for developing countries is being put in place by the EC, for example the fruit and vegetables reform with the elimination of the distorting impacts of processing aid and export refunds.