News
Commissioner Piebalgs at the launch of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Observatory on Migration
28/10/2010
On Thursday evening Commissioner Piebalgs participated in the closing session of the launch of the ACP Observatory. The Commissioner said: «South-South migration flows tend to receive less attention than South-North movements. Yet, the number of people migrating from a Southern country to another is extremely important and has impact on development. The ACP Observatory on migration will help us to have a clearer view on these migratory flows and to shape adequate policies.»
The Commission supports the electoral process in the Central African Republic
25/10/2010
On 25 October, the Commission granted € 9.5 million to support the electoral process in the Central African Republic. Commissioner Piebalgs commented: «The support of the EU to the electoral process will allow this country to honour its commitments to democratic consolidation. Presidential and legislative elections which are well prepared, free and credible constitute an essential condition for the peace building process in the Central African Republic.»
Fight against illegal timber exports: the EU and the Democratic Republic of Congo launch negotiations
21/10/2010
Today, Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, José Bononge Endundo -Minister for Environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation Charles Michel, on behalf of the EU Belgian Presidency, signed a declaration to launch the negotiations for a voluntary partnership agreement on the export of legal timber to the EU, named Forest Law Enforcement, Government and Trade agreement (FLEGT). This is the first step in the negotiation process, which is expected to be finalised by mid-2013. The objective of this agreement is to ensure that wood products from the DRC will carry a license showing that they contain timber and wood products from a legal origin.
The Commission launches a consultation on the future of EU budget support to third countries.
19/10/2010
Today the European Commission launched a public consultation on the future of EU budget support to developing countries. Budget support entails the transfer of aid directly to the budget of partner countries in order to allow the financing of key government functions. The broad consultation among all interested stakeholders seeks to draw lessons from more than a decade of providing budget support. It invites views and evidence on both the opportunities of this tool for the future and on challenges remaining to improve its quality, value for money and impact. With five years to go on the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals, the Commission wants to ensure that EU development assistance reaches its full potential in our partner countries.
Commissioner Piebalgs delivers a keynote address at the CONCORD conference "The Millennium Development Goals after the UN Summit: Moving Forward or Backwards?"
15/10/2010
Today Commissioner Piebalgs delivers a keynote address at the CONCORD conference in Brussels, which aims to analyse the outcome of the MDG Summit in New York and discuss the way forward with experts, civil society representatives and EU officials. During the event the participants discuss the following topics: MDGs and financing for development, MDGs and food security, MDGs and decent work, MDGs challenged by climate change.
The Commissioner Piebalgs visits Slovenia to promote development policy and participate in the 2nd Slovenian Development Days
15/10/2010
Today, 15 October, Commissioner Piebalgs is in Slovenia to promote development policy and address the audience of the 2nd edition of the Slovenian Development Days in Ljubljana.
Commissioner Piebalgs to attend the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
08/10/2010
On 8 and 9 October, European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs is in Washington to attend the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) where he will deliver a speech to the Development Committee, the World Bank's and IMF's ministerial forum on development issues. On 8th October, he will be a key note speaker at the German Marshall Fund to discuss "how to make Development Sustainable in time of austerity".
Europeans are waiting for the Millennium Development Goals
07/10/2010
Commissioner Piebalgs met with the representatives of the coalition of NGOs, unions, movements and solidarity groups, called 11.11.11. The coalition presented the message from the European citizens who are waiting for the world leaders to act (see the movie) and hand in the video to the Commissioner.
The EU and Cameroon team up to ensure legal origin of imported wood products
06/10/2010
Commissioner Piebalgs said: «This Agreement is a major step forward in our fight against illegal logging and will contribute to economic development and poverty alleviation in Cameroon. The Agreement at the same time responds to the ever stronger expectations in Europe for verified legality of timber products. It will benefit the European consumers because they can be sure that when they buy wood from Cameroon, it is from a legal origin.»
Commissioner Piebalgs proposes 10% increase in funding to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GATFM)
05/10/2010
Commissioner Piebalgs said: «Two weeks ago during the UN MDG Summit the world committed to turn Millennium Development «Goals» into «Realities». Today, we can turn our commitments into actions. Creating more and inclusive growth in developing countries to reach the MDGs can simply not be achieved without a healthy population. The EU will continue to support the Global Fund in fight against these deadly diseases.»
