Monthly Highlights from ECDPM's Weekly Compass Update, GREAT Insights, Volume 1, Issue 10 (December 2012)

How to achieve policy goals despite corruption. Weekly Compass, Issue 130, 30 November 2012
A new book from the World Bank looks at why corruption and a lack of good governance emerge and persist in many countries and which effect it has on achieving reform goals. The book provides the political economy tools necessary to understand and integrate the analysis of how political and social factors influence the success of policy goals. The publication also provides practical advice on how to organize and use these tools based on stakeholder mapping, which helps decide what reforms and projects are feasible given the circumstances.

EEAS: scepticism dissipates, but no full endorsement. Weekly Compass, Issue 129, 23 November 2012
There is general recognition that collective European foreign policy is preferable to individual member states “going it alone”, especially in their relations with major powers, according to a new study by the Centre for European Policy Studies. The paper, which includes articles from 9 EU Member States shows, however that many still question the capacity of the EEAS to act effectively, diplomatically, and strategically, when required to do so. It cites a French observation: “the bureaucratic machinery obviates ambition and the development of strategic policies; and the right expertise is sometimes lacking.”

Aid cuts on EU leaders’ agenda next week. Weekly Compass, Issue 128, 16 November 2012
A leaked document reveals that European Council President Van Rompuy this week proposed huge cuts to EU development aid. Analysis by the advocacy group ONE shows an 11 percent decrease to the European Development Fund and a 9 percent cut to the external spending section of the budget. Both reductions are higher than those in all other areas of EU spending. Eloise Todd, Brussels Director of ONE said “Next week, [EU] leaders [attending the summit on the future EU budget] must be prepared to stand up and fight for these life-saving funds.” According to Laura Mayer on ECDPM’s Talking Points blog, cuts will also have implications for the current process of programming EU development instruments and differentiating levels and types of aid to partner countries.

This article was published in Great Insights Volume 1, Issue 10 (December 2012)