From Purse to Policy to Practice: Six Initiatives to Future-proof EU Development Cooperation for 2014-2020 and Beyond?
With the EU budget almost agreed, it’s time to focus on the 'how' rather than the 'how much' for EU development assistance. ECDPM's Florian Krätke looks at what steps the EU has taken to future-proof its development policy and practice for 2014-2020 and beyond. Recent development of six initiatives are explored that could enhance the EU’s future cooperation efforts including differentiation of developing countries, blending development assistance and private funds, and its position on the post-2015 global development framework. He finds that the EU seems committed to improving the effectiveness of its ODA but retains a traditional 'aid logic'. Nevertheless, these initiatives allow policy-makers and practitioners to shape EU development cooperation for the future.