Focus Development Dialogue on Poverty Alleviation

Investments in priority sectors like agriculture and health would be futile without a profound, honest and open political and policy dialogue with governments and communities benefiting from EU cooperation. It is important to foresee that, on the EU side, the core of political/policy interaction with developing countries like Rwanda or Malawi is about "poverty alleviation" and the root causes of poverty are regarded as being inequality, discrimination, exclusion and vulnerability in the partner country. All sectoral policy should take place within this framework. EU representatives claim the fact that there is ample room for the EU to respect Southern partner nations' ownership of global development issues while maintaining their own convictions and values regarding these issues. By providing the opportunity for the EU to work with the least developed countries and developing new policies that can reinstate a sustainable view on prosperity for both partners, there is consensus on the need for North-South cooperation.

Development is a process that requires long-term strategies and sustained implementation. The determined pursuit of these programs and strategies will make a difference in reducing poverty and inequality, strengthening the development cooperation's profile ahead of the negotiations for the next multi-annual financial framework for 2015.

Whatever shape future financing instruments might take, the Lisbon Treaty's commitment to poverty eradication makes a continued commitment to the efficient and coordinated use of ODA (Official Development Assistance)imperative. The EU can and should seize the opportunity of these budget negotiations taking place until January 2011 to push for a more involved approach to international development - an approach that truly focuses on countries and populations where needs are the greatest and on activities that guarantee that EU policies can make a positive change.

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