Posted by Ruth Bergan on the poverty matters blog (hosted by the guardian)
The European commission’s latest statement on development policy reveals its continued emphasis on serving corporate interests ahead of combating poverty.
The statement’s title suggests the aim is to ensure trade and investment policy help to achieve development priorities in line with the EU commitment to policy coherence for development. However, there is little in the document to support this. Instead, it suggests that trade policy should “project EU values and interests”, and even that “effective development policy is essential in helping create better conditions for trade and investment in developing countries” – development at the service of trade, rather than trade as a tool for development.
It is also a clear attempt to assuage business fears about emerging economies such as China and India by refocusing the trade and development programmes on least developed countries (LDCs).
