Former Energy Commissioner Piebalgs expected to bring more ‘power’ to EU Development policy
Following today’s hearing at the European Parliament of Commissioner designate on Development Andris Piebalgs, S&D Spokesperson Thjis Berman said:
“Development policy and human rights protection in the EU are essential priorities for the S&D Group. The EU must undertake its responsibility in helping people from developing countries to reach education and protect their health. Yet, fighting poverty is not enough. We need to help developing countries to reach a sustainable development for them and for all."
“Candidate commissioner Piebalgs is an experienced EU policy maker who as already successfully served in the last Commission while in charge of the Energy portfolio.
We expect him to bring some more power to the EU development policy, too.
He has vowed to call on European Governments failing to stick to their financial commitments in favour of developing countries. He has also been proving to understand that development is not a separate policy area in itself. Indeed, of his biggest tasks will be ensure policy coherence in the Commission and that development objectives are not undermined by other policy decisions”.
Much to the relief of the S&D MEPs Piebalgs confirmed he would not accept a revision of the Cotonou agreement where sexual rights would be taken out of the text.
“This means he will defend rights of women and of minorities, and we will remind him of this as often as necessary”, commented Berman MEP.
The S&D Group strongly believes that over the next five years the new EU Commissioner on Development will be expected to lay out in partnership with the European Parliament and civil society concrete proposals to accelerate actions towards meeting the MDGs, to ensure that poverty reduction remains a primary purpose of EU aids, and to promote sustainable development and human rights in the world in close cooperation with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
News from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament
