The EU-US dialogue on development was relaunched today in Washington. It provides a framework for cooperation between the two largest donors in the world in their efforts to tackle poverty worldwide.This initiative has been a priority for EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs (photo) and USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah in the first few months since they both took up office. With five years remaining to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the relaunch is a sign of new political will to work together in the fight against poverty.
European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, said: "Today's commitment of the two biggest donors, the EU and US, to join forces in the fight against poverty is good news for poorest countries. I'm confident that the three roadmaps agreed for joint action on Millennium Development Goals, Food Security, and Climate Change will ensure concrete progress on the ground."
Agreed joint roadmaps
At the EU-US Summit in November 2009, leaders decided to re-launch the EU-US development dialogue and cooperation process. Leaders also decided to hold annual meetings at ministerial level to advance and guide transatlantic cooperation at policy level as well as the achievement of results in the field.
After an inactive period of more than a decade, the EU-US development ministerial (High Level Consultative Group on Development) was re-launched today. It is the first political-level meeting in this format since world leaders adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The initial focus areas of this renewed dialogue are the MDGs, food security and climate change.
During the meeting, the EU and the US agreed on three roadmaps for cooperation in the next two years covering:
* Millennium Development Goals: the EU and US agreed to focus efforts on those countries most in need. They committed to work together in making aid more effective. The Commission presented the proposed 12-point EU Action Plan to support developing countries in getting back on track. The Dialogue will take forward cooperation in health, education and gender-related MDGs in view of the UN High Level meeting on MDGs due to take place in New York in September;
* Food Security: both sides agreed to work together at global level, notably in reforming the Committee on World Food Security and to ensure concrete follow up of G8 L'Aquila Summit; at regional level, in particular in Africa; and at country level. Some pilot countries will be identified in the coming months in consultation with partner countries;
* Climate Change: Following the Copenhagen Summit and in view of the Cancun Summit, both sides stressed the importance of adaptation, of reducing emissions from deforestation, and of mitigation The EU underlined the importance of ensuring the application of aid effectiveness principles to any additional funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation work in developing countries.
Finally, it was agreed that the next EU-US Development Dialogue would take place in Europe in 2011.
Other related documents
The EU Action Plan in support of the Millennium Development Goals
The EU monitors progress towards the MDGs
Source Delegation of the European Union to the United States
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