Europe Development News

Liberian President: EU Companies Should Be More Active In Africa

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia has emphasised the need for economic growth to stimulate development in Africa during a meeting with the Dutch Labour Party, Donortracker reports. Johnson Sirleaf criticised European donors for not investing enough to improve economic relations with Africa, and encouraged European companies to play more of an active role in Africa.

Credit: Flickr user DFID

Budget Hawks Circle EU Development Aid

Negotiations on the EU's next seven year budget have started ahead of next week's summit, and EU insiders are expecting a deal to include cuts of up to €200 billion, ECDPM reports. Development spending is expected to be badly effected, given the 7.3% reduction proposed under the 'Global Europe' section of the 'Negotiation Box' which EC discussions will be based around. Development funding falls under this section, which faces proportionally the biggest cut of all with a proposed reduction from €70 billion to €65 billion.

Credit: Flickr user aranjuez1404

UK Launches New Aid Transparency Tool

UK Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening, launched the Department for International Development's (DfID) new Open Aid Information Platform at the Open Up! conference in London this week, Devex reports. This platform will provide detailed information on specific DfID projects in developing countries as well as activities by DfID partners, such as multilateral development banks and private sector contractors. See the Open Up! conference information, blogs and agenda.

Credit: Flickr user DFID

From Curse To Purse: Making Extractive Resources Work For Development

ECDPM have recently published a new discussion paper that looks at extractive industries in Africa, against the background of recent mineral discoveries and good economic prospects in the last decade. The Paper further zooms in on the various challenges that still plague a number of African resource-rich countries, highlighting the importance of rents and politics. It sets out some foundational elements that could have the potential to make or brake development outcomes. 

Domestic Resource Mobilisation In Developing Countries

Eurodad's Jesse Griffiths explains how successful developing countries have become in mobilising their own private sector resources, despite the global economic crisis. In some graphs made from the World Bank's online database, Griffiths shows Gross Capital Formation as a share of GDP across low, lower middle and upper middle income countries. Take a look.

Europe Development News

France For Fairer African-Multilateral Contracts

During a recent parliamentary debate at the French National Assembly, France's Development Minister Pascal Canfin indicated that France will be the first to financially support equitable contracts between African countries and multilaterals, L'expansion reports. 'Strengthening the legal capacity of African states to better negotiate their contracts, especially in the field of exploitation of raw materials, is both a necessity for local development and a means of ensuring a legitimate presence of foreign firms on African soil', Canfin said. He confirmed that French finance support to these initiatives, in partnership with the World Bank, will reach €15 million.

Credit: MAE

Germany Launches New Institute For Development Evaluation

The German Development Minister, Dirk Niebel, and Secretary of State at the Development Ministry (BMZ), Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz, have inaugurated the German Institute for Development Evaluation, 'Deval'. Termed 'the cornerstone of reform' by Dirk Niebel, the new institute will provide independent evaluations of the performance of German development cooperation efforts. Deval is based in Bonn and directed by Professor Helmut Asche.

European Parliament On Policy Coherence For Development

The European Parliament has voted through a resolution calling for better alignment of all EU policies to development objectives, Eurodad reports. The resolution was passed with 561 votes in favour, 47 against and 51 abstentions. Key themes of the resolution are sustainable procurement and tax and development, although some had hoped for a more ambitious call for country-by-country reporting.

UK To Cut £280m Annual Aid To India

The head of the UK's Department for International Development, Justine Greening, has confirmed plans to cut British aid to India in light of the country's rapid development, the Guardian reports. Following recent discussions between Greening and Indian officials at the World Bank regarding the UK's current annual contribution of £280m to India, future cooperation between the two countries is to focus on trade. The decision comes after confusion regarding whether the aid was needed or indeed wanted, with Indian finance minister Pranab Mukherjee calling the sum 'peanuts'.

CGD in Europe Update

Migration And Disaster-Induced Displacement: European Policy, Practice And Perspective.

In a recent Center for Global Development Working Paper, Michael Cooper surveys the current state of law relating to people displaced by natural disaster within the 27 EU member states, plus Norway and Switzerland. Its findings show that a few express provisions are in place in Europe and that judicial and executive authorities may interpret other, more ambiguous, provisions to encompass the protection needs of disaster-displaced individuals. Few, if any, of these provisions have been engaged for this purpose but a number of recent European developments with respect to disaster-induced displacement merit further scrutiny.

Europe Development News

EU-Africa Relations: What's In Store For 2013?

The next two years will be crucial in defining the direction of EU-Africa relations. As both sides prepare for the next summit between leaders of the two continents in early 2014, the inter-continental relationship is under scrutiny. In this year's 'Challenges Paper' ECDPM is focusing on the summit's preparatory work, influences and future impact. See more on the plans for the paper in the Talking Points blog. Let ECDPM know your thoughts using the hashtag #africaeuchallenges.

Credit: ec.europa.eu

Hivos Director Calls For Post Of Minister For International Development

Manuela Monteiro, the Director of the Dutch development organisation Hivos, has urged the parties in the current coalition negotiations (VVD and PvDA) to establish the post for a Minister for International Development, Donor Tracker reports. Monteiro stressed Hivos' position that development cooperation should focus on food security, poverty and land degredation and climate change. The last Dutch Minister for Development was Maxime Verhagen, who left office in October 2010 when the position was abolished.

Undocumented Migrants Obtain Right To Education In Sweden

After a long battle by the Swedish Red Cross, new legislation in Sweden has guaranteed undocumented children the right to go to school as of July 1 2013, The Local reports. All children will be entitled to pre-school, primary and secondary education, and will have access to special needs assistance and school transport. The bill also cancels schools' obligations to provide information to police that visit schools to enforce expulsion orders..

Development Impacts Of EU Financial Transaction Tax Unclear

The recent EU Commission proposal to implement a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT), supported by 10 countries, has been met with mixed reactions. A study by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) estimates that the FTT could raise €37 billion a year. Oxfam France has argued that the tax should be largely allocated to development and climate change, and its allocation should be higher than the current 3.7% to reduce financial speculation. The UK Treasury remains firmly opposed to the tax, as the BBC reports.

CGD in Europe Update

Cash Transfers and Technology

The Center for Global Development in Europe is pleased to host a lunchtime meeting at the IFG on Friday 2nd Nov on cash transfers and social safety nets in developing countries, and the way that new technology can support their implementation. Speakers will be BWPI Research Director Armando Barrientos and CGD Senior Fellow Alan Gelb. Barrientos will discuss his work on social protection and cash transfers and Gelb will discuss the practical issues, including the application of biometric identification technology to development. IPPR's Sarah Mulley will chair the discussion.

Event contact: Anna Scott.

Europe Development News

'Friends Of Development' Needed To Save Aid Levels In EU Budget Talks

Development cooperation spending may be reduced in the current negotiations of the next EU budget, ECDPM reports. As the negotiations move to the concluding phase, development cooperation lacks a support group similar to the  'Friends of Cohesion' or 'Friends of Better Spending'. November will be a decisive month, as the Multiannual Financial Framework talks begin to focus on concrete allocation proposals for the first time. A Talking Points article presents four possible financial scenarios and analyses their implications for development cooperation.

Former Liberal Politician Opens New Debate On Dutch Development Policy

Farah Karimi, The Director of Oxfam Novib, and Thijs Berman, European Parliament member of the Dutch Labour Party contradicted former Liberal Party politician Frits Bolkenstein (pictured), who recently argued that Dutch development aid has not contributed to the current economic growth in Africa, Volkskrant reports. Karimi argues that economic growth in Africa is stimulated by education and health care, both of which being sectors on which Dutch development cooperation has focused for many years. Berman emphasised that cynical policies of donor countries and multinational companies, rather than development assistance, have hindered economic development in the past.

Credit: OMFIF

Italian Civil Society Demands End To Libyan Immigration Agreement

As part of Amnesty International’s European migration campaign "When you don’t exist", calling on European states to put human rights at the centre of their migration policies, a delegation of Amnesty International Italia have presented 28,474 signatures to the Ministry of Interior demanding they end an agreement signed in April with Libya on immigration control, La Republica reports. The agreement marked continued bilateral cooperation, despite the 'on-going rights violations against migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Libya', according to Giusy D'Alconzo of Amnesty International.

CSOs Urge Nordic Governments To End Tax Haven Investments

In an open letter to the development ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, several Nordic civil society organizations (CSOs) including Forum Syd, Africa Groups of Sweden, Action Aid and CONCORD Sweden, Norwegian Church Aid and Save the Children Norway have called for an end to tax haven investments and for increased transparency of Nordic Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).

CGD in Europe Update

The Politics And Economics Of Britain's Foreign Aid: The Pergau Dam Affair

The Center for Global Development in Europe and the Institute for Government are pleased to host a meeting this evening on the controversial Pergau Dam Affair. The Permanent Secretary of the Overseas Development Administration at the time Sir Tim Lankester will be speaking about his recently published book on the subject and the various developmental, political and legal issues involved. Sir Simon Jenkins, the columnist who covered the affair will discuss its political impact in the UK and CGD's Owen Barder will discuss the implications for development and governance.

We will be live-tweeting throughout the evening using the #Pergau hashtag.

Europe Development News

EU Approves New Tariff Scheme For Developing Countries

The Council of the European Union has adopted a regulation amending the EU's scheme of generalised tariff preferences (GSP) for developing countries, following an agreement with the European Parliament. The changes fall into five main areas: country coverage; preference margins and product coverage; product graduation; "GSP+" and special safeguards. The new preferences are due to apply as of 1 January 2014.

Credit: Carl Montgomery

European Development Days, 2012

The European Development Days saw thousands of development advocates, decision-makers and practitioners in Brussels. The three main themes this year were food security, private sector development and inclusive growth. EU Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, announced the results of a survey indicating broad European support for development aid, despite the economic crisis, which he used to defend aid spending.

Human Trafficking To UK From Developing Countries Rising

A report published by the UK Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on human trafficking has found that 946 potential victims of human trafficking were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) last year, the Guardian reports. This is 236 more than in 2010. The report said that organised criminal gangs in countries including China, Nigeria, Vietnam, Slovakia and Romania now pose the greatest threat to the UK, where they exploit their victims for sex, labour and domestic slavery.

11 Eurozone States To Go Ahead With Financial Transaction Tax

Eleven Eurozone countries agreed this week to press ahead with a tax on financial transactions, Euractiv reports. There is little agreement on how the money should be spent, but the UN hopes to receive $71 billion a year for international development. The initiative, pushed hard by Germany and France but strongly opposed by Britain and Sweden, gained momentum at a European Union Finance ministers' meeting in Luxembourg, when more than the required nine states agreed to use a treaty provision to launch the tax.

Germany Pledges €272m For Development Projects In Vietnam

The German Secretary of State at the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz, travelled to Vietnam this week to sign an agreement on continued cooperation. The deal included a pledge of €272 million in German financial assistance. The funding will be channelled to seven joint projects in the areas of education, environmental protection and energy efficiency.

Europe Development News

Nigeria Oil Spill: Dutch Case Against Shell Begins

Representatives of Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell are appearing in a Dutch civil court to face accusations of polluting Nigerian villages, the BBC reports. The case is being brought by four Nigerian farmers and the Dutch branch of Friends of the Earth. The farmers say that spills from the oil firm's pipelines have destroyed their livelihoods by damaging crops and fish-farms. Shell officials maintain the spills in question were caused by sabotage. If successful, the case could pave the way for thousands of other compensation claims. The judges' ruling is expected within six weeks to three months.

Credit: Flickr user Sosialistisk Ungdom - SU

IMF's Lagarde Highlights EUs Impact On Developing Countries

Christine Lagarde, Director of the International Monetary Fund, has said that the economic crisis is spreading in the emerging nations and that more EU actions are needed to reverse the global economic downturn, NewEurope reports. Along with urgent actions in the Eurozone, pertaining to financial sector reform, medium-term policies, job creation and global imbalances, Lagarde called for a faster establishment of the European Banking Supervision system and "hopefully a European banking Union."

New EU Approaches To Democratic Transition And Resilience

The European Commission’s recent Communication “EU Support for Sustainable Change in Transition Societies” outlines how the European Union should mobilise its instruments to help countries in transition achieve accountable government and economic inclusiveness, ECDPM reports. Fragile states and situations of conflict are, however, not specifically addressed.

In response to the African food crisis, the EC has also proposed a new approach to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations to adapt, and to quickly recover from stresses and shocks. The EC’s Communication "The EU Approach to Resilience: Learning from Food Security Crises" outlines ten steps to increase resilience – including support to build partner countries’ capacity for prevention and preparedness and coordination with other stakeholders.

European Union Wins Nobel Peace Prize

The European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for six decades of work in advancing peace for Europe, the BBC reports. The decision was apparently a unanimous one by the 5-member Nobel panel, but a major surprise to pundits and the European Commission itself. The committee said that the EU had helped transform Europe "from a continent of war to a continent of peace."

CGD in Europe Update

The Economics Of Enough

In the latest episode of Development Drums, Owen interviews author and economist Diane Coyle on her latest book, ‘The Economics Of Enough, How To Run The Economy As If The Future Matters.'

Listen to the podcast here, subscribe to Development Drums for free on iTunes, and find out about future episodes and pose suggested questions for future guests on the Development Drums Facebook page.

Development Impact Bonds

Last week, the Development Impact Bonds Working Group met for the second time to discuss the idea of applying the social impact bond model to development. The group is considering the kinds of development challenges to which a DIB is best suited and specific sectors for implementing a pilot. See an overview of the meeting in this presentation.

Europe Development News

Publish What You Fund Launches 2012 Aid Transparency Index

The global campaign for aid transparency, Publish What You Fund, has launched its 2012 index, assessing 72 multilateral and bilateral agencies, private foundations and climate and development finance institutions across 43 indicators related to aid transparency. The index shows that nearly half of all organisations received 'poor' or 'very poor' ratings, although average transparency score improved by 7% compared to 2011. Read the report summary here.

UK, Norway and Sweden Join Contraception Partnership

The governments of the UK, Norway and Sweden have joined the US and several funder groups in a partnership that will increase access to contraceptives for 27 million women and girls in some of the world's poorest countries. The partnership is expected to avert more than 280,000 babies dying and 30,000 maternal deaths. The German pharmaceutical firm, Bayer HealthCare AG, have halved the current $18 price for its reversible contraceptive implant in return for the six year funding agreement, from January 2013.

Global Food Prices On The Rise

The inflation-adjusted food price index is now 44% higher than it was between 2002 and 2004, having risen yesterday by 1.4% to its highest point in six months, according to monthly figures published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. Oil-based foods are 50% higher priced than they were, while cereals currently cost 75% more than they did between 2002 and 2004. See how the new data compare with price levels over the last two decades using the Guardian's data map.

World Bank Urged To Promote Pro-Poor Procurement Guidelines

In a submission this week, Eurodad together with eighteen members and partners from the North and South, stressed the need for the World Bank to implement smart procurement guidelines that support the development of the domestic private sector of developing countries. The submission called for equality between local and foreign companies, consideration of social and environmental criteria, improved transparency and aid effectiveness. Read the full submission here.

Unhappy Anniversary, EPAs

Ten years of 'economic partnership agreements' (EPAs) between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACPs) were marked with claims that they do not serve the interests of the world's poorest. Members of the Trade Justice Movement demonstrated outside the UK's Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to draw attention to their view that EPAs undermine agriculture and industry in developing countries. Their views about EPAs are outlined in a letter published in the Guardian.

Europe Development News

UK Aid Under Scrutiny

The amount of UK aid money that goes to UK-based consultants and companies is under scrutiny this week after a Telegraph article exposing so called 'poverty barons'. Data compiled by the Guardian shows that the majority of Department for International Development contracts go to UK firms, but also that it's hard to see exactly where UK aid money goes from DfID's messy accounts. The Guardian concludes that the multibillion UK aid budget demands more scrutiny and transparency.

Europe To Launch Its Own 'Peace Corps'

The European Commission has announced plans to deploy some 10,000 humanitarian workers to help in disaster zones across the world, Trust reports. The European Union has been criticised for not being seen doing enough on the ground in disaster areas, despite being a significant aid donor. The corps has been backed by 80% of Europeans, many of whom consider it to be a good opportunity for some of Europe's many unemployed.

Italy Offers Immigrant Amnesty

Employers in Italy who have hired illegal immigrants for more than three months can now gain reprieve from the authorities in a 'one-stop-shop' for immigration, La Repubblica reports. Part of a recent transitional rule adopted earlier this year, the 'Rosarno law' states that employers have until October 15 to declare their situation and pay €1000 for each employee. The law may reflect a shift away from strict anti-immigration laws earlier this year, and its effects on migration to Italy could be significant.

Join Our Team!

The Center for Global Development in Europe are recruiting for a Special Assistant for the Director for Europe. Responsibilities will include administrative support to the director Owen Barder, events coordination, office management and broad programme and research support.

Europe Development News

EPP Approves Extractive Transparency Legislation

A key panel of the European Parliament has approved a proposal to mandate oil, gas and mineral firms to report what they pay to governments in countries where they operate, Sky News reports. The proposed legislation comes after pressure on the EU to keep pace with American transparency rules imposed in August. EU firms will have to report to regulatory authorities with a minimum threshold of €80,000, almost identical to the $100,000 US requirement and far lower than the $1m level some resource firms had advocated.

Future of Europe Group Publish 'Final Report'

A self-appointed "Future of Europe" group of 11 European Union Foreign Ministers has called for institutional reforms to strengthen the EU's 'overall functioning', including more 'coherence and impact' of its foreign policy. Proposals include more majority voting on international affairs, a European Defence Policy, stronger role for the European External Action Service on developing policy, a border police and a European visa. The group consists of the foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain.

EBRD Announces Middle-East Investment

The board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved three projects to boost private sector growth in Jordon, Tunisia and Morocco, with investments in Egypt to be submitted shortly, Devex reports. This is the bank's first set of investments in the region following its decision to expand operations beyond Eastern European countries and to set up a €1b special for the Arab nations. The move reflects EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti's vision for the Bank's future, which he explained in a Development Drums special episode recorded just prior to his appointment.

Portuguese Jobless Seek Refuge In Angola

Unemployed Portuguese workers are looking for work in the fast growing African country of Angola, the Guardian reports. Tens of thousands of Portuguese have emigrated to Angola in recent years, while money flows in the opposite direction as Angola elite take advantage of the recession by buying property in Lisbon. Unemployment in Portugal is at a record 15%, with the economy predicted to shrink by 3% this year. One Portuguese government minister even encouraged the unemployed to leave their comfort zones and 'look beyond their borders'.

What Does The Dutch Election Outcome Mean For Development?

The recent re-election of the Dutch Liberal Party (VVD) reflected a wide-spread rejection of Eurosceptic fringe parties and support for the government s austerity-focused policies. The implications for Dutch development aid are so far unclear. With VVD s development webpage arguing that development cooperation should not be a task for the government, and with prominent member Ingrid de Caluwe having called for a development aid budget slash from €4.4bn to €1.1bn, concerns have been raised over the future of Dutch development aid. The Dutch Foreign Ministry have maintained that despite cuts in overall development spending, more focus will be put on specific priorities such as food security, the rule of law, sexual health and water.

CGD in Europe Update

Join Our Team!

The Center for Global Development in Europe are recruiting for a Special Assistant for the Director for Europe. Responsibilities will include administrative support to the director Owen Barder, events coordination, office management and broad programme and research support.

Are NGOs Serving The Interests Of The Poor?

A study of Non-Governmental Organisations has led to debate about whether development is too skewed towards aid rather than the causes of poverty, according to Mark Tran at the Guardian. A recent paper by the Brooks World Poverty Institute summarising the academic literature of the role of NGOs in development and poverty sparked a lively debate on From Poverty to Power, a blog written and edited by Oxfam's Duncan Green. The Brooks paper claims that NGOs have become overly-bureaucratic and depoliticised, and serve donors' interests over those they claim to represent. Green argues that these are 'annoying' sweeping statements based on 'dodgy stats' and a lack of engagement with NGOs themselves.

EU Welcomes Russia's WTO Accession 

After 18 years of negotiations, Russia has joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as its 156th member. This accession is particularly important for the European Union, as the EU is Russia's largest trading partner and Russia is the EU's third-largest trading partner. For the first time both entities will be bound by multilateral rules and obligations for their mutual trade. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht called the accession a 'major step for Russia's further integration into the world economy', which he said will 'offer plenty of business opportunities for both Russian and European companies'.

Shell Accused of Fuelling Corruption and Crime  

The Dutch-British owned oil giant Shell pays its Nigerian security forces tens of millions of dollars a year to guard their installations and staff in the Niger delta, according to leaked internal financial data passed to Platform, an oil watchdog. Platform reports that the oil giant also maintains a 1,200-strong internal police force in Nigeria, plus a network of 'plainclothes informants'. If it were a country, Shell would have the third highest security budget in Africa. Platform has commented on a 'staggering' $65m of company funds and resources being put in the hands of soldiers and police known for routine human rights abuses.

Sporting Greats At Hunger Summit

Double Olympic champion Mo Farah has urged political leaders to tackle malnutrition in the poorest parts of the world, the Guardian reports. The Somalia-Born athlete joined other sporting greats Pele and Haile Gebrselassie, international politicians and leaders from the private sector at a hunger summit co-hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Brazil's Vice President Michel Temer in Downing Street. The summit sought government and private commitment to help prevent 25 million children under five suffering stunted growth by the time of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. CGD's Owen Barder comments on the hunger summit here.

Spanish Healthcare Petition: We Won't Abandon Immigrants 

Spanish healthcare workers have launched a campaign to fight new restrictions on healthcare for illegal immigrants, El Pais reports. The policy set to take effect on September 1 would exclude illegal immigrants access to healthcare for non-emergencies. Amnesty International, Doctors of the World and Red Acoge have so far collected and delivered 60,000 signatures to the Chairman of the Autonomous Communities requesting that they refuse to adopt the measures. El Pais blogger Gonzalo Fanjul argues that the intended measures would undermine and disrespect healthcare preofessionals who 'put their dignity and their profession over an unjust law'.

Hollande's Financial Transaction Tax Takes Effect

France has introduced a new financial transaction tax (FTT) of 0.2% on trading of the shares of France-based companies with a market value of over €1 billion. The French government estimates that 109 companies will be affected by the tax this year. French President François Hollande indicated in a recent speech that the revenues raised will largely fund AIDS research. The tax doubles the 0.1% tax proposed by former president Nicolas Sarkozy. The Senate’s decision to include American depositary receipts in the FTT to avoid tax evasion was opposed by the American banks, resulting in a critical open letter sent by the brokers and bankers association to the French Economic Minister Pierre Moscovici. The tax only affects companies and people taxable in France and exempts government stocks.

EU's Emerging Strategy On Tax Havens: Ambitious Enough?

The taxation and customs department of the EU civil service, is working on a strategy on tax havens and unfair tax competition to be released in the last quarter of the year, Eurodad reports. The communication addresses several key issues (including the need to involve double taxation and non-taxation in cross border tax calculations, for automatic information exchange at EU level and for appropriate measures against non-cooperative tax jurisdictions and aggressive tax planning).

In a recent article, Eurodad lists the communication's weaknesses and omissions, including the absence of developing cou ntries from current discussion, a lack of focus on the specific role of multinational corp orations and lack of a European definition of tax havens.

Study Reveals Substantial Misdiagnosis Of Malaria In Parts Of Asia

Substantial overdiagnosis and mistreatment of malaria is evident in south and central Asia, according to research led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The BMJ published study found that inaccurate microscopy and clinicians' tendency to treat with malaria drugs despite negative test results make for a 40-50% loss of accuracy in treatment, resulting in other severe infections being missed and drugs being wasted. The study concluded that results from south and central Asia, where over two billion are at risk, are comparable to findings from Africa, confirming that inaccurate diagnosis and treatment of malaria is a major global public health problem that needs to be confronted.

Ban Ki-Moon Appoints Post MDG Panel

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has appointed a high-level panel to advise on the global development agenda beyond 2015, when the Millennium Development Goals are expected to be achieved. European members are UK Prime Minister David Cameron (co-Chair), former German President Hosrt Köhler, former Director General of the French Development Agency Jean-Michel Severino, Dutch Unilever Chief Executive Paul Polman, Swedish Minister for International Development Gunilla Carlsson and Turkish Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbas.

The first meeting of the 27 panelists will be held at the end of September on occasion of the UN General Assembly. A report to the Secretary General is expected in the first half of 2013. 

New DSW Online Tool On Population

The German population NGO Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) has launched a new tool on global population data. The tool provides comparative graphics on topics related to demography, health and family planning.

Europe Development News

Creeping Protectionism In EU Trade Policy
The European Union is becoming increasingly protectionist, harming the global economy and a range of developing economies, according to a new report from Overseas Development Institute (ODI). The forthcoming reform of the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) will see richer developing countries lose trade concessions of up to €257 million. ODI’s report suggests that this will benefit richer nations, as opposed to poorer developing countries who could lose up to €50m each year if they do not sign up to the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements.

Disappointment Over Arms Trade Treaty Failure
European pressure to extend their Common Code of Conduct on Arms Exports into an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) failed last week when no decision was reached after a month of negotiations at the United Nations. Arms control activists have largely blamed the United States and Russia for their failure to reach a decision within the given timeframe, the Guardian reports. A central aim of ATT was to strike a deal between Europe and America in taking a firm stance on arms deals. The draft treaty, written by the chair of the Diplomatic Conference on the ATT and released on 24 July, received widespread support but not enough to make the treaty fully effective.

Credit: Public Domain Images

Commission To Change Auctions Of Emission Allowances
Last week the European Commission (EC) announced that it intends to clarify the provisions of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Systems (ETS) Directive, New Europe reports. The EU intends to back-load allowances, which is needed to avoid flooding the already over-supplied market, according to Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. Critics of the Commission say it is still not doing enough, leading to national measures which distort the common market. The EC will finalise options for long-term structural measures in the Autumn.

Credit: Geograph.org.uk

EU Appoints First Human Rights Special Representative
The EU has named Stavros Lambrinidis as the first EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights. Speaking last week, EC Vice President Catherine Ashton said "I am delighted to appoint Stavros Lambrinidis as the first EU Special Representative. Human rights are one of my top priorities and a silver thread that runs through everything that we do in external relations". His role will be to enhance the effectiveness and visibility of EU human rights policy, and to carry out the EU Strategic Framework & Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy. Lambrinidis will have a broad, flexible mandate with support from the European External Action Service.

Credit: Facebook

Two Daves Launch Nutrition Summit
The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, is hosting a 'global nutrition event' on the last day of the London Olympics. According to the British Government the meeting will call on global leaders to step up efforts to improve nutrition and reduce the rate of stunting among the world's poorest children between now and the next Olympics in 2016. In an article in Huffington Post, footballer David Beckham describes the impression left on him of meeting acutely malnourished children.

Credit: Unicef

Who Inspires You?
There are only 4 days left to nominate who you'd like to win the Guardian's International Development Achievement Award for 2012 (deadline 3 August). The award is designed to recognise international development's unsung heroes. Last year's winner was Renwick Rose (pictured), who has worked tirelessly to bring justice to farmers in the Eastern Caribbean Islands as CEO of the Winward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA).

Credit: Bananalink.org.uk