Against the backdrop of the new global challenges the world has to digest such as climate change, migration, security, the committee of Development in the European Parliament today gave its green light on its priorities for the revision of the European Consensus on development.
 
The Revision of the European Consensus on Development comes at a good moment to pave the way for guidelines that will serve as a framework for European Development policies for many years to come. The European Parliament’s resolution  will serve as a basis for the negotiations with the EU institutions.

S&D Group spokesperson on development policy and co-rapporteur Norbert Neuser said:

“I am very happy the resolution was adopted with broad approval. This will strengthen our position towards the other EU institutions”
 
“It is of utmost importance to us, that, while meeting today’s challenges, the main driver for development cooperation remains poverty eradication and to empower the people to live in peace, dignity and prosperity”.

The Chair of the Development committee, S&D Euro MP Linda McAvan added: 

“The Consensus on Development should be a key external pillar of the EU and Member States’ strategy for meeting the SDG target of ending poverty and inequality by 2030. It’s clear we have a different set of priorities and challenges than in the past, but we have to be very clear that the role of development policy is first and foremost one of fighting poverty to tackle root causes of global challenges like migration and instability”.

"If we want to see real progress towards SDGs, we need the consensus to set out how we end inequalities and propose radical new programmes in areas like tax justice that will help us fund development. In the era of Brexit, and with a Trump White House having banned US aid from going towards sexual and reproductive health, the EU has to lead the way in promoting a development policy that fights to end gender discrimination and supports reproductive rights. We want a Consensus that sets out a progressive way forward for ending inequality and leaving no-one behind”.
 
The resolution will be voted on in the plenary session in Strasbourg on 13th February.