European Development Policies

In the field of development, the term “European policies” brings together two areas of action that are both different and complementary. Firstly, it is about following European Union policy, implemented by the European Commission and the member states: strategy, regions and sectors of intervention. However, it is also important for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to understand the international co-operation policies of France’s partner countries in Europe, with a view to engaging in joint development actions.

The European Union (the Commission and member states) is the number one world provider of funds with official development assistance that in 2003 represented 55% of world aid. The work on European development policies therefore requires the complementarity between the European Commission and the member states to be taken into account. The European Union is the natural framework for French policies. France plays a full part in the actions implemented by the Community while at the same time working with its European partners in a bilateral framework.

The stakes are high. First of all in financial terms: 19% of the aid generated by the European Community is paid by France, which contributes 17.3% of the European Union general budget and 24.3% of the European Development Fund. 20% of French aid, some 1.25 billion euros, thus passes through Community channels. However, the stakes are not only financial: the strategic aspects are also vital. For reasons of efficiency and complementarity of the aid, France has to integrate the Community development policy into its own positions and orientations, making them known to the European Commission and, as far as possible, reflecting the Community’s development aid policy.

In parallel to the importance of the Community’s development policy, France’s friendly relations with its European partners (notably the United Kingdom, Germany...) continue. These relations encourage the adoption of decisions within the community framework and make it possible to champion common positions on the international stage or implement joint actions on the ground.