New European consensus on development - our world, our dignity, our future

The European Parliament adopted by 405 votes to 70, with 159 abstentions, a resolution prepared by its Committee on Development, on a joint statement by the Parliament, the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, and the Commission on the new European Consensus on Development – Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future.

Parliament welcomed the Commission’s proposal aiming to revise the 2005 European Consensus on Development in order to reflect the new global development context following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as changes in the EU’s legal and institutional structure.

Overall, Members welcomed that the new Consensus explicitly enshrines the reduction of poverty, and in the long term, the eradication of poverty as the primary objective of EU development policy.

They reiterated that this should be done fully in line with the principles of effective development cooperation: ownership of development priorities by developing countries, focus on results, inclusive partnerships, and transparency and accountability.

They insisted on the need for accountability mechanisms for the monitoring and implementation of the SDGs and the 0.7 % ODA/GNI (Official Development Assistance/Gross National Income) objectives.

Members called on the EU and its Member States to submit a timeline on how to gradually achieve these goals and objectives, and for progress to be reported annually to Parliament.

Lastly, they endorsed the joint statement by the Parliament, the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, and the Commission on the new European Consensus on Development – Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future.