European Community's development policy

The European Parliament adopted unanimously the report by Mr Vitaliano GEMELLI (EPP/ED, I) which argues that there is a lack of long term vision on development policy issues. As a result of the policies proposed by the Commission paper on the subject are 'partial and contingent'. The House regrets the fact that the Commission is not asking for more rational use of resources and more appropriate investment and that there is no political will in Council to take any decision on this issue. The resolution calls in particular for the EU to ensure coherence between development policy and other EU policies. It supports the Commission's approach to centre development policy on the aim of poverty eradication. There is concern that the initiative to cancel the debt of the HIPC (Heavy Indebted Poor Countries) is being implemented too slowly and concerns only a minority of countries. The resolution urges the Commission to preserve development policy as an independent area and to clarify the roles of all those concerned in managing aid delivery - there is particular concern that the proposed separation between political responsibility and srategic planning could result in the marginalisation of development policy. Among the amendments adopted was one stressing the need to establish reliable indicators for evaluating progress achieved in improving health science and judging the impact of macro-economic policy on the health of the population. Another amendment underlines the need for developing countries to become self sufficient in food. A further anticipates the reduction or cancellation of external debt so long as the funds that are saved are used exclusively to combat poverty, particularly, in the field of health and education. �