Development policy: untying of aid

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Fernando FERNANDEZ MARTIN (EPP-ED, Spain) on enhancing the effectiveness of development aid. (Please see the summary of 20/05/03.) Parliament also emphasised the need to take account of local operators in the programming and management of aid, and pointed out that untying aid must benefit the development of the national and regional capacities of the developing countries. The Commission and Member States should introduce into their procurement manuals measures to support the sourcing of goods and services from developing countries (e.g. significant price preferences). Parliament went on to ask the Commission to invite the Member States to involve independent bodies in the selection of aid projects in order to prevent possible conflicts between their interests and those of the beneficiary countries.�