Committee on Development

On 29 October, the Committee on Development adopted an own-initiative report on “improving development effectiveness and efficiency of aid” presented by the Committee Chair, Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden). The vote was 23 in favour, 1 against and 0 abstentions.

On 19 November, DEVE, AFET and DROI Members took part remotely in a panel discussion, together with members of national Parliaments, on "External dimension, shaping partnerships with third countries”.

A joint AFET-DEVE exchange of views with the EEAS and the European Commission (DG DEVCO and DG ECHO) on the situation in Ethiopia took place on 19 November fduring the extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

On 12 November, DEVE Members discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on developing countries' debt situations with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad).

During a joint BUDG/AFET/DEVE meeting on 28 October, the European Commission presented the proposed extensions of the European Union Bekou Trust Fund for the Central African Republic, the Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis (Madad), the Emergency Trust fund for Africa and the EU Trust Fund for Colombia.

MEPs exchanged views with Janez Lenarčič, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, on the humanitarian aid situation. The second part of the meeting was dedicated to an exchange of views with UN Women, represented by Anita Bhatia, Deputy Executive Director, on Gender equality, women's empowerment and the impact of COVID-19 on women in developing countries in 2020. MEPs also adopted the report on "improving development effectiveness and efficiency of aid”.