As the Finns enter the final stretch of their EU Presidency, a review is in order of the achievements for development during the past six months as well as a look ahead with Germany in the starting blocks for its Presidency beginning in January. By Denise Auclair.
EU2007.de: Official Logo and Website
The Finnish Presidency succeeded in putting the limelight on Policy Coherence for Development, looking to end the foot dragging on implementation of commitments made by the Council in May 2005 to ensure that the different EU policies contribute to, rather than undermine, development objectives. In this respect they were aided by a major conference in October entitled “Call for Coherence” organized by the Finnish coalition of development NGOs KEHYS ... ... this article has been published in our Issue 5 and can be accessed online by subscribers. For direct log in click >>> here.
EU-India Free Trade Talks: In Whose Interest? + The Risk of a Global Economic Recession + FDI at New Heights + EITI Beyond German G8 Presidency + Are We 'All Keynesians Now'? + South-South Cooperation against Child Labour
It had been touted as a model project that would reduce poverty in a country that is wretchedly poor even by African standards. But last month the World Bank pulled out of the Chad oil project belatedly admitting that its agreement with the government to use a substantial part of oil income for poverty reduction lay in shambles.
American congressional leaders say they've reached the broad outline of a deal to pump hundreds of billions of dollars into the stricken U.S. financial system. But the bailout is highly controversial. On 29 September the U.S. House of Representatives voted to reject the $700 billion bailout bill 228 votes to 205.
A new study on the impact of an emerging global "green economy" on the world of work says efforts to tackle climate change could result in the creation of millions of new "green jobs" in the coming decades. However, the process of climate change, already underway, will continue to have negative effects on workers and their families.
Alliance2015 has just published its fifth 2015-Watch. This year's report addresses the question of whether Europe is on track to fulfil its MDG commitments. It analyses in considerable detail the extent to which the programming of European Commission (EC) aid is directed towards the achievement of the MDGs, and it finds a strong legal and policy framework, but much to be done on programming and implementation.
A remarkable feature of the international financial system in the last decade has been the rapid and vast accumulation of foreign-exchange reserves by developing countries. World foreign reserves tripled from $2.1trillion in December 2001 to an unprecedented $6.5trillion in early 2008.