In October, CONCORD launched the annual AidWatch report analysing both the quantity and quality of EU ODA. The report finds that while reported figures are at a record high, 22% of all recorded ODA did not meet the most basic criteria to qualify as such. 

As well as AidWatch, in October CONCORD published a study on EU development cooperation funding for CSOs, marked World Food Day on our social media channels, and our Director spoke at the event ‘Tackling Inequalities: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future’ at the European Parliament. 

Discover these highlights and more in the October edition of CONCORD’s newsletter!

This new CONCORD report, “A Test of the EU’s Integrity Towards the 2030 Agenda: The Status of Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development”, tracks existing PC(S)D mechanisms in Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, and the European Commission. The focus is particularly on mechanisms that have been, or could be, put in place in line with the SDG indicator 17.14.1.

The study pays special attention to the objective of addressing trade-offs or negative spillover effects of domestic policies in the EU or its Member States, on the Global South. The goal of the report is to encourage EU Member States and the European Commission to commit to, implement and report on PC(S)D by reinforcing or creating mechanisms for it, and ensure that the focus on countries in the Global South is not lost, especially in times of COVID recovery.

The review of the EU’s Trade Strategy was an opportunity for the EU to use its leadership in the multilateral trade system to accelerate worldwide progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

Overall, the new strategy does not suggest any major changes to the EU’s approach to trade. The EU continues to promote a model in which trade liberalisation and measures to protect European companies and domestic markets are the main goals, without enough consideration for realising sustainable development across the globe. CONCORD deeply regrets that the European Commission missed this opportunity to truly align EU trade policy with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda.

This analysis identifies 12 key improvements to the reviewed EU Trade Strategy to move towards an economy that ensures well-being for the people and planet.

The need for Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development is more evident than ever. The current COVID-19 pandemic is having devastating impacts on people’s lives and health. The crisis has also affected people’s human rights – economic, social, cultural, civil and political – and has made inequalities within and between countries even more flagrant.

In this paper, CONCORD analyses the European Commission’s work programme – both the first version released in January 2020 as well the version from May 2020 (adjusted to the realities of COVID-19) – to provide a few key entry points for the EU as to when and how to apply Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.