Plenary sitting
30.3.2011 B7‑0228/2011
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and the Commission
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
on the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries
Nirj Deva, Jan Zahradil
on behalf of the ECR Group
European Parliament resolution on the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries
The European Parliament,
– having regard that in 1971 the UN recognized the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as the ‘poorest and weakest segment’ of the international community,
– having regard to the criteria defined by the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) to identify LDCs,
– having regard to the results of the UN High-Level Meeting on MDG, September 2010,
– having regard to the Brussels Programme of Action (BpoA) for LDCs adopted at the III UN Conference on the LDC, Brussels, May 2001,
– having regard that the broad aim of the 10-year Programme is to significantly reduce extreme poverty and hunger through focused interventions on interlinked areas,
– having regard to the decision taken in 2008 by the UN General Assembly to convene the IV UN Conference on the LDCs (LDC-IV),
– having regard that LDC-IV will assess the results of the BPoA as it comes to an end and propose new actions to address new development challenges faced by LDCs, including climate change, food, energy and economic and financial crisis,
– having regard that LDC-IV will share best practices and lessons learnt, identify obstacles and constraints as well as actions needed, identify new challenges for LDCs and actions required; reaffirm the global commitment to address the special needs of the LDCs; mobilize additional international support measures; formulate and adopt a renewed partnership,
– having regard to ongoing preparatory process for LDC-IV at national, regional and international levels,
– having regard to the UNGA resolutions A/RES/63/227, A/RES/64/213 and A/C.2/65/L.55 on LDCs,
– having regard to ECOSOC Resolution on Implementation of the Programme of action for the LDC 2001-2010 (E/2009/31),
– having regard to the UN SG report on Implementation of the Programme of Action for the LDCs for the Decade 2001-2010 (A/65/80),
– having regard to the work being pursued by the UN-OHRLLS, since 2002,
– having regard to the Almaty Programme for Landlocked Developing Countries the Barbados Programme and Mauritius Strategy for Small Island Developing States,
– having regard to the reports of the UN Eminent Persons Group for the IV UN Conference on the LDCs,
– having regard to the EU ‘Everything-But-Arms’ initiative,
– having regard to the new EU GSP Regime of Rules of Origin, 1 January 2011,
– having regard to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative,
– having regard to the Forest Law Enforcement on Governance and Trade,
– having regard to the EC Staff working document on the EU Position in view of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the LDCs, 9-13 May 2011, 16 February 2011,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the 48 LDCs are the poorest and most vulnerable countries of the international community,
B. whereas the international community established three Programmes of Action since 1981, to mobilize global support for socio-economic development of the LDCs,
C. whereas the LDC-IV to be convened in Istanbul, Turkey, 9 to 13 May 2011, will undertake a comprehensive appraisal of the implementation of BPoA, and will adopt a New Programme of Action that will deliver results between 2011-2020,
D. whereas LDC-IV will identify policies and challenges that the LDCs will face in the next decade, and reaffirm the global commitment to address the needs of the LDCs,
E. whereas there is a need to mobilize additional measures in favour of LDCs and formulate a new partnership between LDCs and development partners,
F. whereas the average of Human Development Index only rose from 0,34 to 0,39 between 2000 and 2010 and on average LDCs are only on track for 2 of 7 MDG indicators, poverty, nutrition, education, under-five mortality, infant mortality, drinking water and sanitation,
G. whereas ODA increased significantly, aid remains far below the target set by the BPoA, and most of the LDCs are still facing extreme poverty, lack of infrastructures, lack of productive capacity and a growing number of unemployment,
H. whereas the financial and economic crisis, the food security crisis, commodity markets, energy crisis, have proven the extreme vulnerability of LDCs to external shocks, and weakness of the international support measures,
I. whereas only three countries, Botswana, Cape Verde and Maldives have graduated from LDC during the decade,
J. whereas the ongoing preparatory process of LDC- IV engages a broad spectrum of stakeholders and consultation mechanism, involving national and regional consultations, parliaments, civil society and private sector,
K. whereas the parliamentary track to LDC-IV will culminate with the Parliamentary Forum on the 8 of May 2011, in Istanbul,
L. whereas the EU, being the largest donor, increased ODA by 78% from Euros 8.3 billion in 2000 to Euro 14,7 in 2009,
M. whereas the EU needs to mobilise resources and assist the implementation of the new Programme of Action,
N. whereas the EU needs to follow an effective common position for the LDC-IV,
O. whereas the EU should not allow that the ongoing economic and financial crisis compromise the development partnership with LDC,
1. Stresses that EU aid to LDCs countries should be oriented primarily at wealth creation and development of market economy, which are basic prerequisites for poverty eradication;
2. Urges the EU to continue to lead the support to LDCs, fulfilling its commitments in terms of market access and trade liberalisation, debt alleviation, reaffirming the importance of reaching the ODA target of 0,15 to 0,20% of GNI for LDC, mobilising, for this purpose, domestic resources while significantly increasing efficiency and transparency of these funds;
3. Stresses the role of the European Parliament and its decisive role in approving the EU development budget; is therefore convinced that the European Parliament should be more closely involved in preparing EU development strategy; it is essential also that a reporting back mechanism is put in place;
4. Calls for the necessity to give priority to economic growth as a key element for development and reducing overall poverty in LDCs countries;
5. Calls for reducing trade barriers and trade-distorting subsidies, in order to increase LDCs share of global trade. The abolition of agricultural export subsidies, committed to in the WTO Doha Development round, should be implemented at the earliest possible date;
6. Considers that LDC- IV should be resulted-oriented, with clear targets and indicators, based in efficient and transparent monitoring and follow-up mechanisms;
7. Urges the necessity to put emphasis on the graduation from LDC category, and of using the outcome of September 2010's MDG summit as a framework to accelerate poverty eradication, create sustainable and inclusive economic growth, good governance, and capacity building;
8. Urges the EU to have a better coordinated approach in order to address and prevent the root causes of conflicts in LDCs, and support efforts to acquire the capacities to build peaceful and democratic states;
9. Urges the G20 to continue to address food price volatility and food security policy as a priority, and to contribute to further open market access for the LDCs;
10. Calls for the necessity to increase the capacity of LDCs to face climate change, encouraging the transfer of technologies, enhancing action in line with the Cancun Adaptation Framework as well as environmental sustainable policies in line with the Copenhagen Agreement;
11. Urges the EU and LDCs partners to improve cooperation mechanisms on good governance, democracy, human rights and gender equality;
12. Calls for the need to contribute to developing countries with more efficient tax systems, and good governance in tax matters; is of the view that EU assistance for tax reform should be geared towards investigating ways in which LDCs countries can broaden tax base and tax revenue stream;
13. Underlines the need to enhance aid effectiveness for development, in line with the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda;
14. Taking into consideration the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon and the decision approved by the Council in May 2005, calls for the necessity for following coherent policy encompassing the areas of trade and development cooperation, climate change, transport, energy, food security, migrations as well as its common agricultural and fisheries policies;
15. Calls for its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.