Commissie wil maatschappelijk middenveld meer betrekken bij ontwikkelingshulp (en)

The Hungarian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zsolt Németh welcomed the Commission’s initiative to issue a communication on involving civil society and local authorities in the formation of development policy. Németh was speaking at the plenary session of the conference on “structured dialogue” for strengthening of EU international development policy, on 17 May 2011.

The conference was part of the Hungarian Presidency’s programme. Structured dialogue was initiated by Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs i, in May 2010 with the aim to form and make EU development policy more efficient, by involving and considering the needs of civil organisations and local authorities.

New chapter in developing societies

During the final conference of the series of events on 17 May 2011, Andris Piebalgs appreciated the Hungarian Presidency’s efforts for organising the event. He stressed that several developing societies reached a new chapter in the past period, and civil societies and local authorities play a key role in establishing and maintaining democracy, good governance and the rule of law; as well as in securing human rights.

Mr Piebalgs announced:based on the experiences of structured dialogue, the Commission will issue a communication on the involvement of civil societies and local authorities in EU development policy. The Commissioner added:the aid delivery mechanism will be simplified, and a centre will be built in Brussels to facilitate the continuation of the dialogue.

Németh: global partnership is needed

On behalf of the Hungarian Presidency, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zsolt Németh, welcomed the initiative of Commissioner Piebalgs and the issuance of the communication. Mr Németh reminded: Hungary went through significant changes in the past 20 years, which is similar to the reform of developing countries.Hungary contributed to the success of the development policy by passing on its experience, and would like to learn from others, for example on the methods of aid distribution, he added.

The minister of state said that local action and international action must go hand in hand, in order to overcome global challenges and to facilitate inclusive, sustainable development. Mr Németh stressed the importance of cooperation with local authorities and the organisations of the civil society; as well as the institutionalisation of the dialogue.„It is important that these principles are translated into practice and that we find the practical tools of implementation to accomplish the primary goals of development cooperation, poverty reduction and global peace,” the Minister of State said.

Spectacular progress in civil involvement

Mr Németh said: the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had launched the consultations between the civil society and the government, prior to the informal ministerial meetings during the Hungarian Presidency’s term; and also held regular consultations on development cooperation, involving all parties concerned. Hungary’s cooperation was particularly active with countries of the Eastern and Western Balkans, in the field of exchanging information on democratic reform, he added.

According to the Minister of State, structured dialogue made spectacular progress, especially by involving non-government actors and local authorities, therefore, this initiative must be continued. Consequently, it would be more appropriate to call the current final conference an opening conference, said Zsolt Németh.