Hongaars voorzitterschap koos water als onderwerp van debat tussen EU en ontwikkelingslanden (en)

Seventy-eight African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries met the European Parliament delegation at the 21st EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly held in Hungary, on 14-18 May 2011. The Hungarian Presidency could direct the attention of the 156 representatives to matters like water policy, which are of mutual interests and a high priority for Hungary.

Relations between the EU and ACP countries date back to the initial period of European integration, while their present cooperation is determined by the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, which was signed in 2000 for twenty years. This agreement established the institutions of the cooperation, including the Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Traditionally, the host country had the opportunity to put an issue of its own choice on the agenda of the plenary session, during the second day of the meeting. Accordingly, on 17 May Minister of State for Environmental Affairs of the Ministry of Rural Development, Zoltán Illés discussed water management in front of an audience of nearly 400 curious representatives, institution-delegated attendants and observers.

As President of the Republic of Hungary, Pál Schmitt highlighted at the opening ceremony on 16 May, the Hungarian Presidency raised the matter to priority level not only from an environmental angle, but also from a development policy perspective since the scarcity of water resources may endanger the stability of entire regions. Zoltán Illés reminded that almost the entire part (96%) of Hungary’s surface water resources originates abroad, so the country considers cross-border cooperation a key issue in this field. Additionally, Hungary’s greatest problems are caused by extreme weather phenomena, mainly floods and droughts, which causes major difficulties for ACP states as well.

“Regarding possible cooperation with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, we offer our knowledge on all fields related to water management,” the Minister of State declared, referring to Hungary’s accumulated experience concerning integrated protection of water resources, providing safe drinking water, waste water management and preparation for climate change.

Zoltán Illés reminded that the Hungarian Presidency would like to see issues relating to water and public health, to receive a stronger emphasis in the EU’s development policy. Moreover, the extension of the Water Framework Directive and work being performed in the EU-Africa partnership, are considered as steps towards the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. At the scheduled June meetings, the Environment Council plans to adopt conclusions on the handling of water management issues in an integrative and sustainable way in all policies.

Challenges for democracies

As part of the permanent programme, committee meetings were also held by the Assembly. On 14 May, members of the Political Affairs Committee discussed challenges, which old and emerging democracies face, and adopted the report of liberal Swedish MEP Olle Schmidt and Congo’s delegated representative François Ibovi. “More Democracy related work is needed in many countries. To create a stable democracy, citizens must be allowed to elect their leaders freely and when they want to,” Zambian Co-President of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, David Matongo said in his address. The other Co-President, Belgian liberal MEP and former EU Commissioner, Louis Michel added that, “Democracy has no different definitions.” He also pointed out that the respect for human rights, including the rights of homosexuals, is a universal value.

The Assembly’s permanent committee on relevant social and environmental issues, put the problem of water pollution on its agenda, and adopted a common resolution.

Debate on conditions of budgetary support

Participants of the meeting also discussed the question of budgetary support. This form of development supports means that EU donor countries make contributions directly to the budget of the recipient country. In recent years, however, it has been suggested that EU budget support should be withdrawn from countries where democratic principles are violated.

Since financial aid is a matter of survival for many developing countries, the withdrawal can take its toll on the citizens’ living standard; which is why EU Member State opinions vary in this issue. In late 2009, development ministers decided that Member States must reach a common position. Accordingly, the Commission initiated a discussion in the form of a green paper, in October 2010, on the EU’s budgetary support provided for third countries.

The majority of participants of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly formulated the view that budgetary support must be provided, but not unconditionally. According to the representatives, developing countries must comply with the general conditions of the Cotonou Agreement, such as the transparency of pubic subsidies and the eradication of poverty.

Louis Michel also pointed out to the plenary meeting that, “Nowadays, governments tend to neglect their undertakings concerning financial aid to southern countries,” especially during times of crises. Hungarian Foreign Minsiter, János Martonyi insisted in his speech that there was no question about the EU's determination to maintain its collective ODA commitments, which have been reaffirmed several times in the recent years. The EU strives to achieve a collective ODA target of 0.7% of the GNI by 2015, which is in line with the long-standing UN goal.

Hungarian examples: Phytotron, Peto’s system and innovation

In addition to the permanent programme (plenary and committee meetings), the country hosting the Assembly always has the opportunity to present how it could contribute to resolving the pressing problems of EU-ACP countries. In the framework of the working sessions on 15 May, Hungary organised a half-day technical event on agriculture, healthcare and education.

The Agricultural Research Institute of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, presented the institution’s close to century-old history as well as the latest research. Delegation members were introduced to the, what is known as a Phytotron, an enclosed greenhouse for growing plants. In this facility, researchers can programme and reproduce major environmental features that are necessary for plant growth, independently from the weather and the season of the year; therefore, they can examine how such features effect growth, genetically determined characteristics and phyto-biological processes of plants.

Another group of participants, which formed part of the Assembly visited András Peto Institute of Conductive Education, and the College for Conductor Training. There, they were introduced to Peto’s internationally renowned conductive educational methodology. In essence, it is aimed at the rehabilitation of children with motor skills disorder. In cooperation with parents, more than thirty nurseries and school age children were involved in a demonstration of the exercises and tools of conductive education.

Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the African-Hungarian Union and Africa Holding, united forces to introduce to the participants of the third working session innovative Hungarian solutions, relating to the field of agriculture, energy and water management and designed especially to be utilised in the Tropical and Sub-Tropical Zone.