Press release: 3315th Council meeting, Foreign Affairs, Brussels, 19 May 2014

Main results of the Council:

Madagascar:
The Council confirmed the full resumption of EU development cooperation with Madagascar, repealing measures taken under Art. 96 of the Cotonou agreement in 2010. This comes in the wake of the presidential and general elections held in Madagascar in 2013, an important phase in the return to constitutional order. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, said: "I welcome this decision, which opens the door to a new era of cooperation with Madagascar."

EU development aid targets:
The Council approved its annual report to the European Council on EU development aid targets. In 2013, the EU remained the biggest global donor of development aid. EU collective Official Development Assistance (ODA) increased to €56.5 billion from €55.3 billion in 2012, remaining at 0.43% of EU gross national income (G6I). Member states that did not reach their ODA objectives were invited to met these commitments and to share information on their planned ODA spending.

Rights-based approach to development cooperation:
The Council adopted conclusions on a rights-based approach to development cooperation. This approach aims at promoting all human rights, be they civil or political, also through development cooperation and sees them as a means to and a goal of effective development cooperation. The fulfilment of human rights is to become an integral part of the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all EU development policies and projects.

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on an EU Development and Cooperation Results Framework http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-an-eu-developmentand-cooperation-results-framework/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on the 2013 Report on the Implementation of the EU Plan of Action on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Development 2010-2015. http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-the-2013-report-on-the-implementation-of-the-eu-plan-of-action-on-gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment-in-development-2010-2015/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on a rights-based approach to development cooperation, encompassing all human rights, Foreign http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-a-rights-based-approach-to-development-cooperation-encompassing-all-human-rights-foreign-affairs-development-council-meeting-brussels-19-may-2014/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on Annual Report 2014 to the European Council on EU Development Aid Targets http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-annual-report-2014-to-the-european-council-on-eu-development-aid-targets/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on EU common position for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (Apia, Samoa, 1-4 September 2014) http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-eu-common-position-for-the-third-international-conference-on-small-island-developing-states-sids-apia-samoa-1-4-september-2014/

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