Development

The high-point was an agreement between the European Commission and the European Parliament on a controversial development co-operation instrument.

Serious disagreement between the Parliament and Commission on the proposal could have resulted in funding not being released for new development projects next year.

A meeting of trade and development ministers also confirmed a commitment made last year to give €1 billion to developing countries in aid-for-trade, which would boost their policy, practice and infrastructure on trade.

But the same meeting saw differences emerge between member states on how the talks between the Commission and developing countries on Economic Partnership Agreements were being conducted.

Participation in the three major conferences on migration and development in Rabat, Algeria, Tripoli, Libya and at the UN in New York has kicked off a debate on these issues between the EU and, in particular, African states.

The high-point was an agreement between the European Commission and the European Parliament on a controversial development co-operation instrument.