Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-11-13-Speech-2-324"
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"en.20071113.32.2-324"2
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"Firstly, the action programmes are funded as a rule by the development programmes, not through humanitarian aid. They are therefore not humanitarian aid programmes. In some regions we are funding employment-intensive work programmes, especially in post-conflict countries such as Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC. We are providing finance for a whole series of labour-intensive programmes, including road construction and upgrading, small-scale maintenance projects and so on, that will provide people with work. This is a starting point.
Secondly, I shall take advantage of your question to point out again – you may like it or you may not, you may have an opinion or not, but as this is an open debate I am going to say it anyway – that what the Commission is trying to do at present by way of the economic partnership agreements that we are currently attempting to conclude with various regions in the developing world is essentially aimed at generating a certain dynamic process and developing a private sector that will be capable of supporting employment, creating wealth and prosperity and, especially, ensuring that the developing countries are gradually able to open up their markets in order to take advantage of the most positive effects – and I know only too well that there are not just positive effects – of globalisation.
Moreover, I am always very surprised to note that in this House, too, there are many who are opposed to the signing of economic partnership agreements. When you realise that a 1% increase in trade in Africa is equivalent to two and a half times the entire amount of public aid allocated to development in that continent then you will understand that there will never be sustainable development in the poorest nations unless their economy is more prosperous. In reply to your question I can assure you that we do have emergency response measures, including those for post-conflict periods, and that we are trying to implement them. We are in fact funding employment schemes and labour-intensive projects. These are immediate responses. These are emergency situations.
Apart from that, the ‘aid for trade’ policies are the only ones that can eventually create employment and lasting employment at that. There is no other miracle cure. It is not realistic to suggest that we should be financing job creation schemes, for example, and indeed I have already heard such a proposal. In some countries 60% or 70% of the population are below the age of 25. You cannot create public works jobs for such a huge mass of people. The only response to this problem must be economic in nature.
There are therefore two aspects to this question. The first is agriculture, which is an important element because it creates lasting employment and provides food for the entire family. It is perhaps true to say that we have not invested enough in the agricultural sector in recent years.
The second element, clearly, is the economy. It is essential to establish and consolidate integrated regional markets in order to create the conditions in which the local population can take advantage of globalisation and economic growth."@en1
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