28-10-2015

The "Foreign Affairs" (Development) Council met in Luxembourg on 26 October 2015 and was chaired by the High-Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini. The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union outlined and prepared the agenda - a full day was allocated to this meeting - which reflects the growing importance given to development policy and humanitarian aid during the 2^nd half of 2015.

One of the priorities addressed was policy coherence for development. The Council adopted conclusions on the European Commission's biannual report. The Luxembourg Presidency has made it a horizontal priority and put it into effect within the different formations of the Council. Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Romain Schneider, together with Federica Mogherini, called for other Ministers to incorporate development into their Council meetings. For example, Romain Schneider attended the Informal Energy Council and the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council. During the Council, Romain Schneider encouraged his counterparts to address policy coherence for development in other sectors. The future Dutch Presidency confirmed its intention to continue this momentum.

During the Council, Ministers addressed the development component of the Valletta Summit on migration, in respect of which rapid action must be taken which is consistent with medium- and long-term action. The World Humanitarian Summit, which will be held in Istanbul in May 2016, was also addressed.The Luxembourg Presidency welcomed the Ministers mandated to set out strong common positions in order to influence the preparations for this summit. The 2030 Agenda, its monitoring and its implementation were discussed by the 28 Ministers for Development together with the Ministers for the Environment during a joint lunch.

Lastly, the Council adopted an Action Plan on Gender for 2016-2020 which is the outcome of close collaboration with the Latvian Presidency. Gender is a cross-cutting issue affecting Luxembourg's cooperation activities, the 2030 Agenda and also the policies for development of the European institutions.

With regard to EU-ACP relations, a public consultation on future relations between the EU and the 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries is under way.At this stage, the discussions are focusing on the added value of such an agreement on trade, development aid and diplomatic instruments. The first ministerial discussion on this matter has demonstrated the extent to which opinions differ.

Press release from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs / Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Action