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There must be more accountability; value for money- says EU Commissioner
European Union Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs has stressed that although the EU remains steadfastly committed to the Caribbean there is the need for better accountability, transparency and value for money.
The Commissioner, addressing a forum on Thursday, also voiced his concerns on security, saying that it was a prerequisite for social and economic progress.
Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
Commissioner Piebalgs was at the time speaking at the opening of the 11th European Development Fund Caribbean Regional Programming Seminar which was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre. There he announced the EU plans to boost cooperation with Haiti and unveiled a 1 billion Euro grant under the new funding programme.
Commissioner Piebalgs said that there is need to deliver value for money and to think outside the box. He explained that the EU has been striving to do just that, setting up new mechanisms for blending loans and grants.
He said that via the Caribbean Investment Facility, the EU can work with investment banks and gather sufficient resources for larger-scale infrastructure projects. He noted that several Caribbean countries have a limited population. He said that these projects can be particularly effective when pursued at regional level.
Commissioner Piebalgs said that especially true for the energy sector, where the new CARICOM energy policy provides a solid basis for joint actions in the years ahead. And in addition to blending, he said that they must be open and identify other innovative mechanisms to finance investments.
“In times of financial crisis and budgetary constraints, it is even more important to ensure the highest possible level of accountability and transparency,” the commissioner posited.
He also noted that there is also the need for clearer indicators and more mutual accountability. It would require more donor coordination and alignment with national policies.
According to Commissioner Piebalgs, the Caribbean has witnessed exponential growth in per capita GDP, substantial improvements in terms of poverty eradication, and the achievement of the MDGs in the great majority of the countries.
He said that states can be extremely proud about having transformed the region into one of the most culturally rich, pluralistic and dynamic in the world.
Commissioner Piebalgs said that he was proud that the European Union has made a significant contribution to that progress. He explained that over the past ten years the EU and its Member States committed around 50 billion euro per year to development aid.
He said that this is more than half of all global assistance. Commissioner Piebalgs explained that through the EDF and DCI instruments the EU has helped 70 million more households to gain access to drinking water, their support has brought nearly 14 million more boys and girls into primary education; and 18 million children under one have received the measles vaccine.
However, with all this work being done Commissioner Piebalgs said that the work is far from over. According to the Commissioner by working together they can and must do more.
The commissioner reiterated that the EU remains steadfast in its engagement in the Caribbean. He explained that they must first complete the current efforts under the 10th EDF, and remain committed to work together towards future cooperation that even better responds to Caribbean needs and priorities under the 11th EDF.
Commissioner Piebalgs said that it is with these persistent development obstacles in mind that they have to look for even more effective ways to cooperate. The Joint Caribbean-EU Partnership Strategy, he said, gives new vision, and as such will be a sound springboard to take our cooperation to greater heights.
“But if we are to transform the vision into reality, we have to start undertaking concrete actions now” the commissioner said.
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