In search of a common future: The European Union's lost opportunities as a global actor
Simon Stocker, Mirjam van Reisen, Social Watch, 2005
The European Union (EU) has sought to project itself as a leading player within the international community in delivering what is required to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other international commitments. It repeatedly claims that it is pursuing a development oriented approach to trade negotiations, both within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and within its negotiations with developing country regions. In addition it claims that it is continually ensuring that its overall approach to policies remains coherent with its development policies and its objectives for its cooperation with developing countries.
It has recently made important commitments to increase aid and plans to increase the effectiveness of aid. Additionally it identified the priorities for the September Summit preparations as being the "Creation of the Peace Commission, prevention of conflicts, the fight against terrorism, the adoption of principles for making commitments to use force, disarmament, the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the re-enforcement of the United Nations in maintaining peace". It also called on all members of the UN to sign the Convention relating to the prevention of nuclear terrorism that was recently agreed in the UN General Assembly in September. This paper addresses the following questions: How do these various priorities go together? Are the claims that the EU is ready to enter a new era of development cooperation justified by the actions being taken by the EU?