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Catholic development agencies and partners worldwide demand better cooperation with the European Commission
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4 March 2010, CIDSE & Caritas Europa Press release –
BRUSSELS - Today in the European Parliament, the two networks of Catholic development
agencies, CIDSE & Caritas Europa, presented a unique set of recommendations to the
European Commission (EC) in an attempt to improve cooperation between the Commission
and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). After discussion with Commission officials, CIDSE &
Caritas prepared a joint statement on the challenges the networks and their partners in Africa,
Asia and Latin America encounter in working with the Commission on development aid. They
say it is vital to act now to ensure that the Commission supports CSOs in their fight against
poverty.
“The current financial crisis, which is heavily affecting developing countries, forces us to renew our
commitment to development cooperation and to invest in new innovative partnerships. The effective
use of available funds, while taking into account new issues like climate change, is critical if we are to
have an impact on poverty eradication,” said René Grotenhuis, CIDSE President and Director of
Cordaid/Caritas Netherlands. “Today, we have made another important step in strengthening our
cooperation with the European Commission, whose support we need to defeat poverty.”
The event, hosted by MEPs Thijs Berman, Bart Staes and Anna Záborská, and with a key note
address by Koos Richelle, Director General of the EuropeAid Cooperation Office, concluded a three
day forum with over 60 participants from Northern and Southern CSOs, as well as EC officials.
The forum addressed a range of serious challenges that need attention, both within CSOs and the
Commission, especially in relation to the question of how development funding translates into results.
Richelle stressed that the aid effectiveness agenda is not only meant for official donors, but for CSOs
also. However, Pierre Efoe Aholouvi, Executive Director of Caritas Man, Ivory Coast, emphasised
that “Much can still be learned about improving development outcomes and prospects. Accountability
needs to go beyond the measurement of the ‘right’ use of funds. The EC must reconsider how it funds
development projects; rules which govern the distribution of funds are overcomplicated, which means
they are out of reach for many grassroots organisations in the South. It’s a shame that these funds
don’t often reach their intended target, the world’s poorest communities.”
ENDS
Contact:
-Roeland Scholtalbers, CIDSE Media & Communication Officer; +32 (0) 477 068 384, scholtalbers@cidse.org
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Annalisa Mazzella, Caritas Europa Advocacy and Communication Officer; +32 (0) 2 235 03 94, amazzella@caritaseuropa.
org