essay / Celia Olivar Gil [English version].

The global context continues to pose new challenges to European collective action subject development, the most important of which is migration from the Southern Mediterranean and the difficulty of articulating a well-articulated joint reaction. Aware of the urgency of the status, the European Union is trying to offer a new and ambitious response in the form of the New Consensus on development (hereafter 'Consensus') which also coincides with the review of the Millennium development Goals by the United Nations.

The Consensus is a 'framework for action' to promote the integration and coherence of the development cooperation of the European Union and its member states. This framework calls for the adoption of the necessary changes to ensure that both EU and national legislation complies with the 2030 diary for Sustainable development proposal by the United Nations and with the Paris agreement on climate change.

The Consensus maintains the eradication of poverty as its main goal , but includes a novel vision, proposing that poverty be addressed from a triple economic, social and environmental perspective. In addition to the eradication of poverty, the Consensus aims to achieve the 2030 diary , and to this end articulates its five pillars: population, planet, prosperity, peace and cooperation. To this articulation, the Consensus adds some novel and cross-cutting elements, which are: emphasis on youth (meeting the basic needs of young people such as employment); gender equality; good governance (achieving a rule of law that guarantees human rights, promoting the creation of transparent institutions, participatory decision-making and independent and impartial courts); mobilization and migration; sustainable energy and climate change; Investment and trade; innovative engagement with the most advanced development countries (creating new partnerships with these countries to implement the 2030 diary here); mobilization and use of domestic resources (effective and efficient use of resources through the "raise more, spend better" initiative).

In order to achieve all the initiatives and objectives set out above, the application of the Consensus extends to both the policies of the European Union and those of all its member states. In addition, it emphasizes that the Consensus should also be applied in new, more tailored and more multilateral partnerships involving civil society and greater participation of partner countries. The means of implementation combine traditional financial aid with more innovative forms of financing for development, such as private sector investments and mobilization of additional domestic resources for development. In terms of follow-up, the new consensus will have a regular monitoring mechanism, including accountability through the European Parliament and national parliaments and reporting obligations.

Initial assessments of the new consensus agree that it is a good synthesis of international development concerns. However, it raises some criticisms regarding its effective capacity to address these concerns.

First of all, as the Overseas Development Institute points out, it is not a real strategic plan, but a set of unconnected priorities. For it to be a real strategy, the roles of the Commission and the member states would need to be determined, thematic, sectoral and geographic priorities defined (the seventeen Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) contained in the 2030 diary are treated with equal importance), and new European institutions built or existing ones (such as the International Climate Fund) used to coordinate national funds more effectively. Likewise, the Consensus should determine the form and content of cooperation with average income countries, establishing horizontal, vertical and sectoral coordination. At the same time, this coordination would require the establishment of a division of tasks within the EU to achieve a better use of resources.

Secondly, agreement to James Mackie (head of the learning and quality department of the European Center for development), it is difficult to see who is being targeted and what exactly they are demanding. The fact that the geographic and sectoral priorities remain undetermined leaves the Degree of commitment of the member states uncertain and, if there is commitment, it will be tactical rather than explicit.

The third criticism is related to its implementation. Although the consensus is ambitious in its objectives, it lacks an adequate institutional framework and an efficient mechanism to implement its new proposals. Moreover, it gives the private sector a very important role, without providing it with transparency in cases of human rights abuses or environmental damage, as Marta Latek, researcher at the EPRS (European Parliamentary Research Service), explained

In terms of its objectives, many influential actors such as CARE (the international development confederation) agree that it focuses too much on migration control and does not prioritize the needs of the poor. This can be seen in the fact that both the cooperation framework with other non-EU countries and the external investment plan prioritize the EU's security and trade interests before helping the population out of poverty.

A fifth criticism reference letter to the political dimension. The new Consensus should integrate a holistic as well as a sustainable security concept to connect the problems of stability and democracy with those of security in EU foreign affairs. A holistic concept of development means a vision of lasting sustainability, encompassing aspects such as the condition of sustainability, social justice or democracy (Critique according to Henökl, Thomas and Niels Keijzer of the German Development Institute).

Finally, as far as financing is concerned, the European Parliament continues to ask member states to donate 0.7% of their annual budget to development cooperation. Since very few of them are able to provide this 0.7%, the consensus is that private sector participation via the European External Investment Plan is important.

In conclusion, this document reflects the needs of the current global context but requires a series of changes in order to be fully effective and a true strategy. These changes are necessary to prevent the Consensus from remaining only theoretical.

REFERENCES

Q&A: New European Consensus on development http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-1505_es.pdf 

New European Consensus on development: EU and Member States sign joint strategy to eradicate poverty: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1503_es.htm

The proposed new European Consensus on Development Has the European Commission got it right? https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/11263.pdf

New European consensus on development Will it be fit for purpose? http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/599434/EPRS_BRI(2017)599434_EN.pdf

Seven critical questions for review of 'European Consensus on Development ' https://www.euractiv.com/section/development-policy/opinion/sevencritical-questions-for-review-of-european-consensus-on-development/

The Future of the "European Consensus on Development" average

European Union Development Policy: Collective Action in Times of Global Transformation and Domestic Crisis http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dpr.12189/full