What are the competences of the Union in the field of development cooperation?
According to the Lisbon Treaty, development cooperation is an area of shared competence between the Union and the Member States. The exercise of this competence by the Union doesn’t prevent the Member States from exercising their own. National development and EU policies should complement and reinforce each other (Article 208 TFEU). The special status allocated to Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid allows for strong joint EU actions while maintaining bilateral development programmes of the Member States; these provide added value given the expertise available in specific interests of the national development administrations.
Related Questions
- How is it ensured that the EU’s development cooperation policy will not overrun by Union’s security and commercial policies?
- What are the main changes in the field of Development Cooperation in the Constitution compared to earlier treaties?
- The Union receives a legal personality, what does it mean for external relations and development cooperation?
