2012年-CEPS欧洲政策研究中心_EU_development_ministers_discuss_approach_to_Central_Asia_2页_280kb

EU Development Ministers Discuss Approach to Central Asia

Core Content

On 14 July 2011, European development ministers convened in Sopot, Poland, to address development-related issues, with a particular focus on Central Asia. The meeting highlighted the need for a more nuanced and targeted approach to EU development assistance in the region, which has historically been viewed primarily through a foreign policy lens.

Main Points

• EU's Development Strategy for Central Asia:
  The EU has been providing development assistance to Central Asia for the past five years, with a planned review of its political strategy in the autumn. The current approach is primarily through the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), which also covers other regions like the Gulf, Latin America, and South Africa.

• Funding Allocation:
  Between 2011 and 2013, the EU allocated 321 million Euros to Central Asia, with one third directed to regional activities and two thirds to bilateral programming. However, this level of funding is considered relatively low compared to support for other regions such as the EU's neighborhood and Africa.

• Focus on Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan:
  The meeting acknowledged the need for greater attention to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the two poorest and weakest states in the region. These countries face distinct challenges:

  • Kyrgyzstan: Requires capacity-building to strengthen governance and promote inclusive democracy following the 2010 revolution and subsequent inter-ethnic violence.
  • Tajikistan: Faces security threats from Afghanistan (narcotics and radicalism) and energy shortages. It also needs improved capacity and transparency in financial support.

• Challenges in Assistance Delivery:

  • The low absorption capacity of state institutions in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan poses a significant challenge to effective aid delivery.
  • Corruption and mismanagement risk the misuse of funds, as seen in past experiences with IMF funding in Tajikistan.
  • Budget support is the preferred modality, but it is not always effective without corresponding governance reforms.

• Need for Coordination:
  New development strategies must be aligned with existing EU financing instruments, bilateral funding from member states, and support from other donors such as the US, OSCE, UN, and international financial institutions. The EU should also ensure that aid is conditional on democratic reforms, including transparency, accountability, and public participation, to ensure that it reaches the most vulnerable populations.

Key Information

• Participants:

  • Jos Boonstra: Head of the EUCAM programme and senior researcher at FRIDE.
  • Jacqueline Hale: Senior policy analyst at OSI-Brussels, covering Central Asia, the Caucasus, energy, and women's issues.

• Funding Figures:

  • Kyrgyzstan: 51 million Euros under the DCI.
  • Tajikistan: 62 million Euros under the DCI.
  • Funding through other instruments such as the Instrument for Stability and the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights is more limited.

• EU Member States' Role:
  EU member states are not well represented in Central Asia, with Germany being a notable exception. There is a call for increased presence on the ground to better understand local needs and challenges.

• Political Context:
  The EU's interest in Central Asia is also influenced by events in the Arab world, prompting several member states to express concern about the region's stability and development prospects.

Conclusion

The Sopot meeting emphasized the importance of tailoring development strategies to the specific needs and contexts of each Central Asian country. While increased funding is desirable, the key challenge lies in ensuring that aid is effectively absorbed and used. This requires greater coordination, conditional support, and enhanced engagement with local institutions and populations. The EU must also recognize the urgent need for governance reforms in the region to make development assistance more impactful and sustainable.