Press Release: European Commission proposes a Code of Conduct for an improved division of labour between EU Donors

Cutting red tape, putting the money where it is needed most, pooling aid, dividing the job in order to deliver more aid, better and faster. These are the objectives of a new and voluntary Code of Conduct for the division of labour in EU Development Policy proposed by the Commission on 28 February 2007. The Code of Conduct will contain ten principles for a better division of labour among EU donors in developing countries. The Commission proposes, for example, that EU donors limit their involvement in a partner country to the two sectors in which they have the best comparative advantage. This principle can make one Member State delegate responsibility for carrying out its aid programme in a particular area to another Member State who is better placed to do so.