Until the entry into force of the Treaty European Union on 1 November 1993, the EC had no specific legal basis for its development policy-which on various articles of the Treay, such as 310(238) (Lome IV nad various association agreemments)), 133 (113)(Generalized Scheme of Preferences and Cooperation Agreements) and 308 (235) Financial and Technical Assistance to Asian and Latin American Developing Countries). To these articles, the Treaty of the European Union added the new Articles 177-1181 (13u-130y), which deal specifically with developmment policy.

OBJECTIVES

• Sustainable economic and social development of the developing countries and, more particularly, the most disadvantaged among them;
• smooth and gradual integration of the developing countries into the world economy;
• reduction of poverty in developing countries;
• consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in developing countries.

ACHIEVEMENTS The inclusion of development policy provisions in the EC Treaty is politically significant, since it establishes development policy as a Community Policy in its own rights. In addition to the formulation of general development policy objectives, three new obligations are imposed on the Community and its Member States. According to Article 178, the Community shall take the objectives of development into account in policies likely to affect developing coutries. Article 180 obliges the Community and the Member States to coordinate their policies on development cooperation and to consult each other on their aid programmes. According to Article 181. the Community and the Member States shall, within their respective spheres of competence, be obliged to cooperate with third countries and the competent international organizations. HOME|  NEXT PAGE| HUMANITARIAN AID   | ACP|  FOOD AND SECURITY AID   |EU DEVELOPMENT POLICY|  LINKS