EU development aid and other policy decisions should not be a reward for, or in any way tied to, compliance with EU immigration policy priorities. Such an approach would lead to perverse aid policy and human rights outcomes - for instance, increases in aid allocations to regimes such as that in Togo which are responsible for massive human rights violations yet are co-operating with the EU on migration matters. Dochas is therefore calling on the Government to make a clear statement against any such l
Sir, - A number of recent decisions and events have given rise to growing concern within Dóchas - a network representing 31 Irish development NGOs, including all the main aid agencies - about regarding this Government's intention to honour its international development and human rights commitments.
Three areas for concern have emerged:
1. The Government's decision not to meet its own aid-to-GNP target of 0.45 per cent in 2002, which has resulted in cuts totalling €32 million in this year's allocation to overseas aid.
2. The decision to abolish the EU Development Council.
3. Recent statements by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform suggesting Ireland's support for proposals to link EU development co-operation with recipient countries' performance in relation to enforcing certain measures around migration.
Firstly, as a result of this Government's failure to fully honour its aid commitments, vital programmes aimed at tackling poverty and addressing human rights abuses will be sacrificed.
The €32 million cut in the promised allocation - about 0.2 per cent of total budget cutbacks - is falling on a highly regarded programme centred on the world's poorest countries, and comes at a time when Ireland is being held up as an example of a country adhering to a specific time-frame for reaching the UN target of 0.7 per cent aid of GNP target by 2007.
Secondly, the decision to abolish the EU Development Council comes less than two years after the EU adopted its first comprehensive development co-operation policy statement. Through this body Ireland has an opportunity to influence development policy at EU level, an opportunity which successive Ministers have taken.
Moreover, as the Irish and other member-governments prepare for further enlargement of the Union to include countries with little or no history of development co-operation, it is more important than ever that a dedicated policy space exists where development issues can take centre stage.
Finally, there are the recent statements on the possible linkage of EU aid with a country's policy on migration. The continued lack of an overall Irish government policy on immigration provides space for the emergence of conflicts between Ireland's stated commitment to international development and human rights objectives and its actual policy stance on immigration and asylum issues. Dóchas is very concerned by reports that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform apparently gave his support to a policy proposal whereby the Union would reward countries collaborating with the EU on restricting immigration and repatriating refugees.
Taking effective action to address the three core concerns raised above would go a long way towards protecting and advancing the objectives of poverty reduction, sustainable development, human security and human rights at the heart of the Government's development policy. This would not only be in the best interests of the developing world - it would be in all our interests. - Yours, etc.,
P.J. HOWELL, Chairperson, Dóchas, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.