While discussing funding of the sustainable development and neighbourhood policies, the ministers for development cooperation of the EU member states talked about the report of Wise Persons on the European financial architecture for development. The document highlights the need to amend the current EU system of financing development activities in order make it more effective.

“We support the need to obtain an independent legal and financial expert study of the proposed solutions before we take a decision on future institutional changes,” said the deputy chief of Polish diplomacy. He also pointed out that the report is only a starting point for an in-depth debate on the necessary institutional changes in the area of development assistance.

The ministers also talked about how the EU and member states can support the development of partner countries in transition, focusing on Ethiopia. In this context, the deputy minister emphasised that it is key to modernise the economy, support small and medium-sized enterprises and improve the conditions for domestic and foreign investment.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views with Minister of Education of Ethiopia Tilaye Gete on the need to provide equal access to high quality education in Africa, particularly for girls.

While in Brussels, the undersecretary of state at the Polish MFA met with Jerzy Pomianowski, Executive Director of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), as well as Katarina Mathernova and Maciej Popowski, Deputy Director-Generals for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). During the talks, Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz outlined Poland’s actions to support independent organisations in Russia and proposed to continue actions to strengthen independent media in the east. He also presented Poland’s expectations for the Eastern Partnership’s future and highlighted the role of European institutions in coordinating eastern policy. “We believe that the future of the Eastern Partnership should be based on things that unite member states rather than on political visions, that is on the four freedoms of the common market,” stressed Deputy Minister Przydacz. “Most countries, Poland included, expect close sector cooperation, support for business and the implementation of the association agreements,” he added.

MFA Press Office