118^th IPU Assembly and related meetings

Cape Town, 12-18 April 2008

Second Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade

 

 

 

 

 

PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT OF STATE POLICIES ON FOREIGN AID

 

Senator Gyorgy FRUNDA

Romanian Inter-Parliamentary Group

 

 

Mr. Chairman,

Dear colleagues,

 

Thank you for giving me the floor. This is my first participation to an IPU Assembly and I am honored to speak before you. I would like to begin by congratulating the rapporteurs for the documents prepared and by emphasizing that today’s debate has a particular significance for us.

 

Indeed, Romania following its accession to the European Union in 2007, has gradually moved from aid recipient to aid donor status. In order for this transition to be successful, priority was given at governmental, as well as parliamentary levels, to the building up of the legislative and institutional framework for our national policy of international cooperation for development.

 

The legislation adopted in this field is guided by the values, principles and objectives enshrined in the European Consensus for Development, designed to push back poverty in developing countries, including low income and middle income countries, in the context of global efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

 

I should add also that the Romanian Parliament set up the legal basis for the financing from the national budget of activities in this field, according to the EU practice.

 

The Romanian policy of international cooperation for development became operational last year, with a contribution of 5 million euros, directed mostly towards United Nations agencies, programs and funds. Its implementation is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and parliamentary oversight is performed mainly by the two Committees on Foreign Policy in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

 

It is noteworthy mentioning that Parliament, through its appointed representatives, is to participate, together with members of  nongovernmental organizations, churches, academic and business communities, and the media, in the Council for Development Cooperation, an advisory body aimed at enhancing the involvement of non-State actors in activities of cooperation for development, and at ensuring the transparency of such activities.

 

Dear colleagues,

Before concluding, I invite you to examine the Romanian proposals for the draft resolution, which focus on the two following aspects. Firstly, the need for an increased coordination among aid donor countries, and for experience sharing and specific training in favour of new donors; secondly, the importance of gender mainstreaming in development cooperation, as a means to support gender equality and the empowerment of women, which are key factors in reaching all MDGs.

Thank you.