More views on international development cooperation after Brexit sought by Lords Committee
23 July 2019
The EU External Affairs Sub-Committee has re-published its Call for Evidence for its inquiry on 'International Development Cooperation after Brexit'. Written evidence should be submitted online by Friday 30 August 2019 23:59.
- Call for evidence: International Development Cooperation after Brexit (pdf, 105KB)
- Inquiry: International Development Cooperation after Brexit
- Send a written submission
- EU External Affairs Sub-Committee
The inquiry
The EU External Affairs Sub-Committee intends to contribute to public debate on possible UK cooperation with the EU on international development assistance after Brexit, and to scrutinise and influence the UK Government's consideration of this issue.
Background
The EU External Affairs Sub-Committee has re-launched its inquiry into international development cooperation between the UK and EU after Brexit.
EU development policy is a 'shared parallel competence', which means that EU Member States have their own development policies in addition to the EU's common development policy. Of the £13.4 billion the UK spent on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) in 2016, approximately £1.5 billion was spent through the European Development Fund (EDF) and other EU development programmes.
In a letter to the Committee on 19 December 2017, Lord Bates confirmed that "the UK will honour commitments to the EU budget made during the period of our membership", including commitments to the current and previous European Development Funds.
In its White Paper 'The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union' of July 2018, the Government proposes a cooperative accord which would allow for "UK participation in specific EU programmes, instruments or bespoke projects, with appropriate influence and oversight." Such participation would include "appropriate financial contributions" and the UK could participate in both EU development programmes and instruments, and in EU external spending programmes, including individual projects under such programmes.
Written evidence
The Sub-Committee seeks written evidence on the questions in the call for evidence from anyone with a relevant interest. We would like to hear from as a wide a range of individuals and organisations as possible. Diversity comes in many forms and hearing a range of different perspectives means that Committees are better informed and can scrutinise public policy and legislation more effectively. We encourage anyone with experience or expertise to share their views with the Committee, with the full knowledge that their views have value and are welcome.