Andris Piebalgs, EC commissioner-designate from Latvia, to be in charge of development policy [30 Nov 2009]

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The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso has announced that the Latvian commissioner-designate for the new European Commission, Andris Piebalgs, has been assigned a significant area within the European Union's foreign policy – that of Development. By assuming responsibility for this field, Mr Piebalgs will have to work in close co-operation with the new High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. Baroness Ashton will further chair the External Relations Council, which will also deal with development co-operation issues. The External Relations Council will bring together the EU member state foreign ministers.

Development co-operation means providing assistance to less developed countries of the world, in order to promote their long-term social and economic growth. The assistance is provided to the countries classified as developing countries in accordance with the list of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OSCE).

As a long-term commitment, the European Union has extended help to developing countries in various regions of the world by channelling 60% of the total official development aid towards the support to developing countries. In 2008, the EU allocated close to 50 million euro for development assistance. The priority region for the EU's assistance is Africa. The aid is provided also to countries in Asia, South America, Pacific and the Middle East.

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