Blog

Two mottos for the new leadership team in Brussels

Simon Maxwell writes: “As a new European leadership team takes office in Brussels, two mottos should be carved on every desk. The first is that our well-being at home depends increasingly on doing deals abroad. The second is that the…

Reflections on the Durban outcome and the EU’s role in brokering a deal

Over on his website, Simon Maxwell looks at the outcome of the climate talks in Durban, focusing on the central role played by the EU. Simon notes: “The most interesting aspect for me is the role of the EU in brokering this deal, first…

The radical right in the European Parliament: impact on development policy

In May 2014, European Parliament elections will be held across Europe. Our latest paper addresses the growing awareness that the next European Parliament may contain a large contingent of anti-Europe radical right parties. At the domestic level, the reality is…

Why the European Parliament elections matter for international development

Elections to the European Parliament will take place in May this year. Yet, an oddity of the European elections is that they are out of synch with the main policy and budgetary processes of the EU. Does this suggest that the…

Strengthening the role of the private sector in achieving inclusive and sustainable growth in developing countries

The European Commission issued a call for contributions to their proposed communication on ‘Strengthening the role of the private sector in achieving inclusive and sustainable growth in developing countries’. The Issue Paper touches on some of the most relevant topics in private sector development. It…

Blended Finance for Infrastructure and Low-Carbon Development

Most developing countries face a chronic deficit of infrastructure constraining economic growth rates, leaving the world’s most vulnerable communities without access to basic services and hampering attempts to achieve broad-based poverty reduction. While over £500 billion is currently invested in infrastructure every year, it…

Communicating the costs and benefits of the EU

Regent’s University has commissioned independent practitioners to provide accessible, informed, evidence-based analysis, outlining the costs and benefits for each policy area of a changed status in the relationship between the UK and the EU. This is the first of its kind and…

Policy coherence for development: not just for wonks

Some people think policy coherence for development (PCD) is only important to policy wonks. They’re wrong. In a world with fewer low-income countries in which official aid is declining in importance relative to other sources of finance, policy engagement is…

Climate change: the European Union towards COP21 and beyond

Developing countries need a robust deal at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris, as well as an ambitious action plan to ramp up action afterwards. The EU can help finalise the deal by offering more in the…

SEO or SEA?

Companies have understood this well, their visibility on the Internet is essential to develop their commercial activity. The first effective lever to generate qualified traffic is the results of the first page of Google after a request from the Internet…