The Committee on Development questioned Jozef Síkela, Czech candidate for the International Partnerships portfolio, on Wednesday.

Global Gateway

In his introductory statement, Jozef Síkela, Commissioner-designate for International Partnerships, said his approach to the EU’s Global Gateway initiative would be to balance profit and principles, and that the EU must leverage public-private partnerships, de-risk investments and attract private capital, to mobilise investments and fill the development aid gap.

Mr Síkela said EU development policy should focus on tackling the root causes of irregular migration, conflict prevention and good governance, Least Developed Countries, strengthening the relationship with Africa, and aligning with the EU’s Green Deal objectives. He added that the EU should be more assertive in its offer to partner countries given the presence of other, more aggressive, competitors in regions like Africa.

EU interests, eradicating poverty

MEPs focused their questioning on the Commissioner-designate’s approach to the Global Gateway, including on how he will advance the initiative so it benefits EU economic interests, and a perceived contradiction in its focus on both opening markets to the EU and eradicating poverty. Mr Síkela said he saw no contradiction, instead arguing for the necessity of private sector involvement to support sustainable economic growth in partner countries.

Debt relief and education

In response to MEPs’ concerns about transparency and accountability in EU development aid – including spending, EP oversight, and human rights violations - Mr Síkela said that efficiency of aid spending will be a priority for him.

To MEPs who feared the EU’s focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was waning, Mr Síkela stressed that without private capital, many targets would be impossible to reach. Additionally, he committed to maintaining the EU’s 10% target for aid spending on education, and investigating debt relief options for partners pending discussions with likeminded donor countries.

Other MEPs raised the issue of using development policy to address migration, including attaching conditions to aid support linked to returns, to which Mr Síkela said he would take a “whole-of-route approach” which respects EU values.

Source: European Parliament