03 10 13 Statement by EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs on ECA report on EU support for governance in DRC

Development
cooperation in the DRC is taking place under extremely difficult
conditions; the Court has recognised the “serious obstacles” we
face in trying to improve governance in the country and these
challenges need to be taken into consideration when looking at our
achievements. In this context, I believe that EU development
cooperation has a positive impact on the governance sector in DRC.
Let’s not forget that as late as in the year 2003 the country had
no functioning administration and the work of the EU and its partners
in many ways started from zero.

While
the Court's report covers several projects which are at an early
stage of implementation, I consider it premature to draw conclusions
regarding their results at this point. The Commission has taken good
note of the risks highlighted by the Court.

To
confirm that our cooperation has positive impact, I can mention the
reforming the Congolese national police: Some years ago, no
information about the number of police recruited, their rank or
activities was available. The EU has supported a country-wide census
of the police force and the setting up of a database. This has
allowed the government to develop a human resource strategy and will
greatly improve the overall functioning of the police.

On
expected results, I wish to underline that in the field of justice,
democracy and overall governance our targets have to be ambitious,
even if that makes them difficult to achieve at times. Take elections
for example: our support cannot aim for partially democratic
elections. At the same time improving governance is a very long-term
process in a country like DRC. The work the European Union does with
other donors and the authorities makes an important contribution to
this process.

I
welcome the emphasis put on risk assessment by the Court’s report.
When the Commission plans its projects, it carries out a thorough
analysis of the situation, and adapts projects as much as possible to
changing circumstances. However, we cannot let the risks discourage
us from intervening, as the related risks would then be so much
greater.

In
its exchanges with the DRC authorities, the EU maintains a close
political and sector dialogue which stresses mutual accountability.
At the same time we need to keep in mind that aid needs to be
predictable, particularly in a fragile state. While striking the good
balance between policy dialogue and predictability of aid, the
Commission considers that systematically using conditionality could
be ineffective, or even counterproductive. The Commission, together
with the European External Action Service (EEAS), will also continue
to strengthen a coordinated EU policy dialogue in DRC.