The EIB is partnering with Friends of Europe on a Development Policy Forum roundtable on 28 May. The roundtable will feature Algirdas Semeta, EU Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud.
The event will be split into two sessions. The first of these deals with raising domestic resources: the role of developing countries. Austerity is cutting into development budgets in traditional donor nations and as such the focus is shifting towards how the expansion of the tax base and improved collection and fiscal income in developing nations can increase domestic revenues.
Such measures will help combat poverty, but are governments doing enough in terms of illicit financial flow surveillance, fiscal policies, the management of public finance and international tax cooperation?
Session II, featuring Tamsyn Barton, Director General of Operations Outside Europe at the EIB, will look at raising foreign resources: the role of “new” aid donors. While official development assistance from OECD nations and financial institutions remains vital, new donors are making their presence felt, whether they are rising powers such as China and Brazil, or private foundations. The West has traditionally viewed these newcomers with suspicion – citing a lack of transparency or vague human rights policies – but has the time come for a change in attitude? What are the prospects for trilateral cooperation?
For further information on “Development Cooperation in an Age of Austerity”, and to register to attend, please visit the Friends of Europe website.