Nordic development ministers: Our common voice must be strengthened

The Nordic development ministers who met in Helsinki on Monday expressed the wish to strengthen their cooperation and the visibility of the Nordic countries for instance in the work done by UN agencies. “We have to show that we Nordic countries speak in one strong Nordic voice,” said Christian Friis Bach, the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation.

Human rights as a base for development are important to Denmark and Finland, Development Ministers Christian Friis Bach and Heidi Hautala stressed. Photo: Timo IkonenHuman rights as a base for development are important to Denmark and Finland, Development Ministers Christian Friis Bach and Heidi Hautala stressed. Photo: Timo Ikonen

The agenda of the meeting in Helsinki included, among other topics, cooperation with UN agencies, the EU’s development policy and the Danish Presidency of the EU as well as humanitarian aid to the Horn of Africa. In addition the ministers discussed follow-up of the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness held in Busan and Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to be held next June. The ministers also discussed the UN’s Millennium Development Goals after the 2015 deadline.

Development Minister Gunilla Carlsson stressed the importance of the private sector in sustainable development. Photo: Timo IkonenDevelopment Minister Gunilla Carlsson stressed the importance of the private sector in sustainable development. Photo: Timo Ikonen

“The Nordic countries, when they speak in one voice, are a very strong player in the world,” said Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation.

Lively debate on the results of multilateral assistance at the country level is now underway in both Sweden and Norway. Sweden and Norway are among the biggest supporters of UN agencies. “Although the agencies’ results are often difficult to assess at the field level, their work must be more visible and it must be possible to measure the results. Our taxpayers demand information about the results of assistance and there is the wish for support to be directed where results can be obtained,” said Erik Solheim, Minister of International Development from Norway.

“We need to consider how to strengthen our cooperation in multilateral assistance,” Finland’s Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala added.

Placing human rights on the EU agenda

“Denmark sees the EU’s development policy as tool that can have real influence and can change societies,” Minister Bach said when presenting the aims of the Danish EU Presidency. “As the holder of the EU Presidency, we underline a human rights-based approach to development, and this is also important in our own development policy.”

Denmark considers budget support a good instrument for the EU’s development policy. Many EU countries have reduced their funds for general budget support; Sweden, among others, is considering abandoning it and switching instead to sector budget support. According to Development Minister Heidi Hautala, budget support, when used correctly, is a good way to conduct political dialogue on human rights and good governance with partner countries.

Norway’s Development Minister Erik Solheim wondered why the EU countries don’t bring out their own role more. Photo: Timo IkonenNorway’s Development Minister Erik Solheim wondered why the EU countries don’t bring out their own role more. Photo: Timo Ikonen

“The EU and its Member States are clearly the world’s largest donor. The EU is a superpower with regard to development aid, and the Member States should be proud of it. This fact is poorly known, and the EU countries should draw public attention to it more,” said Development Minister Erik Solheim of Norway.

To Rio with Nordic priorities

The intention is to intensify Nordic cooperation in June at the UN Review Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio+20.

“Water, especially water partnerships between the public and private sectors, is among Finland’s priorities at the conference. Another important issue for Finland is the new development indicators that aim to measure development more deeply than the gross national income,” Development Minister Heidi Hautala stated. Finland is organising an event on water partnerships in the margins of the Rio conference, and Minister Hautala invited the other Nordic countries to take part in the event.

Development Minister Bach of Denmark was hopeful that progress concerning sustainable development will be made in Rio, especially with regard to promoting green economy. For both Denmark and Norway, energy efficiency and renewable energy will be strong priorities at the Rio conference. “We must be able to promote green economy so that poor countries don’t experience it only as an initiative advocated by the rich countries,” Norwegian Development Minister Erik Solheim commented.

At Rio, Sweden plans also to highlight economic and social sustainability. “Private capital must be found for sustainable development goals and the private sector must get involved,” said Sweden’s Development Minister Gunilla Carlsson.
 

Nordic cooperation