Support for Germany’s 2020 EU Council presidency

Project description

Title: Programme Support of the German EU Council Presidency 2020
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Germany
Lead executing agency: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Overall term: 2019 to 2021

Context

Germany is taking over presidency of the EU Council in 2020 and is a member of the new trio presidency together with Portugal and Slovenia until the end of 2021. The close cooperation between the states is intended to provide greater continuity in European policy-making.

The European Union (EU) plays a key role in shaping international processes. This stems from its transnational responsibility and its significance in international cooperation. In this sense, Germany’s EU Council presidency presents an opportunity to promote uniform European Development Cooperation (DC).

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) therefore wishes to involve the EU more closely in order to provide answers to global challenges. This is stated in BMZ’s Development Policy 2030 strategy paper.

Objective

The BMZ is helping shape the Germany’s EU Council presidency agenda. Together with Portugal and Slovenia, it is devising development policy priorities and solutions within the framework of the EU Council presidency and the ’Trio Programme’.

Approach

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is supporting BMZ in providing advice and in ist coordination work. 

The project focuses on three areas: 
1.    Working on priority topics in order to adapt BMZ positions to EU processes and then position them successfully 
The project team coordinates the responsible departments of GIZ. In this way, it ensures comprehensive expertise and develops a common understanding of EU requirements. 

The project provides BMZ with the necessary knowledge for processes and formats, especially for the priority areas EU-Africa partnerships, sustainable global supply chains, digitalisation and joint programming.

2.    Preparing and following up Council Working Group meetings
Within the framework of the EU Council presidency, BMZ is responsible for various meetings, including those of the Council Working Group on development cooperation (CODEV), the Council Working Group on cooperation with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, the Council Working Group on the 2030 Agenda and the ad-hoc Council Working Group on the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). 
To this end, the project coordinates decisions with other EU development policy actors. It thus identifies interfaces for cooperation and supports BMZ's moderating role between EU member states and EU institutions.

3.    Analyses and comments by relevant political, civil society, business and academic stakeholders
The analyses serve to identify interfaces for a joint approach and possible alliances. This applies to both consultation and technical preparation of the working groups and exchange formats. The aim is to achieve deeper understanding within BMZ of other stakeholders’ positions in order to better shape the policy-making process.