Comments of CNV Internationaal on the Green Paper on “EU development policy in support of inclusive growth and sustainable development”

CNV welcomes the fact that the Green Paper focuses more on the importance of inclusive and sustainable economic growth for development than was previously the case in (European) development policy. As the Paper rightfully points out, sustainable economic growth and decent work is crucial in order for countries, and the peoples inhabiting them, to lift themselves out of poverty. CNV agrees therefore with the notion in the Paper that, broadly speaking, development policy can contribute to a growth friendly environment. Although it should off course be noted that economic growth, like development programmes, should be a means not an end, which contributes to the wellbeing of the population at large. Among other things, through the creation of decent jobs. This should be clearly reflected in the new development policy of the EU.