coherence (~) euforic current issues, food for thought, background information
the issue
The Treaty on European Union, signed in Maastricht on 7 February 1992, includes a number of articles regarding
development cooperation of the Union and its member states. Three concepts form the focal point of the articles on development cooperation included in the Treaty, i.e.:
complementarity, coordination and coherence, sometimes referred to as the 'three Cs'.
The OECD provides an unofficial working definition: "Policy coherence for development means working to ensure that the objectives and results of a government's development policies are not undermined by other policies of that same government which impact on developing countries, and that these other policies support development objectives
where feasible."
According to the European Commission, coherence is a multidimensional commitment which needs to take place within the overall framework of the EU sustainable development
strategy. Non-development policies should respect development policy objectives and
development cooperation should, where possible, also contribute to reaching the objectives of
other EU policies.
