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Business, business and business - is this the new mantra for EU development cooperation?

A new handbook on improving the investment climate in developing countries sheds light on how the European Union and its member states are using aid money to promote the interests of European companies. In this joint Eurodad/ActionAid blog, we question whether the EU's work on investment is at odds with its obligations to promote human rights, civic space and participatory democracy.

News

Building political momentum will be crucial for the way forward - Global Partnership on Effective Development Cooperation Senior Level Meeting

More than 600 participants from across the development sector gathered in New York in July to urge development actors to deliver on their commitments to ensure development cooperation truly eradicates poverty and brings about sustainable development. Read our blog on the first Senior Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation.

Report

Beggar thy neighbour: EU policies on debt, tax and finance and its impact on developing countries

By Bodo Ellmers and Tove Ryding. Published by SDG Watch Europe

In chapter six of this Spotlight Report on Sustainability in Europe, Eurodad's Bodo Ellmers and Tove Ryding highlight how the European Union's policies on debt, tax and finance impact strongly on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and how wrong and ill-informed decisions not only hinder progress, but can undo what has already been achieved.

Useful resources & job vacancies

Progressive Taxation Briefings

By Action Aid

Progressive taxation means higher tax rates for people who earn or have more wealth and is a clear example of progressivity. Regressive taxation means poor people paying a greater proportion of their available resources than the rich and consumption taxes using a flat rate are clear examples. The briefings cover generally-regressive taxes that can and should be reformed, such as consumption taxes such as value-added tax (VAT), excise taxes, international trade taxes, and taxes on the informal sector, as well as taxes that are usually progressive such as property tax, capital gains tax and wealth taxes - including inheritance tax. Each briefing defines the type of tax, discusses its current application, outlines its challenges and benefits, gives examples of how it has been used and recommends how it could be better applied or reformed.

Media and Communications Officer at Counter Balance

Counter Balance – Challenging public investment banks is a European coalition of development and environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with extensive experience working on development finance and the international financial institutions (IFIs) as well as campaigning to prevent negative impacts resulting from major infrastructure projects. They are looking for a Media and Communications Officer to be responsible for developing and implementing the communications and media plan of Counter Balance to optimise the visibility of our work and the impact of their organisation.

This newsletter has been produced with co-funding from the European Union, Bread for the World and Norad. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Eurodad and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the funders.