EU Development Policy: Delivering Aid Effectiveness. Jean Monnet/Robert Shuman Paper Series. Vol. 8, No. 10 June 2008.

[From the Introduction]. A considerable academic debate has also taken place as to the significance of EU development policy both to the process of EU integration itself and to the expression of the EU’s collective interests on the world stage. Holland (2002) for example, argues that the increased effectiveness of collective EU action over national bi-lateral aid programmes can make an important contribution to strengthening the legitimacy of the EU itself. Meanwhile Arts and Dickson (2004) views EU development policy as having shifted from an innovative model of north-south relations to an assertion of the EU’s identity in the international arena. However this paper addresses the much narrower question as to whether the EC’s development programme has realised its potential for efficient aid delivery, for demonstrating a comparative advantage over national programmes and for contributing to the co-ordination and harmonisation of the Member States policies