European Union development policy and the emergence of new donors in the area of international development cooperation - the case of Mexico

This diploma thesis focuses on the development policy of the European Union in regards to its relationship to new donors. EU is the main provider of the official development cooperation worldwide with 55% of total ODA. Thus, the EU is a key player that is strongly influenced by the changes the international environment has been going through. The reasons for such changes in the established structure must be viewed from the perspective of the emerging donor entering the field of international development cooperation. These donors are mainly cooperating with public and private agencies from middle income countries that have undergone recent and significant economic growth and thus are seeking ways to strengthen their influence in the international environment. Providing development assistance is one possibility which exists. Despite the fact that many of new donors are still the recipients of ODA they have come with ambitious plans of providing aid to less developed countries. The main aim of this diploma thesis is to focus on the selected example of a new donor, namely Mexico, as a case study to respond to the research question: Does the EU react to the emergence of new donors in the field of international development cooperation? If so, how can the response be classified - is it a positive..