Fears as EU policies link development aid to war on terror

IRISH aid agencies yesterday strongly criticised new EU anti-terror policies linking development assistance with the country’s record on fighting terror.

The policy, contained in the Declaration on Combating Terrorism, was signed off by EU leaders at a major summit in Brussels this week.

"We're deeply worried about it, especially that there should be a clause on effective counter-terrorism in all agreements with third countries," Dr Lorna Gold, policy analyst with Trócaire.

"Our main concern is that this will result in diversion of funds from poverty eradication programmes to counter-terrorism measures."

Paddy Maguinness, deputy chief executive of Concern, said the policy was contrary to fundamental principles of humanitarianism and human rights the EU had signed up to.

"Giving people development is not a gift. People have a right to develop. Putting this conditionality on it is neither right nor fair, nor in line with the UN Declaration of Rights."

The Declaration on Combating Terrorism states that the EU will ensure effective and practical co-operation with third countries in combating terrorism.

It will do this by "addressing counter-terrorism concerns into all relevant external assistance programmes".

Dr Gold said: "There's big issues here: issues in relation to the geographical distribution of aid in terms of which countries receive assistance if these reforms are applied; issues around what counts as aid that's a big one."

She said it was unclear from the declaration whether the policy would apply to existing or just new agreements and whether it applied to individual national agreements or just EU agreements.

"There's also potential for abuse of counter-terrorism measures within developing countries," said Dr Gold.

Mr Maguinness said Concern was opposed to making the war on poverty subservient to the war on terror.

"Humanitarian action should be taken for humanitarian purposes. If there is a famine or earthquake we should be responding to those things from a humanitarian perspective, not measuring up where this sits on the war against terrorism."

Dóchas, a body representing 33 Irish aid agencies, said development aid was about helping the poor not pursuing EU interests.