In the morning of the second day of the EU-Africa Summit representatives from the side-events got the opportunity to present their views to the Heads of States and Governments. Civil Society Organisations, Youth, Trade Unions and the Private Sector got three minutes respectively. Alpha Omar Konaré, president of the African Commission expressed that he was very happy with the fact that there were ‘many voices’ of civil representation - entrepreneurs, the youth and various associations - that are involved in the partnership between the two continents and ready to collaborate so that this cooperation between Europe and Africa can develop in a positive way for all parties. He also quoted the Civil Society Declaration, mentioning the lack of power equilibrium between both Continents.
Health equity in economic and trade policies
Have traditional restrictive macroeconomic policies and budget ceilings limited some governments from giving HIV/AIDS the attention it deserves? This paper analyses the links between macroeconomic frameworks provided by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and HIV social spending in Ghana and Malawi. It reviews major channels through which fiscal and monetary policies impact on public expenditure frameworks and how this, in turn, affects the ability of the countries to design and implement public programmes for those living with and affected by AIDS. Authors stress the need for a fundamental shift in the design and execution of the macroeconomic framework.
This study is one further contribution of the ICTSD Programme on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)and Sustainable Development to a better understanding of the proper role of intellectual property in a knowledge-based economy. The objective of the study is to generate and expand understanding of the policy of the EU regarding IPRs in bilateral and regional trade agreements. Additionally, it attempts to evaluate the impact of IP provisions proposed by the EU at a critical phase of EPA negotiations.
This Joint Strategy, which will provide an overarching long-term framework for Africa-EU relations, will be implemented through successive short-term Action Plans and enhanced political dialogue at all levels, resulting in concrete and measurable outcomes in all areas of the partnership. The purpose of this Joint Strategy is to take the Africa-EU relationship to a new, strategic level with a strengthened political partnership and enhanced cooperation at all levels. The partnership will be based on a Euro-African consensus on values, common interests and common strategic objectives. This partnership should strive to bridge the development divide between Africa and Europe through the strengthening of economic cooperation and the promotion of sustainable development in both continents, living side by side in peace, security, prosperity, solidarity and human dignity.
The EU and the ACP countries aim to conclude the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) by the end of December 2007. All parties agree that these trading arrangements are meant to be first and foremost “development instruments”. However, their positions differ greatly on how the EPAs will impact on the ultimate goal of poverty reduction. In this policy note Marikki
Stocchetti addresses the key issues of this disagreement.
Have traditional restrictive macroeconomic policies and budget ceilings limited some governments from giving HIV and AIDS the attention it deserves? This paper analyses the links between macroeconomic frameworks provided by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and HIV/AIDS social spending in Ghana and Malawi. Authors stress the need for a fundamental shift in the design and execution of the macroeconomic framework and propose policy recommendations.
The struggle to make medicines affordable to the world’s poor, especially in Africa, is raging on at the highest levels. Last week the European Commission took a landmark decision on generic drugs and next week a high-level intergovernmental meeting will look at ways to prevent patents from blocking access to drugs.
Two proposals to change the current patent system are causing a new diplomatic battle at the World Health Organisation in November. One concerns the launch of new medicines and the other seeks to make existing drugs available at low prices in developing countries. A coalition of developing countries, amongst them Brazil, and non-governmental organisations are defending a “patent pool” to combine intellectual property rights on existing medicines, and a “prize fund” to reward and stimulate discovery of new medicines for so-called neglected diseases. The two initiatives are receiving strong opposition from some rich countries and the pharmaceutical industry. They have also caused a split between the two major Latin American countries. Mexico is moving away from Brazil’s position and is making alliance with the US, alleging that it has commitments in the trade agreement with Washington.
The Ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries have issued their most comprehensive policy statement on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) at the end of a meeting they held in Brussels on 8-9 November. From the "Conclusions of the meeting" that they issued, it is clear that the Ministers recognised that the six ACP regional groupings are at different stages of negotiations with the European Commission on their respective EPAs, and that there are also differences between the regions on the issues that the EPAs would cover and on whether the negotiations will end by the official 31 December deadline. The Ministers welcomed the results obtained and stressed the need to do everything possible to ensure that the list submitted by the ACP Group regarding the preference erosion is rationalised to render it more credible.
The aim of this Report is to provide a rigorous analysis on how employment relations affect different population groups, and how this knowledge may help identify and promote worldwide effective policies and institutional changes to reduce health inequalities derived from these employment relations. Consequently, the report incorporates the political, cultural, and economic context to provide a comprehensive account of the current international situation of labour markets and types of employment conditions. Thus, through regulating employment relations, main political actors can not only redistribute resources affecting social stratification, but also have an impact on the life experiences of different social groups including opportunities for well-being, exposure to hazards leading to disease, and access to health care.