Tuesday the 4th of December the EU Coherence Programme has organised a  workshop ‘Policy Coherence for Development’ in Viena (Austria). This introductory Workshop, organised in cooperation with the Austrian EU-platform aimed to inform Austrian NGOs about Policy Coherence for Development.

What is Policy Coherence for Development (PCD)? How does Policy Coherence for Development work? What role can Austrian NGOs play with a view to promoting PCD in Austria and the European Union? How to keep the Austrian government and the European Union up to their promises that Trade, Fishery and Migration policy, for instance, are coherent with development objectives.

Around 15 interested participants from Austrian NGOs intensively focused on the definition, methodology and advocacy to promote Policy Coherence for Development. On specific themes, such as Arms Trade, Biofuels and Access to Medicines participants analysed incoherent policies and discussed about recommendations towards the national and European decision-makers to promote Coherence. Campaign and advocacy experience of the EU Coherence Programme were used as a source to translate these recommendations in possibilities to organise advocacy activities in Austria and Brussels. Especially on themes as Biofuels and Arms Trade possible policy incoherencies were identified. After this intensive workshop several organisations showed their enthusiasm to actively promote coherent policies for development!

For more information please contact:
Thijs Wentink (EU Coherence Programme), +31 20 551 22 83