Dear colleagues,
today I would like to address another important matter. When reflecting our cooperation with Africa, Caribbean, Pacific very often, and again I saw it two weeks ago in Kenya, I am confronted with the following:
Our development money do not end up building capacity of the recipient countries. Very often, our development money buy goods and services from non-democratic countries.
If we really want to help, we shall adjust our rules and processes so that our development means are used to buy from local capacities and local actors. Only then, they will be contributing to development of the recipient country.
Then if this is not feasible, we shall enhance the local capacities through services and products from the EU countries. After all, it is the EU companies who pay taxes that can be used for our development cooperation.
If still not feasible, we might support deliverers from third countries, excluding those from non-democratic countries and our systemic rivals.
This is a very important point related to our joint interest in the context of our ambitions under the Global Gateway and other cooperation with the ACP countries. Dear colleagues, this is just a brief outline. I know the issue has many modalities. But Czechia will be elaborating more on this matter. If you feel it the same way, please do approach us so we can join our efforts.
The speach was held at the Foreign Affairs Council Development on 7 May 2024 in Brussels.