Comments for Blog of Commissioner Andris Piebalgs

Comment on Economic vs social? How to measure countries’ real wealth… by Andrew A. Sailer

Andrew A. Sailer — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:44:19 +0000

Who do you think is really to blame for the current state of the economy?

Comment on Visite dans la Corne de l’Afrique by Juanjo Tarres

Juanjo Tarres — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:30:05 +0000

Hello Mr. Piebalgs
I am glad that you have visited this region and you have come back with positive feelings, specially regarding Somaliland. There are several actors (International Crisis Group) and persons like Charles Tannock that are claiming that this small country is “doing his homework”. Your actions regarding the allocation of 100 milions euros to support Somaliland economy are going in that direction. So my question is … why any European country recognizes Somaliland?? why don´t you make more efforts in this question? I know that the fact of recognizing one country is something not easy. You have to consider all the reactions but everthing indicates that Ethiopia will accept it and although Somalia will not, they have to understand that the growth of Somaliland will benefit them. Maybe some countries (as Saudi Arabia) may be “offended” but… what we, as europeans, want is that at least part of the region recovers. Sometime I feel ashame that the E.U. is not it is best from the political point of view to solve the problem. Many thanks for your time and kind regards

Comment on Through fighting poverty to security – notes from Afghanistan by Marie

Marie — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:52:51 +0000

Key to eradicating poverty is education.
Afghnistan has such a high rate of illeteracy that it makes it difficult to provide assistance to those who would benefit from such. Hatred for outsiders and especially Europeans, combined with the existing rate of illiteracy, create the volatile and violent environment that the taliban creates to keep the Afghan people where they are not.
Too many use past colonialism to foster hatred and violence. It’s sad that those who try to bring the best out of others are seen as evil. I’m sure it affects the U.S in many ways too. Why should anyone feel guilty why you’re helping?

Comment on Women’s voices – history of heroines from Timor by Jude Conway

Jude Conway — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:53:26 +0000

I have been just as impressed as you with the spirit and courage and determination of Timorese women. You may be interested to look at a book that I compiled which has 13 life stories from Timorese women including Domingas 'Micato' Alves, Ceu lopes Federer and Lucia Lobato. It is called Step by Step: Women of East Timor, Stories of Resistance and Survival and is published by CDU Press http://cdupress.cdu.edu.au/recent.html

Comment on Where does Europe end? Mutual benefits of EU-OCT partnership by Wojtek Talko

Wojtek Talko — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:17:36 +0000

Dear Rachid, Thank you very much for your question and comment. You can find more information about the projects here: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/127&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en I hope this helps.

Comment on Quelques réflexions suite au Conseil informel des ministres du Développement… by carrie

carrie — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:50:37 +0000

i also want to ask that same quesiton last,

Comment on Where does Europe end? Mutual benefits of EU-OCT partnership by Statut AEO

Statut AEO — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:48:44 +0000

Exacte, j’aimerais bien connaitre le mode de calcul de la répartition pour l’aide au développement.
Ou peut on trouver cette information.
Merci pour le complément d’information.

Comment on Quelques réflexions suite au Conseil informel des ministres du Développement… by VWinkler

VWinkler — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:50:10 +0000

Is this entry also available in English, please?

Comment on Haiti: Relentless Efforts by Jodi

Jodi — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:52:38 +0000

Great post. My prayers are with Haiti.

Comment on How to gear up the fight against poverty? by Andrea Africa

Andrea Africa — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:10:58 +0000

Electricity is very important but not a pre-condition to all MDGs. Everybody working in development knows that Panacea solutions do not exisist and inevitably and miserably fail. For instance most rural villages in Africa are reaching water coverage thanks to hand pumps, the only solution that is economic sustainble for them. EC tried putting solar panels in western and central Africa but it did not work out for many socio-economic reasons. The battle against poverty is extremely complex and every commissioner or any other politicians that came with the “right” solution failed so far. The problem is not more food or more electricity or more water, the problem is the whole economic system totaly inadapted to poverty alleviation battles. Europe should play a central role on that and yet it is not even respecting the minimum requirements set up in the very few decent international agreements so far such as the Paris declaration, Accra, etc.
Development is nightmare of helpless polititians going back and forth, knowing that they have no power to do anything, but re-proposing the same solutions as “the solution” every 10 -20 years, failing and running away to other more important issues, is that made on purpose ? should the european citizens know that? please propose something, development and environment are the most important battles of our times.
Andrea