What is Policy Coherence?
Policy coherence is defined by the OECD as the systematic promotion of mutually reinforcing policy actions across government departments and agencies creating synergies towards achieving the agreed objectives.
From a development perspective, policy coherence implies that the EU, in pursuing domestic policy objectives in areas such as trade, agriculture, the environment or migration, should, at a minimum, avoid negative consequences and spillovers which would adversely affect the development prospects of poor countries. More positively, policy coherence for development implies that the EU, in designing its domestic policies, should actively look for ways to exploit the potential for positive spillovers and consequences for developing countries in the way it pursues these domestic objectives.
In legal terms, the obligation to take account of the objectives of Development Co-operation in EU policies that are likely to affect developing countries is enshrined in the EC Treaty (art. 178). The draft EU Constitution upholds this commitment to coherence in even stronger terms, stating that 'The Union shall ensure consistency between the different areas of its external action and between these and its internal policies (art. III - 292). In the specific context of development cooperation policy the draft Constitution stipulates that the 'Union's development cooperation policy shall have as its primary objective the reduction and, in the long term, eradication of poverty. The Union shall take account of the objectives of development cooperation in the policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries.' (art. III - 316).
The policy coherence argument is that there should be a 'development-proofing' of existing and proposed policy interventions across all domestic policies. It is clearly not going to be the case that only the interests of developing countries will drive domestic policies in each area, but developing country interests should be heard. Where there are alternative interventions possible to achieve the domestic objective, the domestic policy with the greatest coherence with development policy objectives should be chosen.
Resources:
Reform of the CAP and the Challenge of Coherence for Ireland, IAAC Discussion Paper No. 4
This paper, written by Aidan O'Driscoll, highlights the challenge which faces the Irish Government in reconciling its commitment to development with the interests of the farming community in the face of pressures for trade and agricultural policy reform.
IAAC_policy_coherence_and_agriculture_paper.doc (53.00 kB)
OECD policy brief on policy coherence
Short, 8-page brief which explains why policy coherence is vital for development.
OECD_policy_coherence_brief.pdf (197.37 kB)
