The Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development 2 “The central challenge in develop- ment cooperation is and remains for the state, businesses and society to work together to provide impe- tus to people in partner countries to help themselves. We can achieve this if we cooperate globally to bring about a shift away from short-term crisis management and towards a strategy of sustainable development. Local populations need to muster the creative power to make the most of their potential. The members of the Committee put their confidence in committed people who work to create a decent future in their home countries.” Dr Peter Ramsauer, CDU/CSU Chairman of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development 3 The German Bundestag’s decisions are prepared by its committees, which are estab- lished at the start of each elec- toral term. Four of them are stipulated by the Basic Law, the German constitution: the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Defence Committee, the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union and the Petitions Committee. The Budget Committee and the Committee for the Rules of Procedure are also required by law. The spheres of respon- sibility of the committees essentially reflect the Federal Government’s distribution of ministerial portfolios. This enables Parliament to scruti- nise the government’s work effectively. The Bundestag committees The German Bundestag sets political priorities of its own by establishing additional committees for specific sub- jects, such as sport, cultural affairs or tourism. In addition, special bodies such as parlia- mentary advisory councils, The committees discuss and committees of inquiry or deliberate on items referred study commissions can also to them by the plenary. They be established. The commit- also have the right to take up tees are composed of mem- issues on their own initiative, bers of all the parliamentary allowing them to set priorities groups, reflecting the balance in the parliamentary debate. of these groups in the German When necessary, they draw Bundestag. The distribution on external expertise – usu- of the chairs and deputy ally by holding public hear- chairs among the parliamen- ings. At the end of a commit- tary groups also reflects their tee’s deliberations, a majority relative strengths in the ple- of its members adopt a rec om- nary. In the current electoral mendation for a decision and term, the committees have a report, which serve as the between nine and 49 mem- basis for the plenary’s deci- bers. sion. 5 Education and training for all, decent work and economic growth, action to tackle diseases and child mortality, urban development and meas- ures to combat climate change – the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development deals with issues relating to global social justice and the question of how we can coex- ist peacefully and sustainably in future. The Committee members, chaired by Peter Ramsauer, meet each Wednes- day morning in weeks when the Bundestag is sitting, and discuss and debate how development cooperation should be designed so that it can reach people even more effectively and make a real difference. The Committee’s main task is monitoring and scrutinising on behalf of Parliament the work of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, a role in which it takes a constructive and critical approach. The Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development The Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development supports the implementation of members look at a range of the Sustainable Development scenarios in their discussions Goals (SDGs) formulated by on the situation in the world’s the United Nations (UN), crisis regions: for example, building on the Millennium the situation in cities in view Development Goals (MDGs). of Africa’s population trends, For example, the Committee’s the impact of climate change agenda features topics such as on living conditions in Asia, measures to develop function- or the challenges facing civil ing infrastructure, support for society following the civil rural development, maternal wars in Latin America. The health services and gender wide spectrum of topics dealt equality. Other subjects of with by the Committee is discussion include measures reflected in the large number to develop the capacity of of bills, motions, communi- public administrations and cations and items of business good governance. In addition, from the European Union (EU) regular debates are held which are discussed at the on the design of German Committee’s meetings. The programmes in Germany’s parliamentarians are regularly partner countries and in crisis involved in the preparations regions. These programmes for and follow-up to important include short-term humani- international conferences. tarian aid and emergency and Another key part of their work transitional aid, for which is delegation trips to enable the Federal Foreign Office the Committee members to is the lead ministry. Such form their own impression of programmes are followed by German development cooper- long-term development co- ation with partner countries opera tion, for which the Fed- and to review how it is being eral Ministry for Economic implemented in practice by Cooperation and Development visiting individual projects is responsible. The Committee in these countries. 9 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ CDU/CSU 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SPD 3 ■ ■ ■ AfD 3 ■ ■ ■ FDP 2 ■ ■ The Left Party 2 ■ ■ Alliance 90/The Greens Number of members: 24 Chairman: Dr Peter Ramsauer, CDU/CSU Deputy Chairman: Uwe Kekeritz, Alliance 90/The Greens 7 Sustainable Development Goals On 25 September 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by the UN General Assembly in New York. These are the 17 Goals: 1. No poverty, 2. Zero hunger, The Agenda aims to con- 3. Good health and tribute to enabling all people well-being, worldwide to live in dignity. 4. Quality education, Unlike the MDGs, which 5. Gender equality, focused primarily on develop- 6. Clean water ing countries, the SDGs apply and sanitation, to all states, requiring all 7. Affordable and countries to verifiably fulfil clean energy, the criteria. 8. Decent work and economic growth, 9. Industry, innovation German Sustainable and infrastructure, Development Strategy 10. Reduced inequalities, 11. Sustainable cities The Federal Government has and communities, drawn up a German Sustain- 12. Responsible consumption able Development Strategy, and production, adopted in January 2017, 13. Climate action, to implement the SDGs in 14. Life below water, Germany. There is an estab- 15. Life on land, lished procedure for review- 16. Peace, justice and ing national progress, and the strong institutions, results achieved by the indi- 17. Partnerships for the Goals. vidual countries are compared. 8 Marshall Plan with Africa The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has taken a new direction in its cooperation with the countries of Africa The measures set out in the and developed a “Marshall German Sustainable Develop- Plan with Africa”. It is ment Strategy have three intended to enable a partner- levels of impact: ship of equals to emerge, 1) measures with an impact going beyond project-based in Germany; 2) measures development cooperation. taken by Germany which This policy initiative is based have a worldwide impact; on three pillars: 1) economic and 3) measures in which activity, trade and employ- Germany is involved through ment; 2) peace, security and bilateral cooperation with stability; and 3) democracy, other countries. As all rule of law and human rights. of the federal ministries are The aim of the Federal Minis- involved in delivering the try for Economic Coopera- Strategy, lead responsibility tion and Development is to rests with the Federal Chan- strengthen the African states’ cellery. The State Secretaries’ own development capacity, Committee for Sustainable and in this way to empower Development serves as a them to make their own con- central steering body and tribution to the achievement monitors compliance with of the SDGs. The Committee and the implementation of members gather information the Strategy. The Bundestag’s about the implementation of Committee on Economic the Marshall Plan with Africa Cooperation and Development in the course of delegation addresses this topic frequently trips abroad and at meetings and requests briefings on the between the Committee and current state of play regarding representatives of African the implementation measures. partner countries. Overview of the 17 SDGs enshrined in the UN’s 2030 Agenda 9 Stakeholders Generally speaking, develop- ment cooperation is a cross- cutting task which touches on many policy fields and which has to be coordinated with a large number of stakeholders at international, European, national and local level. The The European Commissioner Committee therefore holds for Development and repre- regular meetings with repre- sentatives of various Euro- sentatives of the relevant UN pean Commission direc torates- organisations. These include general visit the Committee the United Nations Develop- on Economic Cooperation ment Programme (UNDP), the and Development to discuss United Nations Population matters such as cooperation Fund (UNFPA), the United between the EU and the Nations High Commissioner African Union (AU) or the for Refugees (UNHCR), the Association of Southeast United Nations Children's Asian Nations (ASEAN). Fund (UNICEF), the World A continuous dialogue takes Food Programme (WFP) and place between the Members of the World Health