Finland Times

 

File Photo Lehtikuva.

The government’s priorities regarding development cooperation policies are in order, however, the cutting of resources impedes their implementation, said the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee in a report on state development policy.

 

The committee supports the policy orientations toward increasing the role of the private sector in development cooperation. It also calls for the use of Nordic cooperation during times of limited funds.

 

“On the positive side, the report lists multiple financial instruments to increase participation opportunities by Finnish companies,” said the committee.

 

Parliament is currently discussing the report on development cooperation policies. Opposition lawmakers have expressed reservations on how the government intends to implement its development ambitions although resources have been cut by 40 per cent. The government during the budget session decided to reduce resources by another 25 million euros.

 

Former foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja, for one, said that hypocrisy comes to mind when reading the report. Another MP, Tarja Filatov, pointed out that development is not being pushed forward by private companies but the United Nations and non-governmental organisations.

 

Minister for Development and Foreign Trade Lenita Toivakka said she was very sorry for the additional cuts.

 

“However, [the cuts] only come into effect in 2018 and do not affect any current agreements,” Toivakka said.

 

According to Toivakka, the cuts do not affect humanitarian funding.

 

The annual appropriations for development cooperation this year are 498 million euros. According to the government programme, the government is committed to raising financing for the development of the United Nations and European Union in accordance with the 0.7 per cent of gross national income over the long term. Over the planned period, however, according to the report, the funding will be only 0.38 per cent annually.

 

 Toivakka was asked whether this was still the target.

 

“Yes, Finland is committed to the 0.7 per cent target,” Toivakka responded.