Development is a shared competence within the EU. The Commission pursues a development policy and manages about 20% of total EU development assistance on behalf of the Community. Between the Community and the Member States principles of Coordination, Complementarity and Coherence apply. In this context the Commission should not be regarded as a 28th player, but needs to be assigned a specific role.

1.51 Coordination
At the operational level there is a need to address the lack of coordination between donors and a resistance to align along partner countries’ own development priorities, policies and systems. The experience of the New Member States, as former beneficiaries of external aid will be useful in this regard.

1.52 Complementarity
The credibility of EU external action and the effectiveness of the EU development policy require a consensus on a common platform of action. Complementarity can be achieved in the framework of common policies and strategies, programming and procedures for delivery of aid.  The New Member States play an important role in building up this complementarity through their ongoing efforts to build up their policies.

1.53 Coherence
An enhanced harmonisation of the EU approach should be based on expertise and on comparative advantage of individual Member States in certain regions, countries and /or sectors.