EU parliament body team arrives today

An eight-member delegation of the European Parliamentary Committee on Development today arrives at Dhaka on a three-day visit to discuss overall impact of climate change with policy makers and international partners of the country.

The delegation will also discuss other issues related to climate change, especially its impacts on food security in this country.

Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Nirj Deva leads the delegation. Four other MEPs and three officials comprise the team.

The European Union (EU) gives high priority to the climate change issue and is committed to help the countries on the front row battle the consequences, said Nirj Deva ahead of the visit.

"We are talking about real problems threatening the real people. What we need is funds and not only talks, " he said, according to a press release of the EC delegation in Dhaka.

During the visit from Nov 1-3, the delegation will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, food and disaster management minister, foreign minister, chairpersons of the parliamentary committees on Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, Ministry of Environment and Forest and Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. The delegation will also hold meetings with country representatives of international organisations in Bangladesh and members of local civil society.

On November 2, it will visit two EU funded projects, Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) and Vulnerable Group Development for Ultra Poor (VGDUP) Programme, in Sirajganj.

The Committee on Development is one of the 20 standing committees of the European Parliament. Like all parliaments, the European Parliament has three fundamental powers: legislative, budgetary and supervisory. The standing committees, as specialised bodies, examine matters under their remit and submit their position, in the form of reports containing draft resolutions, for final adoption by plenary. Only when a resolution is finally adopted by plenary does it become the official position of the European Parliament.

The Committee on Development is the Parliament's main actor in promoting, implementing and monitoring the development and cooperation policy of the Union, notably through: (a) bilateral political dialogue with developing countries and in the relevant international organisations and inter-parliamentary fora, (b) aid to, and cooperation agreements with, developing countries, (c) promotion of democratic values, good governance and human rights in developing countries.