Giving Compass' Take:

• Teresa Welsh interviews Stefano Manservisi about the obstacles that the EU faces in attempting to support the Sustainable Development Goals which require an integrated approach and cannot be accomplished in silos.

• How can donors work alongside governments and NGOs towards the SDGs?

• Learn about the relationship between philanthropy and the EU.

G-7 development ministers gathered in Whistler, Canada before June's leaders’ summit for meetings centered around women’s economic empowerment, including hearing from young women leaders on policies governments must pursue if they want to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Stefano Manservisi, director-general of international cooperation and development for the European Commission, sat in on the meetings, as well as on joint sessions held with G-7 finance ministers on how to make the global economy work for everyone.

How do you prioritize your development agenda across the diverse membership of the European Union?

The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs are representative of the weaknesses and the opportunities of globalization, which means they require by definition, a holistic and integrated approach.

In doing this, what we highlight — more than sectorial priorities — are output objectives, the first of which is peace. Development should contribute to a peaceful world, because no peace, no development, and vice versa. The second is to take care of our planet: Climate change, biodiversity, different ways of producing and consuming, ocean governance.Third is development policy, contributing to sustainable growth and job creation.

What does the rise of populism mean for the EU’s development policy?

The 2030 Agenda, and therefore any development policy, suggests the challenges are no longer those of the poor which can be addressed by the money of the rich. This is basically setting aside the old relationships of donors and beneficiaries.

As the European Union, we are telling member states “you cannot believe closing the border is the solution.” Our existence as the European Union, in terms of economy and freedom, is based on opening borders but managing them.

Read the full article about uniting Europe around Aid by Teresa Welsh at Devex International Development.