ABSTRACT
Although the EU’s ‘federalising’ role in development cooperation between the institutions and the member states has always been controversial, the search for more and better coordination has become a key characteristic of EU-Africa relations since the early 2000s. This chapter provides an overview, explanation and critical assessment of what authors call the EU’s coordination fetish. It outlines the major milestones and some operational initiatives on coordination in EU development policy. In contrast to what EU policies seem to assume, coordination is never a neutral practice. Coordination is inherently a political process, which implies power struggles around ideas and interests, both at the donor level and between donor and partner countries. EU coordination depends on the degree to which EU donors agree on its functionality and its potential outcomes in terms of aid and development effectiveness. For example, there is no consensus that coordination at the EU level adds value to what is already being done within the wider donor community.
