Recital 9

(9)The Joint Statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on European Union Development Policy: ‘The European Consensus’ ⁹, of 20 December 2005, and any subsequent modifications thereto, provides the general framework for action by the Community on development matters. It should steer the planning and implementation of the development assistance and cooperation strategies.