The plenary session got under way this morning with a debate and vote on an opinion on increasing the impact of EU development policy: the future approach to EU budget support to third countries (rapporteur = Anne Le Nouail, Employees’ Group, France). Understandably, the opinion calls strongly for the fullest possible involvement of civil society organisations. The opinion argues that such non-state organisations are of particular importance in countries where corruption is rife. Indeed, the opinion points out that the potential for corruption can be limited by boosting the direct involvement of civil society. A sticky point in the debate revolved around the relationship between and coordination of public and private aid but the opinion itself was adopted by a large majority.