Literally “powerless” discursive coherence versus performed coherence. Policy coherence for development and the EU as a normative actor driving biofuel production in Mozambique

Abstract: The Lisbon Treaty has made Policy Coherence for Development a legal obligation for the EU, thus the Union’s has a clear institutionalised commitment to makes sure that non-aid policies are not undermining the objectives in the development policy. EU’s energy policy with the 10% target of biofuels in the transport sector have been a point of great debate. Biofuels have been contested both within the EU and internationally and the EU's policy in this areas has created a surge for land in developing countries in order to meet the demand for biofuels. To analyse the interplay between EU energy and development policy, it is examined how biofuel production in Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries and receipient of EU development assistaince, is coherent with the objectives for the development policy. Despite a set of sustainability criteria, issues of land rights violations have been occuring in Mozambique and this study shows that there is a discrepancy between the discursive coherence and the de facto coherence in the case of biofuels in Mozambique. This can create loss of the Union's legitimacy as well as undermine the developmental objectives pursuited in a developing country.