Summary: April 7, 2005: European Parliament - Millennium Development Goals (Brussels)
Glenys KINNOCK (PES, UK)
Report on the role of the European Union in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
(2004/2252(INI))
Doc.: A6-0075/2005
Procedure : Own-initiative
Debate : 12.04.2005
Glenys KINNOCK (PES, UK), for the Development Committee, will be tabling a draft own-initiative report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The committee emphasises that poverty reduction through the achievement of the MDGs and the Millennium Declaration must be recognised unambiguously as the overarching framework for EU development policy and that this must be reflected clearly in all relevant policy and legislative proposals; but believes that the MDGs should not be seen as a
technical matter which will be resolved simply by providing more money without identifying and tackling the underlying causes of poverty.
MEPs in the committee commend those Member States that have reached or passed 0.7% GNI, whilst noting the worrying trend set by some to begin a process of decreasing aid levels, as well as abandoning previous commitments on timetables. The committee stresses that although the EU seems currently on target for its intermediary objective of 0.39% of GNI for Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2006, there are large disparities in the performance of its Member States and therefore calls on
those Members States still lagging behind to commit themselves to a clear timetable and deadlines for reaching the 0.7% target before 2015.
The Development Committee believes that it is an illusion to achieve the MDG of halving poverty and hunger by 2015, providing free education for all and improving access to health care while developing countries spend four times more on repaying debts than they spend on basic social services.
The eight Goals identified in 2000 and to be realised by 2015 are:
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