European Commission welcomes Council decision to set new targets for Development Aid

FR

The European Commission welcomed today the endorsement by the General Affairs Council, meeting at the level of Development Ministers, of the proposals made by the European Commission to boost Official Development Aid (ODA) and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

"Just before the United Nation's Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, this ambitious undertaking puts the European Union in the leadership role of development on a world wide scale "declared Louis Michel European Commissioner responsible for Development and Humanitarian Aid.

Based on a proposal from the Commission, the Council has established a new intermediate collective target for ODA, 0.56% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2010, in order to reach 0.7% by 2015. In its conclusions the Council has also registered the individual thresholds that the Member States will have to achieve by 2010. The 10 new MS "will endeavour to increase their ODA to reach 0.17% on GNI by 2010" while the remaining MS "commit themselves to reaching" the threshold of 0.51% of GNI. For those countries which are already over these percentages, they undertake to sustain those efforts.

Commissioner Michel thanked the Luxembourg Presidency for its efforts in the negotiations, the 10 new MS "who volunteered to be part of the dynamics" and the countries who, in spite of tight budgetary limits, have taken on board these important engagements. "This is a decision which is rare because of its ambition and engagement. At the same time, it is obvious that because the European Union is capable of placing its ambition at a very high level this will motivate the other actors of the international community" he added.

By fixing the ODA collective target to a level of 0.56% by 2010, the EU is ensuring additional funding of €20 billions as from that date.

The General Affairs Council also confirmed the main elements contained in the three Communications approved by the European Commission on the 12 April 2005 "Accelerating Progress towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals", in particular as regards the coherency of policies for development and the focus on Africa.

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• EU Commission launches 2008-13 programming cycle on Aid to Development (30/1/2006)
• Barroso, Bono Press Conference on EU Development Aid and Africa (9/6/2005)
• Conclusions of EU External Relations Council - Accelerating progress towards MDGs (24/5/2005)
• EC and World Bank agreed to intensified partnership to support Africa's push toward achieving MDG's (18/4/2005)
• Questions and Answers - The Commission's 'MDG Package' (Millennium Development Goals) (12/4/2005)