Brussels, 14/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 14 June, the EU Council of Minsters adopted its conclusions on the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), stating that despite the current economic crisis, the EU was firmly committed to supporting achievement of the MDGs around the world by 2015. The ministers argue that this is still achievable if the entire international community makes a strong political commitment to this end, changing policy as necessary and taking action. Stressing the collective responsibility of all and sundry, the EU member states repeat their commitment to devote 0.7% of GDP to development aid by 2015. Admitting that the EU will not achieve its intermediate goal of spending 0.56% of GDP on aid in 2010, the conclusions call on member states that are falling behind to take realistic, verifiable action to achieve the required levels of aid by 2015. The conclusions set out the EU's position for the United Nations high level meeting in New York on 20-22 September.
According to the charity Oxfam, EU development ministers are repeating old promises without providing any guarantee that the EU is serious. The ministers did not take up Commissioner Andris Piebalgs' suggestions (see EUROPE 10123) to introduce binding national legislation on aid levels. Oxfam points out that the EU member states have not even managed to achieve the mid-term goal for 2010, falling €19 billion short. The ministers did, however, admit for the first time that new sources of development aid financing were required and tax havens were depriving poor countries of enormous sums of money, explains Oxfam, calling on EU27 heads of state to show more determination than development ministers and take the bull by the horns and rectify matters at the European Council on Thursday 17 June. (A.B./transl.fl)