Brussels, 09/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - At the fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC IV, 9-13 May, see EUROPE 10355) which opened in Istanbul on Monday 9 May, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso restated the EU's solidarity with these 48 countries and their population of 880 million, more than half of whom live in extreme poverty. He also said the EU was fully committed to the success of the conference and was promoting a positive and ambitious outcome “based on a global partnership for development, with the goal of accelerating poverty eradication and taking due account of the current global challenges, as well as changes in the global aid architecture”. He said the world was coming together to “accelerate development and eradicate poverty” in these countries, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa and in countries in post-conflict and fragile situations where progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is lagging.
“Today is Europe Day (Ed: 9 May). And I think it is appropriate to commemorate it here in Istanbul, around the values of global solidarity”, Barroso said, confirming the commitment of the EU - the world's largest donor, providing €53.8 billion in public aid to development in 2010, more than half of world aid - to increase its aid to 0.7% of GNI by 2015. For the conference to be a success, the international community would have to address three main issues, he said: combating the vulnerability and fragility of LDCs and further enhancing their resilience to shocks; creating a favourable environment for the sustainable development of LDCs; and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth for LDCs.
Barroso highlighted the EU's conviction that progress in the LDCs, human rights, gender equality, democracy, good governance and peace and security were all inter-dependent. For each LDC to reduce its vulnerability, it must, he said, address “sustainable development, adaptation to climate change and long-term equitable and inclusive growth”. The private sector and the potential of trade, “as an engine for growth and employment”, have a crucial role to play, he stated. While development aid remains essential for helping LDCs escape from poverty, it is not enough, Barroso stressed, underlining the importance of the quality of the aid, over and above simply how much is granted - objectives the EU is pursuing for its development policy post-2013. He added: “The international development landscape is changing. And the EU is considering how we could refresh our development policy to make it fit for purpose in the 21st century. We want to make the best use of scarce resources and increase the impact of our development policy”. (A.N./transl.rt)